Half of my working life, I learned from Somkiat Onwimon at Pacific Communication. He isn’t just a boss who oversaw the plans, goals and policy—he jumped into action with production as well.

It’s important for a reporter to know everything, including scriptwriting and editing. Even if you can’t really do it, you should know and understand the basics.

I don’t like to report about individual conflicts or comments. I can do political news, but it must be a policy related issue—something that affects people.

Politics is not something you play at—it’s something you get involved with for the good of the public.

My philosophy is, as a news institution, we have a duty to produce our own news. We need to make other people quote us, not us quote them.

Topic choosing is a balance between what our audience likes and our philosophy. Our audience is every kind of people, kids to adults, working class to hiso, so we choose topics that have an impact on most people.

News is what you can use for tomorrow, not just something you know of and that’s it. If there are two actors fighting, whether you know about it or you don’t, there’s no effect on your life. But if the fuel price will increase, that concerns your life directly.

I don’t criticize or comment while I report on a subject and I don’t like people who do so. I think that the audience is clever enough. If I say what I think on my show, it’s just “my” idea. Compared to the other 60 million people, why am I going to be brainier than them?

My duty is to report the truth and let the audience decide for themselves.

My goal is that the audience will think of me when they want to know what is the truth of a story.

I would never trade my credit for anything. I’ve been in this business for 20 years and I will be here for a long time. The only thing that will keep me here is my credi.

I dare say I have a very clean background in this business. I always keep distance between myself and businessmen or politicians.

I want people who live in Bangkok to feel communal. I feel that today people just live here without feeling united. If you are in the same city and you don’t respect public things, society will be like it is today—a mess. We need social consciousness to grow.

I don’t define work as my life. I like working and it’s a part of my life, but I don’t agree with those who take work home, work on the weekend or talk business on the phone all the time.

When I work, I work hard. But when I rest, I rest, as well. I’d rather live my life like a farang, not like a Japanese.

Life is short and we don’t know when death will come. It’s not worth it to overwork.

I don’t collect money for my children. When they grow up, they can find it for themselves.

I like traveling. To be a news reporter, you have to see the real thing. Reading about it in the news doesn’t get you anywhere.

I wouldn’t know what to do if I had a billion baht. What I have now makes me happy and that’s enough.

When you were a child what was your dream?
I wanted to be a DJ, but as I also enjoyed eating, I wanted to be a restaurant owner, as well.

What kind of music do you play?
Funky house.

What is the most important thing to become a professional DJ?
Practice and listen to music every day. I think this is an important thing to be an expert in anything you do.

What do you think is your unique ability that helped you win?
I use various audio effects like loop, filter, echo, etc.

Did you ever study music when you were young?
I never studied in school but I taught myself at home.

What did you do before you became a champion?
I run one restaurant on Narathiwat and I plan to open a second one serving international cuisine. Food and music is all I think about.

Where do you play?
White Bar, Monkey Shock, Route 66, Blur, Ana’s Garden, Roxy and elsewhere. I also play as a guest DJ sometimes at Café Democ, Escudo and Glow.

Did you join any contests before this one?
Before winning at Pala-Denon DJ Competition 2006, I entered the SAE institute Denon DJ Championship 2004 and also Heibeat By Heineken 2004.

What kind of music do you listen to?
Soulful, funky house, Latin and jazz. My idol DJs are MDJ, Funky Gangster and the house singer Sandy Rivayra.

What are you going to do next?
I’ll go to a competition in Singapore next March with competitors from Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong. I’d like to take the all-Asia prize.

What kinds of sharks can divers expect to see?
In the aquarium we have sand tiger sharks—that’s the one with all the teeth sticking out, and it’s the coolest one in there I reckon—black-tipped reef sharks and leopard sharks. The big ones are tawny nurse sharks, and there are two of those in there. Those are nocturnal, but they come out to feed.

What are first-time divers’ reactions like?
Fantastic! It’s a real buzz. For starters, diving is good fun in itself. Secondly, you’re stuck there with all these sharks, rays, fish—more stuff than you’d ever see in the wild.

Anything to be afraid of?
In there? No. Nothing whatsoever.

