Classified Post launches a new look for print and online, and introduces fuel for young executives

Hong Kong, February 26, 2010 – The South China Morning Post announced the re-launch of Classified Post, its recruitment service publication and the sister website ClassifiedPost.com starting today. In addition, the Classified Post franchise expands its integrated recruitment platform further with a new career supplement magazine – fuel.

New design layout improvements in Classified Post, targeting middle to senior positions, include better navigation to make job searches easier. The revamped broadsheet will now carry more in-depth editorial, plus the latest news and reviews from industry leaders and employers. Classified Post will continue to be available at convenience stores, newsstands and bookstores every Saturday, and will also be circulated with the South China Morning Post.

Spurred by the success of being the leading job site with quality member profiles, employers and jobs, ClassifiedPost.com received significant investment to enhance the user experience and digital functionalities. Visitors can surf the site more easily through its improved user interface. A key feature of the upgrade is the world-class career matching technology. "This state-of-the-art tool helps employers to automatically extract relevant candidates from the database and instantly ranks their compatibility with the job requirements, making the recruitment process easier than ever," explained Ben Abbotts, Senior Manager of Digital Marketing of SCMP. "Precise matching is one of the fundamental requirements in the recruitment business. The right use of technology can really make a difference."

Another development is the introduction of a tabloid-format supplement magazine called fuel. Making its debut on 26 February, 2010 and distributed free every Friday, fuel targets young executives who are looking to solidify their future career prospects. Produced by the experienced editors of Classified Post, fuel will feature extensive content reflecting the interests and ambitions of young, aspiring professionals. This gives advertisers a powerful environment in which to connect with the city’s most up-and-coming executives. The newly-launched fuel will have its own unique distribution network with 2,000 distribution points across high-traffic commercial, industrial areas and higher education institutions.

Commenting on the new enhanced recruitment tools, Elsie Cheung, Director of Advertising and Marketing Services of SCMP, said, "Recent statistics indicate that SCMP has the largest market share in publication recruitment advertising at 40.9%. We are committed to providing advertisers and job seekers the best integrated recruitment platform in the market, and continue to maintain our competitive advantage by leveraging our expertise and resources. The new inclusions, deriving from consumer insights, are meant to reflect the increased strength of Classified Post."

The relaunch of Classified Post will be supported by a new marketing campaign "Make Every Move Count". The commercial launch of fuel will also be communicated through extensive advertising throughout Hong Kong.

About the South China Morning Post

SCMP Group Limited (SEHK: 583) is a leading newspaper and magazine publisher in Asia. Its flagship publication, South China Morning Post, is Hong Kong’s premier English language newspaper and has the city’s most affluent and influential readership. First published in 1903, the newspaper has developed an enviable reputation for authoritative, influential and independent reporting on Hong Kong, China and the rest of Asia. Its online platform, scmp.com, reaches a global audience of China watchers with daily breaking news, multimedia articles and interactive forums. Striving to maintain the highest standards among the world’s quality newspapers, the South China Morning Post receives constant international recognition. It received over 40 awards in 2009 for excellence in editorial, marketing and technical capability. Most recently, the South China Morning Post received 6 awards at the 31st International Annual Creative Design Competition for Newspapers and Magazines, and scooped 12 awards at the 2009 Society for Publisher’s in Asia (SOPA) editorial excellence awards, more than any other media company. Other publication titles of the Group include the Sunday Morning Post, the Chinese editions of Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar and CosmoGirl! magazines.

For media enquiry, please contact:

Earl Lui
Manager, Brand Marketing
Tel: (852) 2680 8121
Fax: (852) 2680 8158
Email: earl.lui@scmp.com

HK Magazine celebrates 25th anniversary

Hong Kong, 13 April, 2016HK Magazine is 25! For a quarter of a century, HK Magazine has held a special place in readers’ hearts as the essential weekly city guide of Hong Kong.

Published by South China Morning Post Publishers, HK Magazine is distributed around the city every Friday entertaining and informing local readers and tourists alike with witty, blithe, tongue-in-cheek stories, columns and reviews.

Remarking on the anniversary, Ms Elsie Cheung, Chief Operating Officer of South China Morning Post Publishers, said, “HK Magazine’s 25th anniversary marks a special milestone for the title, underpinning its resonance with readers and traction with advertisers. HK Magazine’s success reflects two of its core qualities: time-tested understanding of Hong Kong’s city life as a homegrown English-language weekly; and resilience in the tough media environment. HK Magazine’s unique personality and its pulse on local sentiments also help it foster an evolving and lasting relationship with readers and advertisers. We look forward to strengthening that relationship going forward.”

“Twenty five years in the business is no mean feat,” said Ms Luisa Tam, HK Magazine Editor-in-Chief. “Our abundant package of features, giveaways and brand new content is just what is needed to honor and celebrate the achievements of the magazine and reward our dear readers. Here’s to another 25 years, Hong Kong.”

