The Society Of Publishers In Asia Launches The First Of Its Media Insiders Series In Singapore

Singapore, 2 December 2008 – The Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA), in conjunction with SPH Magazines (SPH Magazines Pte Ltd), will run the first SOPA Media Insiders Seriesin Singapore on 3 December 2008. This regional event, entitled “Making Waves with Breakthrough Research: A Stakeholder Forum”, will be held at SPH Media Centre Auditorium.

The guest speakers for the forum will be Mr Steve Garton, Executive Director of Media Synovate and Mr Andrew Green, Global Chief Marketing Officer of Ipos MediaCT, UK. They will be sharing ideas on the changing roles of media and how the development of digital media affects content delivery and consumption.

Mr Garton and Mr Green, with three others – Ms Rosemarie Wallace, Regional Managing Director of Reader’s Digest Asia, Ms Jessica Ho, General Manger of OMD International Singapore, and Mr Loh Yew Seng, Chief Executive Officer of SPH Magazines Pte Ltd, will share their insights on key challenges and opportunities in media research, and how such research can add value to the media business. The panel discussion will be moderated by Mr John McClure, Singapore Country Manager of The Financial Times.

“I am delighted that The Society of Publishers in Asia is working in conjunction with SPH Magazines to bring what I hope will be the first of many SOPA Media Insiders Series to Singapore,” said Alan Lammin, SOPA Chairman. He continued: “This is a reflection of Singapore’s importance as a centre of the media in Asia and also a measure of the spread of SOPA around the region. I have every confidence the SOPA Media Insiders Series will be as well received, helpful and informative in Singapore as they have been in Hong Kong.”

Mr Loh Yew Seng, CEO of SPH Magazines, which is co-sponsoring the event, said: “I’m very glad that SOPA has chosen Singapore as the first location outside Hong Kong to hold its SOPA Media Insiders Series. Besides being a valuable channel for bringing publishers in the region together to share knowledge and experiences, this forum is also a good platform for us to exchange ideas and explore partnership opportunities. SPH Magazines, as a leading publisher in the region, is pleased to have the chance to support SOPA’s initiatives. We look forward to having more such interactive industry events in Singapore.”

This SOPA Media Insiders Series is also supported by the Magazine Publishers Association of Singapore, Media Partners Asia, Singapore Advertisers Association and Singapore Press Club.

SOPA Media Insiders Series
“Making Waves with Breakthrough Research: A Stakeholder Forum”
Date: 3 December 2008
Time: 2.30pm – 5pm
Venue: SPH Media Centre, 82 Genting Lane, Level 2 Auditorium

Programme:
2.30pm Registration & Reception
3.15pm Participants to be seated
3.20pm Presentation (1)
Topic: The Shifting Roles of Media in the New Era – A Platform Vs A Message – Media can no longer be defined by the platform alone, but now shop windows. What audience do they attract? What more remains ahead? Is the medium the message? Are we better placed by addressing Return on Involvement ahead of Return on Investment? How can multi-media pathways empower trans-media story-telling?

3.50pm Presentation (2)
Topic: Does the Internet Mean the End of Civilisation as We Know It? – The explosive development of digital and new media has changed how content is delivered to and consumed by people around the world. How is this affecting “traditional” media? What is the impact on the media and market research worlds? And how do traditional media fight back or ride this tide?

4.20pm Panel Discussion
Topic: The Compounded Power of Print and Digital – The Research Needs & Filling the Gap
5.00pm Closing Note and Presentation of Tokens of Appreciation
5.10pm End of forum

About SPH Magazines Pte Ltd

A leading publisher in Singapore and the region, SPH Magazines Pte Ltd is a wholly-owned subsidiary of media giant Singapore Press Holdings Limited.

With a proven track record for sterling editorial content & award-winning designs, SPH Magazines raises the bar as a dynamic magazine publisher. In its stable are over 100 titles in English and Chinese, covering lifestyle, fashion, beauty, society, bridal, health, men’s lifestyle, movies, automobile, parenting, décor, new media and business. All the newsstand publications, including flagship title Her World, and other well-known titles such as Female, Home and Décor, Nuyou, Torque, HWM and GameAxis are among the highest-circulating titles and best-read in their respective lifestyle categories.

This magazines group can also boast about its 10 luxury titles including its flagships The Peak and ICON. At the turn of 2008, SPH Magazines acquired Asia-Pacific Boating, China Boating, Jet Asia-Pacific, Luxury Properties, AsiaSpa, Polo China and Action Asia under its wholly-owned Hong Kong incorporated company Blu Inc Media (HK) Limited. This suite of titles has effectively made SPH Magazines the leading luxury magazine publisher in the Asia-Pacific region.

SPH Magazines’ established editorial units also provide excellent custom publishing services to major corporate clients by producing custom lifestyle magazines, newsletters and any other collateral to meet their business needs. In the online and IT arena, SPH Magazines also has a highly regarded presence through the portals and publications of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Hardware Zone Pte Ltd. www.hardwarezone.com has consistently been getting rave reviews through the Hitwise awards and from several review watchdogs over the last 2 years such that it has become the most respected portal in Asia.

With a vision to continue growth regionally, SPH Magazines is set to become Asia’s publishing powerhouse. It has publishing houses in China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. SPH Magazines in its fold have achieved strong market presence in their respective sectors, as well as distinguished track records and solid reputations.

At SPH Magazines, the promise is to deliver its best to meet the diverse needs and interests of all its stakeholders and achieve its vision to be a world class Publisher of Choice.

About SOPA

The Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) is a 26-year old regional body incorporated in Hong Kong in 1982, dedicated to promoting best industry practices and facilitating conducive environment for profitable publishing. It represents the interests of international, regional and local publishers in newspapers, magazines and new media in Asia, with a view to fostering better cooperation and understanding among members.

SOPA is a non-profit organization. It is committed to responsible journalism and works to establish standards and guidelines for publishers relating to issues such as quality control, professional development, circulation, advertising and new media. It runs the prestigious annual SOPA Awards for Editorial Excellence to set world-class benchmarks for journalism in Asia. For more information, visit SOPA’s official website at sopasia.com.