When should you not dive?
You shouldn’t dive when you have a cold, because you’ll find it a bit harder to equalize the pressure in your ears. If you’re pregnant, we advise you don’t dive, and we recommend that you wait at least 12 hours after diving before flying.

Are there certain products you shouldn’t use before going in the tank?
The filtration system is very good, it takes out most of the impurities. Obviously you don’t put sun cream on before you go in, you don’t put loads of makeup on, but no, it’s no problem really.

Does anybody ever back out?
No! Everyone that’s come has actually gone in. I’ve never had a refusal. People can be a little bit nervous, which is natural, but once they’re in there they don’t back out.

When was your first time diving with sharks?
About 15 years ago in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. It was mainly white-tip sharks and black-tip reef sharks swimming around down there. It was pretty awesome. They’re very timid creatures, so it’s quite rare to see them; they swim away quite quickly.

What are people’s misconceptions about sharks?
People are scared of them. They’ve seen Jaws and they think that sharks are all aggressive creatures when in fact they’re quite timid. They can be inquisitive, but they’re harmless.

Babes Conde, with Mario Lajarca Jnr., Erick Guansing, Robert Sunga and Mary Grace Arceno are out to deliver a smashing concert A Blast from the Past come Sep 29-30. Expect to hear familiar melodies such as “Just a Love Song” and “I Just Wanna Stop.” We caught up with Conde in between her rehearsals for a little banter.

You’re the voice coach for Singapore Idol hopefuls. What do you do when you think someone really can’t sing?
I will prescribe a reality pill, to be consumed three times a day.

Can you give us voice training tips?
Start in the bathroom. The four walls will give you instant playback of the quality of your voice. The more you sing, the better you sound.

Describe your voice.
It sounds naturally small, sometimes shrill and squeaky. It’s very girlish.

What is one thing you must absolutely do before you perform?
I pray and commit the project to the Lord. That’s how you make sure all things are covered. Then I’ll feel safe.

Do your friends always try to get you to sing for them? Do you find that irritating?
Oh yes, but usually everybody gets to sing. I’ve gotten used to the routine because since I was five years old, family and friends would always urge me to play the piano at parties or gatherings. From then on it’s kinda expected of me to do that—I’d be surprised if they didn’t ask me!!!

Do you lust for fame?
Fame is fleeting. I never hungered for that. If I had, I’d probably be living in New York. I was always an underachiever in school much to the frustration of my dean and teachers. Even now I languish in my mediocrity. Hey, I just want to chill, smell the coffee, travel and see places.

What turns you on?
Great music, great food and, OK, great eyes that smile!

If you need to take a break from everyday life and do something fun, catch the musical tick, tick… BOOM!. Starring Christian Campbell, Nicole Snelson and Jerry Dixon, this stirring production is inspired by the life of the late composer Jonathan Larson—the guy who’s responsible for musicals such as Rent. We chat with Artist Director Ng Chin Han to learn more about the show, and his take on dreams.

OK, tell us about the plot!
It is based on the life of the late musical genius Jonathon Larson and how he had to overcome many struggles before finding success and suddenly dying at the young age of 35. tick, tick… BOOM! is about the clock that starts ticking when we are born and stops only when we die. We never know when the BOOM! is going to come, and Larson’s death reminds us to live every day to the fullest and to follow our hearts and dreams.

What lengths did Jonathan Larson go to in hope of achieving his dream?
To be near Broadway, he actually lived an apartment that was so small, the bathtub was in the kitchen. He also worked in a diner for 15 years, where he met all sorts of funny and interesting characters before he became an overnight success with the musical Rent.

Where has tick, tick… BOOM! been performed? How did audiences respond?
It has been performed on Broadway, London’s West End, and is currently in Los Angeles. The responses have been great from both young and old because they can relate to the difficult choices that have to be made at every stage in life. The main thing is to have the courage to make them. Time waits for no one.

It’s a pity Larson passed away before his musical Rent premiered. Do you think the process of pursuing your dream is more important than achieving your goal?
Yes, that is so true. We never know what the outcome will be so we had better enjoy the journey. And if the outcome is favorable, great! If not, we learn.

