Far Eastern Economic Review to shut down

September 22, 2009 06:18:28 PM

• A⁺ 
• A^-
• |
• 
• |
• 
• |
• 

The Far Eastern Economic Review (FEER), one of Asia's most respected English-language news magazines, will close in December, its owner Dow Jones and Co. announced on Monday.

"Unfortunately, despite several attempts at invigorating the brand, the Review's continued losses in advertising revenue and readers are now unsustainable," News Corp.-owned Dow Jones said in a statement.

It said the magazine, which was launched in 1946, "will cease publication in December so opinion and commentary resources from Asia can be expanded across all Dow Jones properties," which include The Wall Street Journal Asia.

"The decision to cease publication of the Review is a difficult one made after a careful study of the magazine's prospects in a challenging business climate," said Todd Larsen, chief operating officer at Dow Jones Consumer Media Group.

"It has a rich history of pioneering journalism and helped to set the standard for the press in Asia in the post-World War II era when local publications often lacked the freedom to report honestly," he said.

"Dow Jones is proud to have been associated with the Review and its invaluable contributions to the understanding of the Asia region," he said.

"By increasing resources into growth areas at Dow Jones, we'll better serve a diverse group of readers and advertisers across Asia," said Christine Brendle, publisher of The Wall Street Journal Asia.

Dow Jones said Hugo Restall, the Review's editor since October 2004, will remain a member of The Wall Street Journal editorial board.

It said current Review subscribers will be offered a one-year subscription to asia.wsj.com, the regionally dedicated edition of the Wall Street Journal's website.