ASEAN Media Organizations Unite to Launch ePaper

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ASEAN’s four leading English-language newspapers have united to launch a joint ePaper subscription that will seek to unite their readership on a single news platform.

The Kuala Lumpur-based The Star, Jakarta-based The Jakarta Post, Manila-based Philippine Daily Inquirer and Bangkok-based The Nation will launch the joint ePaper tomorrow with initial subscriptions costing RM360 (US$110).

“This is a historic moment for us, an unprecedented cooperation of media organizations. Perhaps this is the first time there has been such cooperation in the realm of newspaper media in the world. It is an opportunity for readers to widen their knowledge and know their neighbors on a more meaningful level,” commented Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai, managing director and CEO of The Star.

The new ePaper will enable subscribers to access full content from all four papers with one subscription supported by CIMB Group. Subscribers can download the content on their smartphone, tablet and computer desktop.

At a ceremony last weekend in Kuala Lumpur, representatives from each of the four newspapers gathered together to announce their new partnership.

The four organizations are also members of the Asian News Network, comprised of 28 Asian newspapers, including The Straits Times, China Daily and The Statesman, and more members of the organization are expected to participate in the ePaper venture in the near future.

The new ePaper is expected to reach 450 million viewers from across ASEAN according to CIMB Group CEO Nazir Razak.

“This is a fantastic initiative. When I was told about it, I jumped at wanting to be a part of it. I dream of the day when I’m asked where I’m from and I say I’m from Malaysia, I’m from ASEAN. That common sense of identity can only be achieved with the active support of media communications. I hope this collaboration will even go beyond ASEAN in the future,” he said.

Dezan Shira & Associates is a specialist foreign direct investment practice, providing corporate establishment, business advisory, tax advisory and compliance, accounting, payroll, due diligence and financial review services to multinationals investing in emerging Asia. Since its establishment in 1992, the firm has grown into one of Asia’s most versatile full-service consultancies with operational offices across China, Hong Kong, India, Singapore and Vietnam in addition to alliances in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand as well as as well as liaison offices in Italy and the United States.

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