You know there’s something wrong with a cover story when its lede is: “The Nai Lert Park annual fair is taking a more fun-filled approach this year, and calling itself the Flower Carnival.” Well yes, that does sound fun. “To advertise the event organisers paraded naked models covered with orchids.” Apparently this is front-page news in Bangkok. It gets better. “Participants this year include leading flower arrangers and top business people.”

I often read Bangkok’s media publications and feel slightly miffed that editors want to break everything down into A-to-Zs, top 100s and Q&A interviews. They do nothing for me. But I digress. Stories about flower carnivals are up there among the least exciting ways you could run a front page.

I don’t want to give Daily Xpress too hard a time because I understand the enormous pressure the publication is under at the moment, but the whole set-up needs a kick up the ass. There was enormous potential to offer a high-quality publication, but it’s just not happening at the moment. I hope that Daily Xpress can come good and sort itself out.