Lately, HK Magazine is kicking up a celebratory storm with a number of exciting initiatives. First off the bat was a content revamp that keeps the magazine fresh with new columns while stepping up existing sections on readers’ mails, upcoming events, art, food, entertainment, travel and films. New columns include:

  • My Perfect HK – A centrepiece of HK Magazine’s 25th anniversary. Positivity is the main theme in this new feature with a something-to-look-forward-to spin.
  • HK Giveaways – A competition bringing readers premium giveaways every month.
  • Spotlight – This new column, written in HK Magazine’s signature witty tone, features the latest news and deals from the magazine’s partners.
  • City Stroll – A neighbourhood guide that unearths little-known but interesting things, such as restaurants, shops, sights and sounds, hidden in different parts of Hong Kong.

HK Magazine’s cover stories provide fodder for talks of the town such as how fishballs come to define various aspects of Hong Kong culture, exercising to boost sexual appeal and guide of HK’s local hidden-away food stalls. The content revamp also includes up-to-date advice for the fashion-conscious readers, who can upload their best outfits to Instagram for a chance to have their photos published. Avid tech readers look forward to the magazine’s in-house tech experts dispensing their two cents once a month with the latest innovations on offer.

The website hk-magazine.com and its mobile-optimzed version also have a facelift, becoming more user-friendly with clearly-defined dashboard interface, eye-pleasing visual appeal with pictures and videos and social media sharing functionalities, to name just a few. New and diverse content has also been introduced online to bring the latest and best that Hong Kong has to offer.

As one of Hong Kong’s unofficial representatives, HK Magazine will also be putting on a variety of promotional events to promote “Asia’s World City”, weaving a harmony among the community. These events will bring readers to discover sights in an “off-the-beaten-track” walking tour, dance like no one’s watching at a silent disco or brave it at a donation-raising kissing booth.

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About South China Morning Post Publishers Limited

South China Morning Post Publishers Limited is a leading newspaper and magazine publisher in Asia. Its flagship publication, the South China Morning Post, is Hong Kong’s internationally recognised English language newspaper and has the city’s most affluent and influential readership.

First published in 1903, the newspaper has developed an enviable reputation for authoritative, influential and independent reporting on Hong Kong, China and the rest of Asia. Available in print, mobile, tablets and online through scmp.com and e-reader editions, the South China Morning Post reaches a global audience with daily breaking news, analysis and opinion, multimedia articles and interactive forums. The South China Morning Post received 160 awards in 2015-16 for excellence in editorial, marketing and technical capabilities. Other titles in the company include the Sunday Morning Post, Nanzao.com (南早.com), Nanzaozhinan.com (南早香港指南.com), STYLE, Destination Macau, The PEAK, HK Magazine and The List.

Through the joint venture partnership with Hearst, SCMP Hearst publishes the Chinese editions of Cosmopolitan, CosmoBride, Harper’s BAZAAR, Harper’s BAZAAR Art, Harper’s BAZAAR Bride, Esquire, ELLE, ELLE Men, ELLE Wedding, ELLE Décoration, and ELLE Accessories; and operates Cosmopolitan.com.hk, Cosmogirl.com.hk, Harpersbazaar.com.hk, ELLE.com.hk and EsquireHK.com in Hong Kong.

For further information please contact: communications@scmp.com

South China Morning Post reporter wins coveted Lorenzo Natali Journalism Prize

Hong Kong, December 12, 2011South China Morning Post reporter Fiona Tam (Tan Xiao-mi) won the first prize for the Asia-Pacific region in the Lorenzo Natali Journalist Prize competition. The European Commission and a seven-member grand jury awarded the prize at the ceremony last Thursday night in Brussels.

Her article "Medicine’s Wild East", which appeared in the South China Morning Post in May, exposed the Chinese hospitals profiting from stem cells harvested from induced abortions.

This is the second time Tam has won the prize, the first being in 2009, when Tam and the Post’s reporter Choi Chi-yuk received first prize in the Asia-Pacific region for their article "Deadly Harvest" about the ban on burials in Guangdong and the "black corpses" market under the ban.

The grand jury, headed by senior journalist Toby Vogel from the European Voice, said: "’Medicine’s Wild East’ reveals that many Chinese hospitals are cashing in on the desperation of terminally ill patients, offering unproven and fraudulent treatments based on stem cells and tissues harvested from aborted fetuses."

"The expose has generated intense discussion in China’s blogosphere… With the public increasingly skeptical towards such treatments in the wake of this piece, China is now being forced to consider both the implications of its often lax regulatory system and its approach to human rights in general."

"The article was characterised by the grand jury as a very brave piece and a strong story, with Tam praised for opening so many doors on the subject."

The Lorenzo Natali Prize, established in 1992 by the European Commission, is in its 20th year, and is awarded to journalists for outstanding reporting on human rights, democracy and development. Natali, an Italian, was a vice-president of the commission who died in 1990.

