Busy B

Pretty presenter spices up the news

By Suwitcha Chaiyong
Photos by Varuth Hirunyatheb

Thais don’t tend to care too much about weather forecasts, since the weather in Thailand doesn’t generally change too much. However, pretty newscaster Ampairat Techapoowapat (B) has been able to attract a lot of viewers, especially males, with her weather forecasts on Modern 9 TV because of her good looks, charisma and smooth reporting.

B became an anchor at Modern 9 TV after working as a VJ with MTV Thailand. Besides reading weather forecasts, the 28-year-old presenter also co-hosts the news programme Kui Kamong Khao Chao (Morning News), where she presents news in an informative and entertaining way.

Student Weekly recently met up with B at the Modern 9 TV office, and she looked even more gorgeous in person than she does on TV. B told us about her background, her work as a news presenter, and her Sweet Cake bakery shop.

Student Weekly: Why did you originally decide to become a newscaster?

B: Four years ago, while I was working as a VJ with MTV Thailand, Modern 9 TV offered a newscaster workshop for 25 selected participants. The producer at MTV told me to apply for the workshop because I always spoke too fast. He wanted me to improve my presentation skills. I didn’t expect to become a newscaster because I was only interested in entertainment news at the time.

Student Weekly: What was your first time as a newscaster like?

B: I had to stay at the TV station from 11 pm until 5 am and do a live report every hour. I felt tense and awkward. I didn’t dare to look at the camera directly.

Student Weekly: How did you manage to improve?

B: I like to challenge myself. I worked hard to keep up-to-date with news and current affairs. Reading a lot of news has broadened my perspective. I can now talk to anybody about anything. I became more natural when I learned that newscasters don’t have to be formal all the time. I can be relaxed, especially on Morning Talk.

Student Weekly: Since Morning Talk is a live programme, how do you deal with unexpected events?

B: I co-host the show with Jia Sathorn, and he’s a real professional. I look up to him and have learned how he talks and solves situations whenever there’s an unexpected problem. For example, if a wrong video is shown, we have to wrap it up immediately.

Student Weekly: Do you think the weather forecast important in Thailand?

B: Yes. Travellers can prepare properly if they know what kind of weather they will face where they’re going. The weather might seem stable during summer, but if cold weather air suddenly collides with the hot weather it can lead to a big storm. Storms can be dangerous and destructive if you’re not prepared. Tsunami alerts are also very important because they can save lives.

Student Weekly: Have you ever heard viewers say that your pretty looks distract from the news?

B: I’ve heard people tease each other about watching me on the news. [Laughs.] But if they watch the programmes, they must also receive some useful information.

Student Weekly: Can you tell us about your Sweet Cake bakery?

B: The shop is my family business. My sister studied at Le Cordon Bleu culinary school, and I learned how to bake from my sister and mom. We were short-staffed recently, so I had to help them bake cakes, but I usually focus on marketing and public relations. Red velvet cake is my signature dish.

Student Weekly: Do you have any advice for aspiring newscasters?

B: Practice as much as you can. Try reading news stories accurately and clearly. If there are words that you don’t understand, look them up in a dictionary. Try to pronounce difficult or strange words accurately. Keep up-to-date with the latest news, and learn about the capital cities and political systems in each country. Once you understand more about different countries, try to tell a story about another country clearly and casually. Keep practicing and never get discouraged!

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