Old school journalistic principles to stay in new digital media realm, says Coconuts Media’s new editor-in-chief

When asked about his plan, Williams tells The Drum that this transformation would not be a overnight one.

“It's a bit early to talk in terms of a definitive plan, but I think you'll be looking at a step-by-step transformation that will begin next week when I meet with Byron and our site editors in Bangkok and start assessing what we've been able to do in each market to date and what our resources will realistically allow,” says Williams.

Taking on breaking news will be part of the transformation of Coconuts Media, according to Williams, but the true key centrefold will be the investigative reporting.

“You'll definitely see us compete here and there on a breaking news basis, but where I think we can make a real impact is in deeper, investigative features as well as quick takes on breaking news that explore unique angles,” he says.

Despite William’s old-school credentials, he appears to be willing to turn news on its head, and even pursue news in the political sphere, where others have treaded softly.

“I'm not averse to taking a relatively hard news story and then turning it on its head by approaching it in an offbeat way. Every one of our cities has a fairly dynamic news environment and there is low-hanging fruit, particularly in terms of paying more a bit more attention to the political sphere,” says Williams.

Making the switch

Resistance to change is a barrier that any media publication faces in any pivot or shift, Williams believes that the shift for Coconuts Media should not result in a loss of viewers.

“I think it's important to note I don't see this as an either/or dilemma. Our long-time readers are a very smart, switched-on audience that are already seeking out harder news - they're just not necessarily identifying us as a place to find it yet,” he says.

As lifestyle media undergoes a renaissance in news reporting, Williams is confident that Coconuts Media will still retain its unique style even with the shift in news mix.

“I think changing that perception is going to be a gradual process that will see a slow shift in the news mix. But you'll still see our trademark attitude and breeziness in the lion's share of stories we post throughout the day,” says Williams.

In the day and age of fake news driving clicks and views, Williams sees old-school journalistic principles coming to the fore, even as growing traffic remains part of his job.

“Is growing traffic part of the mandate? Absolutely. But I can tell you that "fake news" is a non-starter. There are basic, old school journalistic principles that our site editors are expected to maintain in terms of vetting even stories from traditional media outlets,” he proclaims.

As Coconuts Media evolves towards reporting substantive news, Williams isn’t expecting things fall into place immediately, but sees features and analysis as key to attracting talent.

“In terms of the news mix, it will be a balancing act, and I'm walking in fully expecting us to be on a bit of a learning curve. One thing I can say is that as we introduce more features or even analysis into the mix, we're going to announce ourselves as a home for top-shelf reporting, which is key in attracting both quality freelancers and future full-time staffers,” he says.

As for plans for Coconuts Media for the future, Williams hopes to establish the news site as the go-to for news in Southeast Asia.

“We want Coconuts to be a lively but respected news hub not just for each of our individual cities but also for the region as a whole,” says Williams.

“If you care about what's happening in Southeast Asia, one of the most dynamic and fast-growing regions on the planet, the new Coconuts home page should be a daily stop. And I want the city sites to build an even stronger, more intimate, relationship with readers,” he adds.