While Time Out Beijing editor Tim Pattinson followed his magazine’s licence suspension by sending out an e-mail signalling that the issue is due to be resolved soon, observers remain unconvinced.
“While the relevant paper work and bureaucracy goes on, Time Out Beijing will continue as usual with the July edition and we will continue to upload all content to our website,” said Pattinson in the e-mail.
“SEEC, the publishers of Time Out China, are currently solving these problems and have procured a new licence, which will enable Time Out Beijing to continue publishing.”
While publishing in English in China is never without its challenges, we are disappointed that Time Out Beijing could be halted with no notice in the run-up to the Olympic Games.” Sources in Beijing said the development followed the change of Time Out’s domestic partner from CIMG to SEEC last year.
While the Chinese version of Time Out does have a licence, it is thought the English edition does not.
“Though SEEC, has good relations with the administration, it is nowhere near the previous publisher in terms of guangxi,” said a source. Outgoing That’s Beijing editor Mike Warner said the magazine’s editorial staff would be starting a magazine called The Beijinger, launching this month, following the publisher’s decision to hire a new editorial team to carry on the publication.
Like most English magazines in China, Time Out and That’s Beijing have inhabited a legal grey zone where they depend on local partners for their licences, making Government attention unwelcome. The expense and effort associated with getting Government approval for English printing has made such setups common practice.
Beijing keeps expat media in check
BEIJING - Two crackdowns on Beijing expat magazines - the impounding of Time Out Beijing's English edition and the full editorial takeover of That's Beijing by local partner True Run Media - suggest the mainland Government is paying closer attention than usual to local English media in the run-up to the Olympics.
