Out of focus?

Time Out HK’s launch date is nearly upon us and it seems the new editor is running out of ideas. He has convened a “focus group” where lucky participants get to contribute ideas to the new magazine. In Hollywood focus groups usually result in half-baked plots and watered down movies. In the world of publishing, a strong editor is vital, and one who is relying on focus groups before the magazine is even launched is not a good sign. 

Time Out Hong Kong

The Time Out magazine brand finally comes to Hong Kong, with some speculating about an April launch. Whenever it launches, Time Out faces an uphill battle. Time Out has prospered in its foreign locations when there has been a lack of local English-language media to fill the critical/cultural void. While HK magazine may not be perfect, it is established and has improved in recent months.

Hypocrisy and the art of Chen

The SCMP yesterday published an Op-Ed imploring “the community” to move on from the “celebrity photos scandal”. Sensible words and indeed the whole Edison Chen situation has got extremely boring. And as the SCMP stated, it’s time for everyone to move on. Today’s SCMP we could infer from Friday’s Op-Ed would be Chen-free. Alas no; it seems the paper ignored its own advice as half the front page of today’s City section was devoted to the story with three separate pieces about it. Is this “moving on” or are the SCMP pretending to take the high ground while really being as fascinated by the whole grubby spectacle as everyone else? 

Welcome

This is a blog about the media in HK – analysis, opinion, insider tidbits – it will all be here. Feel free to add comments, suggestions or feedback….