Dow Jones to shutter Far Eastern Review

Dow Jones to stop publishing Far Eastern Economic Review, cites ad revenue, reader declines

• By Stephen Wright, AP Business Writer
• On 2:56 am EDT, Tuesday September 22, 2009

BANGKOK (AP) -- The Far Eastern Economic Review, a 63-year-old magazine that in its prime rattled Asia's authoritarian power brokers with its rigorous reporting, will be shut in December.

The Review's publisher, Dow Jones & Co., which is owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. and publishes The Wall Street Journal, blamed declines in revenue and readership.

Founded in Hong Kong in 1946, the Review published freelance analysis and opinion for some 30 years before becoming a weekly news magazine that charted Asia's turbulent economic and political rise. It was the subject of lawsuits from Singapore's leaders and banned from the island nation.

Dwindling readership and advertising following the Asian financial crisis and dot.com meltdown forced a return to its roots in 2004. Nearly all the magazine's 80-plus staff were cut and it reverted to publishing mostly academic-style opinion and analysis in a monthly journal format.

"Despite several attempts at invigorating the brand, the Review's continued losses in advertising revenue and readers is now unsustainable," Dow Jones said in a statement.

The Review as a monthly publication had a little over 12,000 subscribers across Asia, Europe and the United States.

Its current editor, Hugo Restall, will remain on the Wall Street Journal's editorial board.

Buzz up!