Thai Rath
Thai Rath, Thailand’s largest-circulation newspaper, was founded on December 25, 1962, by Kampol Wacharapol (กำพล วัชรพล), though its origins trace to his earlier publications. Wacharapol first launched the weekly Khaw Phaph (Photo News) on January 9, 1950, which became a daily in 1952 before being shut down by the military government in 1958. He then operated Siang Ang Thong from May 1959 until launching Thai Rath proper. The newspaper claims circulation exceeding one million copies daily and maintains its position as Thailand’s best-selling Thai-language publication with a reported 46% share of online news consumption. UNESCO recognized Kampol Wacharapol in 2017 as “a person of global significance in media and education.” The company expanded into digital media with thairath.co.th and launched Thai Rath TV in 2014. The Wacharapol family continues to control the media empire through Wacharapol Co. Ltd, with operations spanning print, digital, television, and related businesses including cosmetics and logistics ventures launched in 2021.
