Tag: media publication

Singapore – Wall Street Journal (WSJ) is set to relocate its Asia headquarters from Hong Kong to Singapore, resulting in an unspecified number of journalists to be laid off. This after consideration by the US publication following the move from other foreign firms to move out from their headquarters from the Chinese financial hub of Hong Kong.

In a letter seen by AFP, WSJ editor-in-chief Emma Tucker said, “Some of these changes are structural: We are bringing together our business, finance and economics coverage. Some are geographic: We are shifting our center of gravity in the region from Hong Kong to Singapore, as many of the companies we cover have done.”

She also added, “Consequently, some of our colleagues, mostly in Hong Kong, will be leaving us. It is difficult to say goodbye, and I want to thank them for the contributions they have made to the Journal.”

It is worth noting that WSJ has APAC bureaus in Tokyo, New Delhi, Hong Kong, Beijing, Seoul, Taiwan and Sydney.

WSJ’s new move is part of a worrying rise of media-related layoffs and restructuring, the most recent being of Yahoo Singapore laying off staff in favour of syndicated content moving forward.

Singapore – SPH Media has announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire technology media company Tech in Asia (TIA). Through the proposed acquisition, TIA will strengthen the technology media offering of SPH Media, more specifically for its long-time business publication The Business Times (BT).

Moreover, the proposed acquisition will deepen the value BT brings to businesses and readers in the region, and accelerate its goal of becoming a regional player for business and tech news, and events. In the longer term, it will also support SPH Media’s broader transformation efforts.

For SPH, TIA’s commitment to high-quality content and events, is well aligned with BT’s vision of becoming the leading business title in APAC, and this acquisition will help both TIA and BT bring more value to their audiences.

Wong Wei Kong, editor-in-chief, English/Malay/Tamil Media Group at SPH Media, said, “By coming together with their strengths and capabilities, BT and TIA present an exciting business proposition in Asia, centred on good journalism. For SPH Media, this acquisition is a strategic move that will enable us to provide our readers with a more comprehensive suite of products and services.”

Meanwhile, Willis Wee, CEO and founder of Tech in Asia, commented, “We are committed to delivering top-notch content and events, and with SPH Media by our side, we are poised to achieve even greater heights. We are enthusiastic about the opportunities this acquisition will bring. Rest assured, our startup spirit and data-driven approach will remain at the core of our competencies post-M&A.”

In a public letter posted by Wee, he assured its readers that they will still retain its editorial independence following the proposed merger, adding that they will continue to build and serve the tech and startup community in Asia.

Hong Kong – Recognizing that people’s needs and behaviors are changing globally, Tatler Asia, the renowned luxury lifestyle media and publisher of the iconic Tatler magazines, is reinventing itself to deliver more values-driven content. 

According to Tatler’s CEO, Michel Lamunière, over the last five years, they have witnessed first-hand a shift in people’s outlook on media and lifestyle preferences.

With this in mind, Tatler had initiated a 2000-respondent survey of luxury consumers, and on response, will now be putting more focus on topics with purpose, such as female empowerment, sustainability, equality, and LGBTQ, philanthropy, and entrepreneurship.

True to its trademark, Tatler will continue engaging with influential consumers, business leaders, creatives, and personalities, who are shaping Asia’s future, but will now increase its younger audience base to reach the region’s mass affluent, appealing to individuals from a greater cross-section of communities, industries, and walks of life.

Lamunière said, “As a legacy brand, it is our role to redefine media for the future, introduce new initiatives and lead conversations that matter.”

The recent survey also confirmed Tatler’s approach to adding new channels across multiple platforms with alternative business models that go beyond print and digital media. New initiatives are being rolled out in markets, with some piloted and launched, and others set to be introduced by the end of 2022.

Tatler said that one of the most successful spin-offs is its feature Tatler Dining, which is particularly relevant since dining consistently ranks among the top hobbies across demographics, incomes, and regions. Its initiatives include Tatler Dining Kitchen, a culinary hub for food lovers to experience unique off-menu dining, and exclusive collaborations, while The Tatler Bar is a curated online and offline platform designed for the drink connoisseur. 

Within the festival space, OffMenu is an event that mixes local and international F&B trailblazers, chefs, and mixologists, with eclectic entertainment. Outside of F&B, Tatler is also introducing wellness events in collaboration with fitness brands and experts through the sub-brand Tatler Roots.

In addition, Tatler has recently introduced branded VIP venues such as Tatler House, where intimate luxury gatherings, dinners, roundtables, and product activations, among others, take place. It also provides an exclusive ‘second home’ for the group’s community to come together and experience the Tatler brand in real life. Tatler House is located in Hong Kong, Beijing, Singapore, and Malaysia, with more to open across the region in the coming year. 

Meanwhile, diversifying into e-commerce, Tatler Unlisted offers exclusive time-limited products and experiences for Tatler audiences, and the brand is also exploring rewards programs following the launch of UnitedWeDine last year, which was curated to support the F&B industry in Hong Kong.

Lamunière noted, “Our ultimate goal is to empower Asia’s most influential and affluent communities to live their best life and make a positive impact on the world.”

In September this year, Tatler has also launched its new website – a global platform that provides each location personalized content. It is designed to increase engagement with millennials and Gen Z audiences, featuring interactive and dynamic elements.