SW get the news from Tha.
When handsome TV anchor Pipoauh “Tha” Poomkaewkra left Reung Lao Chao Nee (Morning Stories) on Channel 3 last year, viewers were sad to see him go. But thankfully, their sadness was short-lived, as he returned to the silver screen on Chao Wan Nee (This Morning) on GMM 25 in January.
Tha is a viewer favourite because of his good looks, calm voice and well-rounded knowledge. He also has good chemistry with his co-anchors. The 34-year-old newsreader has a busy schedule. Apart from hosting This Morning, he also works as a DJ at Mellow 97.5, hosts the variety programme Be Healthy 24 Hours on MCOT and is co-producer and host for the online news show The Standard Daily.
S Weekly met up with Tha at the GMM building where he spoke about his career.
Did you do any public speaking as a student?
Tha: In high school, I was a prefect and president of the debate club. At Thammasat University, I worked on the Student Council. So I had plenty of opportunities to speak in public.
What was your first day like as a newsreader at Channel 9 MCOT?
Tha: Newsreaders focus on reading the script word for word. We must enunciate each word clearly and accurately. I was nervous and anxious. I made a lot of mistakes.
How did you improve your skills as a newsreader?
Tha: I learned from listening to and watching other newsreaders and practised reading by myself. To develop our skills, we have to practise a lot and figure out which style suits us best.
What do you like most about being a newsreader?
Tha: The job allows me to keep up to date with the daily news and meet lots of people. I learn new things every day. I can talk to people on any topic and I'm always interested to hear different views. It’s a fun job and I’m proud of what I do.
Why are you particularly interested in international news?
Tha: Because I can express my opinions on the issues. For anything related to Thailand, we have to be careful. Thai people are limited in their freedom of speech. We’re not open-minded on issues such as religion, politics or general culture.
What did you learn while working at Morning Stories?
Tha: It was a fantastic experience. It made me tougher and I got to know many people. I learned how to tell stories on the show, which was different from reading a script. I also learned how to summarise, as well as lengthen stories. The experience was very useful.
How does This Morning differ from other morning news programmes?
Tha: The show is casual, but the content isn’t light. You won’t miss out on any of the important issues. We comment on things in a positive, undramatic way. The three newsreaders are equal. There’s no leader. We support each other.
How did you improve your English?
Tha: In high school, I had an American teacher who let us learn English from movies and discussions, so I wasn’t afraid of speaking English with foreigners. I also learned English from songs and TV shows. But my writing and speaking improved a lot when I was studying in the UK.
What’s your advice to aspiring young newsreaders?
Tha: First, learn how to use both Thai and English accurately. And if you can learn a third language, it’s always useful. Second, read a lot. And third, be open-minded. These three points will give you the basic skills for being a newsreader. After that, you should try to get experience by attending workshops or doing an internship.