How do you think one should draw the line between idealism and naivety?
It’s like courage; you are only brave when you fear something and still do it. Idealism is when you know the odds and still believe a dream is worth pursuing or a cause is worth fighting for. Naivety is when you decide to do something and are clueless about the obstacles ahead of you.

What prompted you to take part in this race?
Kim Hong: To kick ang moh butt! No really—the motivating factor was the fact that this competition was held at an international level, and we saw this as a chance to gauge where we are by pitting ourselves against the top teams of the region. We were also hoping, through this competition, to put the training that we have been doing thus far into good use.

Was this the first time that the two of you took part in such a challenge?
Alvin: Nope. The two of us have actually been taking part in adventure sports races as a team for the past four to five years. In fact, we got to know each other through the race circuit, for we were both avid racers before we partnered up.

Kim Hong: We met in 2001 when Singapore held its first adventure race, and a couple of years later, we participated together as a team in our first race—the Eco-x Race Malaysia.

Did your friends or family or even work colleagues do anything interesting to show their support?
Kim Hong: My family has been rather supportive of my involvement in adventure sport races. They either wait for me at the end point of a race, or at stationed points if they know the route. As for my colleagues, they know that I’m a racing buff, and so they were not surprised when I took part in this challenge. In fact, they did up a photo-frame with newspaper cuttings of the races I took part in and presented it to me when they knew that Alvin and I won the challenge!

Alvin: Those who know me are pretty much used to the fact that I am an avid racer, so it’s usually words of well wishes such as “good luck” from them. For this particular race, my girlfriend was telling me “Make sure that you win!”

What was the weirdest reaction you got from a member of the public while you were taking part in the challenge?
Kim Hong: They might be wondering what all these crazy people were doing...

How did the two of you prepare for the race?
Alvin: We stepped up the intensity of the regular training that we were already on before this race; we basically trained longer and harder.

Kim Hong: Other than the training that we would do on our own, we would meet up every Saturday to train together. We would bike more, run more, and canoe or kayak more. Basically, we aimed to complete three disciplines in a day instead of over two, which is the normal amount of time we take when there are no competitions.

Do you still remember the first thought that came to mind when you crossed the finish line?
Alvin: Something along the lines of “finish this as soon as possible” I think!

Kim Hong: Mine was “We’re not too far...not too bad!”

“Young people these days!” moans a 40-something boss who is looking for new staff. “Half of the applicants don’t even show up for their interviews. Those that do show up are spoiled brats: They don’t want to start at the bottom—they just want to do the ‘fun stuff.’ When you offer one a job, the kid decides he doesn’t want it anymore. Or asks if he can work part-time. Or accepts the job but doesn’t show up the first day of work.

“No discipline. They come in late, then take two-hour lunches. No manners. Answering, and even making, mobile phone calls during meetings. They can’t hear you because they’re all listening to iPods—not that they would listen to you anyway... They work six months and expect a promotion. And even if they get one, chances are they’ll get bored and leave within a year to be a ‘freelancer.’ Every kid is a damn freelancer these days! Who do they think they are, anyway?!”

Old fart, meet Generation Y.

Originally coined by Americans to describe those born during the ‘80s and ‘90s, Generation Y has also been called the “entitlement generation.” They grew up during prosperous times, without the threat of war tainting their rosy outlooks, and were pampered by their Baby Boomer (see “In My Day…”) parents, who wanted their kids to have it easier than they did. Gen Ys have had greater opportunities for education and employment than previous generations; they’re smarter, healthier, better-educated and more worldly—and they know it.

Generation Why?

Thailand’s Generation Ys were born when life was easy and peaceful. They weren’t there to witness October 14, and too young to comprehend Black May. They have maids to cook and clean for them and they drive their own cars (paid for by their parents). They are masters of the internet, cable TV, mobile phones and PDAs. They can obtain any sort of information quickly and easily—and they expect the same level of instant gratification in every aspect of their lives.

From Moderndog’s alternative rock in 1994 and filmmaker Pen-Ek Ratanarueng’s Fun Bar Karaoke and 6ixtynin9 in 1997 and 1999 to Fat Radio and A Day Magazine in 2000, Generation Y has grown up “indie” in music, film, art and literature. This movement celebrates the individual, telling young people that everyone is special in their own way. Big and mass-market are out, small and chic are in. They have moved from being jiggo to dek alter to dek indie to today’s dek naew. They can finally break away from conformity, if they so choose. More and more, to be cool means to live and think “out of the box.”

