HEADLINES: Forbes Global to print in Singapore on back of circulation growth

<p>Forbes Global is to launch a Singapore print site in October, about </p><p>a year-and-a-half ahead of schedule, because of better-than-expected </p><p>circulation growth in Asia-Pacific. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>According to an ABC audit, the magazine's circulation over the first six </p><p>months of this year was 40,000 per issue and that for July and August, </p><p>the figure had risen to 44,000. This compares favourably with this </p><p>year's ratebase, which has been set at 35,000. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Forbes Asia managing director William Adamopoulos said he expected the </p><p>uptrend to continue and forecast a regional circulation of 50,000 by the </p><p>end of this year. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>He said that rising circulation was because of editorial that was </p><p>forward-looking and analytical, which made it immune to all the free </p><p>news available on the 'Net. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>"We're not just a news magazine; we look at what is behind the news; we </p><p>analyse. This is our important differentiation. If we just had news, </p><p>nobody would buy the magazine because they could get everything free </p><p>from the Internet," Mr Adamopoulos said. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Added Forbes Global editor Lawrence Minard: "News per se is just a </p><p>commodity, which you can get anywhere virtually free. But if you have </p><p>personality, strong opinions and views, and usefulness - trends, </p><p>predictions, insights - only then will people take you seriously." </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Mr Adamopoulos said that Forbes Global's circulation rise was not due to </p><p>bulk distribution to hotels and airlines. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>"Some publications are growing their circulation through bulk </p><p>distribution but this is of no use to advertisers, because most of this </p><p>part of the circulation is made up of low or no yield readers, who </p><p>consequently won't show up on the high-end radar," he said. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Forbes Global, he added, has attempted to lure the upscale market </p><p>through a variety of promotions including joint venture marketing </p><p>campaigns such as the one with Singapore's Business Times in February of </p><p>this year, which yielded some 3,000 new subscriptions. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Other similar joint-ventures have taken place in Taiwan and </p><p>Thailand. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Forbes Global, the international edition of Forbes, is currently printed </p><p>in France by Quebecor. From October, it will also be printed in </p><p>Singapore by Times Printers. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Mr Adamopoulos said, "With the circulation now over 40,000 per issue, </p><p>better economies of scale, speed to market and advertising and editorial </p><p>flexibility are key factors behind the magazine expanding its presence </p><p>in the Asia-Pacific region." </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>To support the expansion, Forbes Global has made a number of key </p><p>appointments - Ms Joyce Lim has been named the new circulation director, </p><p>while Ms Tina Wee has been tapped for the marketing manager's </p><p>position. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>The pair were from Newsweek and Fortune respectively. </p><p><BR><BR> </p>