Panu Wongcha-um
President
About the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand
Founded by journalists. Powered by ideas. For over 60 years the FCCT has been a cornerstone of independent dialogue, culture and community in Bangkok.
Our mission
The FCCT serves as a platform for free expression, open debate and cross-cultural understanding. Founded in 1957 by foreign correspondents, it remains an inclusive space for journalists, diplomats, creatives and the Bangkok community.
Read the constitution
Our history
Seventy years of the club, in ten moments. Dominic Faulder tells it properly.
- mid-1950s Correspondents begin gathering at Mizu's Kitchen on Patpong Road
- 1957 The club is established, with Jorges Orgibet its principal founder
- 1970s The Oriental hotel gives the club its most glamorous home
- 1975 Saigon, Phnom Penh and Vientiane fall, bureaus move to Bangkok, and the FCCT becomes the largest press club in Southeast Asia — which it remains
- 1984 An eyrie atop the Dusit Thani, with a view across Lumpini Park
- 1997 After the financial crash, the penthouse at Maneeya Center — still the club's home today
- 2000s Exhibitions and music nights join the programme
- 2009 A lèse-majesté complaint is lodged against the entire thirteen-member board. It goes nowhere
- 2014 Days after the coup, ousted minister Chaturon Chaisaeng gives a press conference here and is arrested as he leaves. Three weeks later the army's spokesman takes the same seat
- 2020s The community widens to take in creatives, digital workers and activists
Who we serve
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Journalists and media professionals
Reporting with integrity
Membership -
Diplomats and think tanks
Regional dialogue
Events -
Artists and photographers
Gallery exhibitions and talks
The gallery -
Bangkok locals and expats
Culture, music, learning
Facilities
Our identity
The FCCT is the only place in Bangkok where you can debate Southeast Asian politics over a cold beer and then bump into a Pulitzer winner at the bar. It’s equal parts newsroom and living room.
Alex BSoutheast Asia Correspondent, Global NewswireI came to Thailand for remote work and found a second home at FCCT. It’s not just a club — it’s a portal into the region’s real stories, people, and pulse.
Jake M.Writer & ConsultantAs a diplomat, the FCCT provides a unique, informal space to connect with journalists, academics, and policy thinkers. The conversations are always insightful — and refreshingly candid.
Maria LPolitical Affairs Officer, European EmbassyThe FCCT brings together the press, civil society, and curious citizens under one roof. The gallery and bulletin section alone are worth the membership — it’s where real voices get heard.
Meera TProgram Manager, International NGO NetworkI joined as an Associate Member and found a home I didn’t expect. Whether it’s jazz night, a weed policy panel, or a photo exhibition, there’s always something that challenges and inspires.
Nattapon S.Bangkok-based FilmmakerMeet our board
The club is run by its members, elected each year.
Sebastien Berger
1st Vice President
Sarah Newey
2nd Vice President
Alan Lonie
Treasurer
Anneliese McAuliffe
Recording Secretary
Devjyot Ghoshal
Corresponding Secretary
Dominic Faulder
Correspondent Director Membership
Jonathan Head
Correspondent Director Publicity
How to get to the FCCT
Ready to join the FCCT community?
Whether you're a journalist, a creative or a curious citizen, we welcome you.