Young adults now entering the workplace haven’t had to struggle and don’t understand the logic behind so many of the methods and rules their parents were bound to. Though their goals may be similar to those of previous generations, they reach them in their own way. They know what they want, and they believe—some would say naively—that they can easily get it, so there’s plenty of time for play.

Y in the Workplace

But are Gen Ys really the spoiled brats with short attention spans the 40-something boss believes them to be? It’s easy to see how they are perceived this way, given the response time they’ve become accustomed to. They call to order pizza, and it arrives at their door within 30 minutes. Relationships are as easy as pressing the “Add as Friend” button on their MySpace accounts. Finding out what everyone is doing for the night requires no more effort than sending a couple of SMS messages from their mobile phones—no matter where in the world their friends live. Any form of music or entertainment they desire is just a few clicks away on iTunes or BitTorrent. The notion of sending a letter and (big sigh) waiting for a response is ridiculous to Gen Ys. And with the same speed they are used to getting things, they get bored—so it doesn’t come as much of a surprise that they change not just their mobiles and cars like underwear, but also their jobs.

Boy, 29, is a freelance graphic designer who complains, “I’m bored of office work. It always chains me up.” Adds freelance photographer Chane, 32: “I’d rather spend my time in a bookshop than sitting at a desk.” Chatchawan, 26, another graphic designer says, “I like the freedom. I don’t like having a boss watching over me all the time. You just do the job and make sure it’s done properly.” These types of attitudes have caused more than a little tension in offices.

“I’ve talked to many business operators, and they all agree that the social trend has changed. Kids nowadays change jobs more often,” says Deputy Dean Chaisansook from Ramkhamhaeng University. Gen Ys can simply surf the net to find employment opportunities. “People in my generation didn’t have such access to information, so we had to stay in jobs we didn’t necessarily like,” he explains.

Duke, an art director, receives CV after CV from people who average one year per job. When questioned about the high rate of job turnover, the applicants usually explain that they had mastered the work and were ready to move on. She doesn’t buy it.

“It’s possible that one year on the job can make them realize whether they like it or not, but it’s hardly possible to learn everything and to be really skillful at it in one year,” she argues. Duke has worked for the same employer for five years and has moved from junior staff to a managerial position. She believes in loyalty—and patience.

Gen Ys may be better-educated, book-smart and know about more things on a broader scale, but compared to people who have worked and grown with a company for several years and gained a large amount of work experience, they might lack some profound skills and understanding of an industry or trade. Employers are now facing a crisis: a largely unskilled and unmotivated labor force that is unwilling to commit to the responsibility of a 9-5 job. When the typical Gen Y impatience takes over, they leave their positions to go freelance—often before they have the skills they need. The result is a growing bank of freelancers with high price tags and little actual know-how.

Deputy Dean Chaisansook voices the worry that in the future there won’t be enough people who are really good at what they do. “The problem is, the learning system is too superficial. Kids learn about too many subjects: computers, language, math, etc. They also learn from TV, radio, the Internet. There are many distractions for them. If the system continues like this, in 10 years we might lack specialists, those who really know about a subject in depth.”

My MBA

It’s not just the speed of communications and the way Gen Ys were raised that’s encouraging this trend: Blame the MBA. Bangkok seems to be awash in over-educated people who don’t want to wait in line or grow in a company.
The Master of Business Administration is a scientific approach to business management. Skills our parents spent a lifetime acquiring can be obtained from a course you can finish in one to two years. “The MBA is fine for those who work and study at the same time. MBA students know various sides of a business but they also need experience and real-life skills,” Deputy Dean Chaisansook explains. Many Gen Ys boasting an MBA are over-confident in their knowledge and believe they shouldn’t have to work their way up from the bottom. They tend to walk in and expect to be well paid and start on a higher rung on the career ladder than someone who has been on staff for 10 years.

