THE RISE OF THE ECONOMIST

The Economist is a model that many publishers would like to emulate when it comes to circulation. In the United Kingdom it has enjoyed a massive 58 consecutive rises in its ABC audited circulation, while globally it has recorded a 95% circulation growth in just 10 years.
One reason, as far as I can see, is that it's hard to find a newsagent that doesn't have copies on the shelves.
I'm in the U.K. for Christmas and the New Year right now, and even my local, out-of-the-way, 7-Eleven-style shop has two copies on the shelves.
I can only imagine the distribution costs involved in supplying copies to this level of shops, not only in the U.K. but around the world, but it's got to be a significant factor behind the continued success of this global magazine. You just don't see copies of magazines like Time, Newsweek, Bloomberg Businessweek, Fortune, etc, in anywhere near these numbers.

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SNOW NEWS: MY EXPERIENCES

Snow problems at London's Heathrow Airport were in the news earlier this week, but my own experiences arriving on Thursday were very different.
My flight on Jet Airways from Mumbai was less than two-thirds full, despite two days of prior cancellations. Even the cabin crew were surprised; one suggested it was down to passengers opting to cancel non-essential travel.
So although there were well-documented problems earlier in the week things were very much back to normal, and very much unreported, very soon after. My flight was even 10 minutes early arriving!

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INBOUND ASIA DROPS PRINT FOR DIGITAL

Thailand-based Inbound Asia magazine is to move entirely online from its January edition.
In a statement the publisher of the magazine which made its debut in April 2009 explained the three main reasons behind the decision to abandon print.
"The huge use of paper and ink required to print over 10,000 magazines every issue is no longer appropriate or necessary, neither are the resources used to distribute & deliver hard copy magazines. In this electronic age, especially with the recent advent of iPad, Android, and numerous online magazine software packages, we can deliver our news, articles and advertising to a much larger, more diverse audience, whilst retaining our specifically targeted HNW readers through PDF delivery as well."
The statement concluded: "By redirecting funds previously used for printing & distribution we will free-up funds for more quality articles & photography, attending & hosting more events, and at the same time pass on the savings to advertisers who will benefit enormously from this new initiative. We will also be able to direct more funds to our adopted charity which investigates & combats human trafficking in Asia – SISHA www.sisha.org."
The magazine, which is hailed as the official magazine of the The Luxury Network Asia, has seen monthly, bi-monthly and quarterly frequencies during its short life. It also collected a runners-up prize for excellence in content generation at the Asia Publishing Awards earlier this year.
In my opinion this is a brave decision. Printing upwards of 10,000 copies of what is/was a well-produced magazine will reduce monthly expenses by 250,000 baht alone, but it remains to be seen whether advertisers will support this move. I wish the publishers well with this endeavour.

h/t to Bill at Radio Bangkok.

ADD: I now understand that at least one senior member of staff has recently lost their job, perhaps suggesting the decision to abandon print might be part of a wider cost-cutting plan?

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MAGAZINES FAR FROM DEAD - PEARLSTINE

