PHUKET is growing rapidly to the point where the island has three regular, frequent publications in English as well as several television and radio options for news and entertainment.

Here's the first Phuketwan MEDIAWATCH, a lively take on what's happening that is aimed at keeping island residents, visitors, would-be holidaymakers and advertisers in touch with Phuket's growing information world.

NEWSFRONT Latest: Storms and rain battered Phuket on Friday and overnight well into Saturday, causing flooding in Patong, Phuket City and across the island. In Bangkok, indications were that the People's Alliance for Democracy will reject overtures to mediation with the Government and continue protests demanding the Prime Minister's resignation.

The Phuket Gazette: (Weekly newspaper. Price 25 baht, 52 pages with events calendar insert) Reacting well to the week's big event, the closure of Phuket International Airport, the print version of The Gazette leads with a story headed 'Airport closure cost B250m a day' and another report on the front page says: 'Japanese tourists cancel trips to Phuket'. The Inside Story over two pages covers 'The long road to tourism recovery.' Sombat Atisate, President of the Kata-Karon Hotels Association, estimates total loss of revenue for the closure at 10 million baht for each of his association's 36 hotels, which have a total of about 5000 rooms. The Phuket People spread inside also deals with the PAD protests under the heading: 'What the people say.' On the Letters page, the lead letter deals



with the word ''democracy'' and the Editorial is headed 'Tourists are always the losers.' Even Bill Barnett's Property Watch tackles the issue under the heading: 'Phuket rolls up the welcome mat.' This week's News Feature reports on a running issue, copyright, under the neat heading: 'Are you copyright? Or copywrong?' Around the South deals with the death of local journalist and Phuket Reporters Club President Thongtuan Sukmuang and four other journalists in a horrific mini-van blast in Narathiwat. The van's LPG tank exploded. There's also a First Person plea for the controversial Monkey Island project.

Phuketwan Rating: First-rate recovery in the print version after a less than adequate 'live' coverage online. A must-read print Gazette this week.

The Phuket Post: (Fortnightly news magazine. Price 20 baht, 20 pages plus eight-page Property Plus and four-page advertising supplement.) The cover of Issue 88 is 'Health Care Holiday,' a look at 'Tropical Treatments' for anyone thinking about medical repairs over the next two weeks. Thai tourism, hospital and dental spokespeople talk up what's on offer. Monkey Island is covered on page two while page three, hiding behind the Property Plus and the advertising supplement, carries a report and photo that speculates the airport siege cost the island 250 million baht a day. The Post, which is strong on food and drink, also carries the first review of the Shooting Cafe at Jungceylon, Thailand's first shooting range in a shopping mall that gives new meaning to the phrase ''a shot of espresso.'' Inside Property Plus, the second part of a Collier's International examination of island real estate promotes Phuket's east coast. Online, the Post site first updated to cover the siege crisis on Tuesday with a single article. (Phuketwan updated to cover the story as it unfolded more than 50 times between Friday and Monday.)

Innovation of the Week: The Gazette Online on Friday loaded an exclusive interview with the founder of Air Asia, CEO Tony Fernandes, on how his plans to turn the island into an air hub have been thwarted so far. The report is by contributor and local PR expert Alastair Carthew. It is not in this week's Gazette. It's rare to see a contributor's article appear online so far ahead of print publication. Another good idea from The Gazette.

Island IT: The island's IT addicts would have been scrambling this week to download Chrome, the browser from Google. Mozilla ranks as the favorite challenger against Microsoft. But the Google team have carried everything before them as online's next generation, although cynics see them as a big brother organisation bent on accumulating as much information as possible about individuals, and everything else. Chrome began with a dispute about the copyright of information loaded and viewed through the browser. For once, Google lost that debate.

Coming Events: The stalemate in Bangkok continues with weariness likely to bring a resolution faster than peacemaking proposals. A lot of work needed to undo the damage caused by airport occupations and the declaration of a state of emergency in Bangkok. That cost the country a fortune in lost tourism and drove efforts for Thailand to become a MICE destination into rapid reverse. What were they thinking?

Look for every day, Monday to Friday, at Phuketwan. It's essential reading. To tell us your news, email bigislandmedia@gmail.com or telephone 081 6513489.

Latest from Phuketwan:

September 4
Why did they do it? That's the week's big question. The invasion of Phuket International Airport was a big mistake that is going to cost Phuket people dearly. Why?; Jobs is the critical topic as tourism slows.

Phuket Flights: Why Was Airport Invaded?

September 3
Phuket occupancy rates are down from 55 percent to 30 percent and the recovery will take up to two years, a tourism industry leader says. The island and airlines continue to count the cost of the airport siege.

Phuket Air Siege: Two Years For Recovery

September 2
With a state of emergency announced in Bangkok, a survey of Phuket resorts indicates that the airport siege cost the tourism industry dearly. One thing is sure: Phuket is no longer the haven from political unrest it was last week.

Phuket Resorts Report Cancellations, Uncertainty

August 28
Phuket's Big Buddha stands at the top when it comes to tourist attractions, bringing more and more visitors to the island; Phuket artist takes on Manhattan; Charity golf day.

Phuket's Big Buddha Tops With Tourists

Look for every day, Monday to Friday, at Phuketwan. It's essential reading. To tell us your news, email bigislandmedia@gmail.com or telephone 081 6513489.

Declaration of interest: Big Island Media, Phuketwan's parent print company, has as small stake in Pulse Media, which produces the Phuket Post, but no influence on The Post's content.