Similarly, independent-minded Gen Ys don’t want to be told what to do. They don’t believe in company uniforms, set office hours or rules. Even when they’re working for someone else, they still want freedom and independence. They talk back. They say “no.” They won’t go along with the majority if they don’t agree. While all of these things are desirable qualities in certain circumstances, it can be a bit hard for their older bosses and co-workers to take.

Freedom in Freelancing

For previous generations, a “freelancer” was a bum. In the age of Generation Y, freelancing is a growing trend, and freelancers are respected and admired (at least by their peers) as people who are living their lives on their own terms: no uniforms, no 9-5, no boss. It’s an option for those who want to work but don’t want work to be the focus of their lives. And it’s not just creative types—you can now find freelancers and “consultants” in almost every field.

But this rose is not without its thorns. The biggest disadvantage of freelancing is a lack of a steady paycheck. One month there might be lots of work, the next month nothing. Freelancers have to “hustle” to get jobs, and are often the last to be paid. And if there’s a mistake, while full-time staff usually gets a second chance, freelancers often don’t. They are expected to be pros, hired guns who are so good at what they do they can’t be tied down to a single company. Judgement is quick and harsh, and the line of other eager freelancers waiting to take their place—their Gen Y peers—is growing longer every day.

Being a freelancer requires a lot of courage since you know full well that you aren’t going to have social security, retirement compensation or sick leave, let alone a regular salary. Freelancers also find it hard to get credit cards and bank loans. Without this kind of security, providing for a family and making large purchases, such as a home or car, can be exceedingly difficult.

Why Gen Y

So what’s a boss to do? Simply avoid hiring Gen Ys at all? Not so fast, Old Fart: There are plenty of reasons you want Gen Ys on your team. Today’s young Thais bring energy, confidence, guts, creativity and adaptability. They are ambitious and aim to work faster and better than others, and as long as they are engaged, can be very valuable. Their ways of thinking and working are in some ways better suited to the world today than traditional methods.

Hiring freelancers, too, has its perks, and the tendency toward outsourcing work is growing. Deputy Dean Chaisansook reasons, “If a company wants to hold an annual event, they don’t need to bother hiring permanent staff for it, when outsourcing is easier and costs less. Companies in private and governmental sectors are now condensing their sizes and hiring outsourcers.”

What will become of Generation Y? Will these 20-somethings see their priorities change as they get older and opt for more security? It seems more likely that the workplace will change to accommodate Gen Ys than the other way around.

Despite his complaints, the 40-something boss still wants independent-minded Gen Ys working at his company. “I sometimes wish that they were more mature, and more realistic, but as far as the work goes, these kids are really amazing. I guess we just have to accept that as employees they may not stick around for a very long time. In the end, it’s worth it.”

In My Day...

Everyone loves to talk about the generation gap, but does anyone really know where it is? Ask five 25-year-olds what generation they belong to and you’ll get five different answers. It’s a particularly baffling question outside North America, since most of the definitions are based on US history and culture. But while the idea of the “GI Generation” may not work in Thailand, more recent generations are defined by not being tied to a particular place, and you’ll almost certainly recognize iPod-toting Gen-Yers on the streets of Bangkok. Take a look at the guide below to see where you stand.

GI Generation: Born between 1900 and 1924. Coming of age during World War II, many members of this generation are veterans. They are characterized by realism and duty, and in the US they created the post-WWII baby boom.

Silent Generation: Born between 1925 and 1945. Sandwiched between their GI elders and baby boomer juniors, this generation is mainly characterized by endurance of hardship: They were children of the Depression.

Baby Boomers: Born between 1946 and 1964; primarily an American phenomenon. Also known as “the Me Generation,” baby boomers rebel against tradition. They witnessed the Watergate scandal, the Vietnam war, the first TVs and the beginnings of rock and roll. Baby boomers believe that things can change for the better. They are idealistic, ambitious, optimistic and question authority.

Generation X: Born between 1965 and 1980, Gen-Xers were raised on cable TV, video games and PCs. They distrust institutions and tradition and want to be able to find their own paths. They are flexible and adapt easily to new technologies.

MTV Generation: Straddles Generations X and Y (born between 1975 and 1985). Also known as “Generation XY” or “the No Generation.” These kids are the children of baby boomers, and as the name suggests they’re heavily influenced by the trends (dress, language, music, etc.) popularized via MTV.