“Magazine's will be around for many years yet,” says Norman Pearlstine, the Chief Content Cfficer of Bloomberg and Chairman of Bloomberg Businessweek.
Pearlstine (pictured right with Ensign Media Publishing Director Andrew Batt), a journalist for more than 42 years and whose past positions included Managing Editor of The Wall Street Journal and Editor-in-Chief for Time Inc. where we responsible for contact in more than 150 magazines – was in Bangkok last week to take part in a series of events to promote Bloomberg Businessweek Thailand – the local Thai language edition published by White Knight Media Co. Limited.
Magazine are far less timely, Pearlstine explained, and as such will continue to command readers, while newspapers and other media that relies on speed are likely to struggle.
During his whirlwind visit Pearlstine met the staff of White Knight Media and Ensign Media at its new Sukhumvit Soi 39 headquarters. He spoke about the history and Bloomberg, the reason why Businessweek purchased in December 2009. With the “dedicated and dynamic' team responsible for Bloomberg Businessweek Thailand under White Knight Media he shared plans on how the company expects to develop the 81 year-old magazine which boasts more than 1,700 journalists around the world – and discussed plans to further intergrate the local edition into the global Bloomberg family.
During a lunchtime talk at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand moderated by Tim Johnston of The Financial Times, Pearlstine spoke about the Wikilieaks incdicents, agruing the main story which many have missed is how a Private in the U.S. Army in Baghdad was able to download 250,000 classifield cables without being notice. “In today's digital age anyone can be a journalist,” said Pearlstine.
Later he spoke to a focused group of students, journalists and journalism lecturers in an event hosted by Sasin. Looking at the challenges facing tomorrow's journalists, Pearlstine spoke of his predication that journalists will been to me able to multi-skill – write for web, write long form, write for blogs, tweet, known how top operate a video can, podcast, etc. Pearlstine also enjoyed dinner with key contacts of Bloomberg Businessweek Thailand during his time in Bangkok, revealing more about Bloomberg's plans for Businessweek and how both brands are planning to work together to provide a better platform for business professionals in Thailand.

Disclosure: White Knigt Media took over the licensing responsibilities from the previous publisher on 1st November 2010, although Bloomberg Business Thailand (Businessweek Thailand as it was previously) has been publishing in Thailand since August 2007. Andrew Batt, publisher of The Bangkok Bugle, is Publishing Director for Ensign Media who has signed a management agreement with White Knight Media.

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GRAB EVERY OPPORTUNITY

In publishing you have to grab every opportunity with both hands. That's what happened recently at the Ploenchit British Fair when Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was touring stallholders.
My company was promoting our recent launch Business Report Thailand magazine, and my sales manager Khun Tonk literally thrust a copy of the magazine into the path of the PM.
Thankfully this ambush turned out well and Khun Abhisit, watched in this picture by editor Oliver and Sales Manager Tonk, duly signed a copy of a page from the debut edition which featured an image of himself.
When framed it will make something nice for our reception area.

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DON'T MISS PEARLSTINE LIVE IN BANGKOK

Don't miss your chance to hear Norman Pearlstine, Chief Content Officer of Bloomberg and former Managing Editor of Time Inc. during his visit to Bangkok next week.
On Thursday December 16 there will be an opportunity for journalism students, MBA students and media professionals in the Thai capital to listen to Pearlstine for free. The event - at Sasin - runs from 4pm until 5.30pm and you can register HERE for free. Pearlstine will be discussing the challenges for journalists of tomorrow, and there will also be an opportunity for audience questions.
Pearlstine has spent nearly four decades working as a reporter and editor. He was Editor-in-Chief of Time Inc., the magazine subsidiary of Time Warner Inc. from 1995 through 2005 before becoming a Senior Advisor to Time Warner. At Time Inc. he oversaw the editorial content of Time Inc.’s 154 magazines, including Entertainment Weekly, Fortune, In Style, Money, People, Real Simple, Sports Illustrated and Time.
Prior to joining Time Inc., Pearlstine also worked for The Wall Street Journal as Managing Editor of The Asian Wall Street Journal (1976-1978); National Editor (1980-1981); Editor and Publisher of The Wall Street Journal/Europe (1982-1983); Managing Editor (1983-1991); and Executive Editor (1991-1992).
He spent a year launching Smart Money magazine, and in January 2005 the American Society of Magazine Editors named him the recipient of its Lifetime Achievement Award and inducted him into the Magazine Editors’ Hall of Fame. He was honored with the Loeb Lifetime Achievement Award for Distinguished Business and Financial Journalism in 2000, and also received the National Press Foundation’s Editor of the Year Award in 1989.
Pearlstine, who will be in Bangkok to assist with the promotion of Bloomberg Businessweek Thailand, will also be taking part in events at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand and the British Chamber of Commerce.
Seats for the free event at Sasin are limited. Register now to avoid disappointment.

DISCLOSURE: I am Publishing Director for Ensign Media which manages aspects of Bloomberg Businessweek Thailand magazine on behalf of the publisher White Knight Media.

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