Generation Y: Born between 1981 and 2002. Now anywhere from four to 25 years old, Generation Y-ers have grown up surrounded by new technologies as well as by global disaster, both natural and man-made. They are realistic, globally aware, value diversity and are cyber-literate.

Is it intimidating to step onto the court with players who have reputations for being very good?
All players at this level are good so you know you are in for a battle either way.

What’s the secret to beating that person?
Depends on the player but mainly focus on playing my own game.

Which players do you most look forward to playing against?
I’ve enjoyed playing against Tim (Henman) because I watched him play at Wimbledon when I was younger.

What makes your coach, Brad Gilbert, unique?
Brad has a lot of experience first as a player and then as a coach. He’s coached Agassi and Roddick to Grand Slam success and world number one rankings.

What’s been the greatest moment of your career so far?
Winning San Jose and beating Roddick and Hewitt back to back at the age of 18 was quite a moment.

What did you do directly after the match?
After beating Roddick in Wimbledon there was a lot of press to do, got a massage, then had to immediately start preparing mentally for the next match.

How do you get other people to believe and support you?
I don’t do anything in particular. Fans can choose who they want to support and it’s nice when they support you.

Do you watch tennis on TV ever or do you get enough of it everyday in real life?
Yes, I watch when it’s on. It is my profession, after all.

What’s your work out/training routine like? More weight training or cardio-based exercises?
I’m still growing so it’s not ideal to be doing a lot of weight training yet.

Is it intimidating to step onto the court with players who have reputations for being tough?
I take every match as it comes, do the very best that I can do and hope it is good enough. I don’t worry much about the opponent.

How do you prepare for a match?
For each match, I hope to be fit, rested, injury-free and motivated to win.

What was going through your head directly after your accident with the steel post?
I was initially terrified and very concerned about how bad I might have hurt myself.  I couldn’t breathe.  I had to just hope for the best.  I learned from the doctors that I came very close to being paralyzed.

How did life change for you after that incident?
I learned to appreciate everything more.  We take so many things for granted but when you are confronted with how much worse things could be it forces you to slow down and appreciate what you have.

What’s been the greatest moment of your career so far?
Representing my country in the Davis Cup for the first time and winning my first tournament in Washington DC would have to go down as two memorable moments in my career.

When did you know that tennis was going to be a career for you?
When I got to a point where I didn’t feel like I could improve much more at the collegiate level and there was a strong enough sponsor interest that I could leave college and be in a position financially to return.

Which type of court do you prefer and why?
Hard courts are my favorite surface. Growing up in America, this is the surface of the US Open and almost all the major US tournaments.

How do you get other people to believe and support you?
I treat people with respect, whether I win or lose; I work hard, play hard and remember that this is a sport.

What do you do to relax?
I read, play online poker and spend time with my friends.

What’s the difference between being a radio DJ and a club DJ?
I can choose every song by myself when I’m a club DJ but at EFM, most of the songs are already listed. The jobs require different skills. Being a DJ, you need to learn how to speak lively and always brighten up your listener’s day. Even if you just broke up with your girlfriend, you can’t keep playing sad songs 24/7. A club DJ is different—you must tune the beats up to the audience’s moods using your own feelings. From my personal view, I think that I have more responses from people when I’m in a club. I can really see what they’re doing, unlike when I’m sitting in front of a control panel and receiving faxes or messages from somewhere far away. The two things are just different.

Why funky music?
It’s fun. This kind of music is perfect for a party. You can imagine everyone moving their bodies with the beat while getting drunk. Compared to something like trance, its bass and guitar lines are not too hard and everyone can enjoy it. Also, I’ve been collecting vinyl records for a long time. I looked at the ones with the funky beats and I was like, “Hey, these are interesting and more classic. People should have a chance to hear them.” So I talked to my friend at Café Democ and ask if I could drop by and set up a small party. He was OK with the idea, so we arranged the party, which later became monthly.

Apart from funky house, do you also listen to other styles of music?
Yes, of course. I listen to rock, pop, jazz, bossanova...both Thai and international songs. It usually depends on my mood.