17 winners from all around the world were awarded the Lorenzo Natali Prize for outstanding journalistic work covering issues of development, human rights and democracy during the award ceremony in Brussels, chosen from more than 1300 participants. Through this Prize, the European Commission aims to reward journalists reporting in often challenging circumstances, celebrating the ways in which journalism can be a seed of positive change, the inspiration for development, and the engine for democracy and human rights.

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About SCMP Group Ltd and South China Morning Post

SCMP Group Limited (SEHK: 583) is a leading newspaper and magazine publisher in Asia. Its flagship publication, South China Morning Post, is Hong Kong’s world renowned English language newspaper and has the city’s most affluent and influential readership. First published in 1903, the newspaper has developed an enviable reputation for authoritative, influential and independent reporting on Hong Kong, China and the rest of Asia. Available in print, iPad™ and online through scmp.com and e-reader editions, South China Morning Post reaches a global audience with daily breaking news, insightful analysis and opinion, multimedia articles and interactive forums. Striving to maintain the highest standards among the world’s quality newspapers, the South China Morning Post receives constant international recognition. It received 60 awards in 2010 for excellence in editorial, marketing and technical capability. Other publication titles of the Group include the Sunday Morning Post, the Chinese editions of Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar and CosmoGirl! magazines. For more information, please visit us at www.scmpgroup.com.

For enquiries please contact:

communications@scmp.com

SCMP Marketing Services corners the market on Hong Kong luxury property showcase books

Hong Kong, December 7, 2011 – Despite the government’s cooling measures on Hong Kong’s red hot property market, flat prices saw a 13 percent rise in the first 9 months of 2011, and luxury new developments have seen continued demand from discerning buyers eager to snap up a bargain in the recent weeks of market softening.

Against this backdrop, SCMP Marketing Services have been rapidly building a reputation for expertise in the conceptualisation and production of prestigious showcase books for the premium property segment.

In September, the team produced an elegant book for Nan Fung Group’s high-end Happy Valley residence, The Winfield. Sino Land also commissioned books for two of its new luxury developments, One Mayfair and Providence Bay.

All three books focus on an ‘inspired lifestyle’ approach to give prospective buyers a more compelling and aspirational story behind the property designs and benefits.

For the Winfield development in Happy Valley, the book’s theme capitalises on the heritage and exclusivity of living in a unique property conversion within Hong Kong’s long established horse-racing district. The remodeled ex-government building boasts exceptionally spacious apartments, plus stunning views of the Happy Valley racecourse. SCMP Marketing Services’ book “A World Apart”, developed with the concept of juxtaposing visions of the old and new Happy Valley district where East meets West, serves to give a sense of heritage, exclusivity and rare opportunity to prospective buyers.

The Sino Land book for One Mayfair, an ultra-high end development in Kowloon Tong, was also given the aspirational lifestyle treatment. One Mayfair’s no-expense spared design is reflected in the book, which conveys an affluent and privileged lifestyle in the heart of an historically significant elite residential area in Hong Kong.

The book showcases the lifestyle in One Mayfair by reflecting on that of London’s Mayfair, a borough steeped in history, and associated with royalty, prestige and wealth. The property itself is not short of lifestyle touches fit for a Hong Kong king: walk-in wardrobes, marble floors and outdoor dining areas, plus top brand fixtures including Sub-zero, Bulthaup, Kohler, Miele, Gaggenau and Villeroy & Boch..

The other book produced for Sino Land also captures the essence of the property’s unique attributes. The Providence Bay development, which was designed by architects Foster+Partners, makes the most of the designer legacy that comes with buying an apartment created by the team responsible for designing Hong Kong’s Chek Lap Kok airport, the iconic HSBC tower in Central and the new Wembley Stadium in London.

Before embarking on the development of the Providence Bay book, the SCMP Marketing Services team conducted a study of Foster+Partners’ world famous architectural projects. Leveraging their experienced editorial team, SCMP Marketing Services were able to gain deeper insights by conducting interviews with Foster+Partners to understand the wisdom and rationale behind each project.

Sylvia Lee, Head of SCMP Marketing Services, commented: “It’s both a pleasure and a privilege to be appointed to showcase these developments. Each of them represent major landmarks in the high end property market in Hong Kong, and are clearly architectural projects designed for the very best living standards. For many investors and discerning buyers, their first encounter with these projects will be through our books, so it is a great vote of confidence to be appointed for our expertise in property showcase book design.” Previous successful custom publishing projects prepared by the SCMP Marketing Services team included the Behind the Brand Book for elegant beauty brand Clé de Peau Beauté.



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About SCMP Marketing Services

A division of South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd, SCMP Marketing services was established to support the needs of advertisers seeking a more grounded and results driven approach to marketing. Leveraging the connections and experience of the media group, SCMP Marketing Services provides a fully integrated marketing solution, from creative and concept development, to digital and traditional media placement, promotions and events management, custom publishing and more.

About SCMP Group Ltd and South China Morning Post

SCMP Group Limited (SEHK: 583) is a leading newspaper and magazine publisher in Asia. Its flagship publication, South China Morning Post, is Hong Kong’s world renowned English language newspaper and has the city’s most affluent and influential readership. First published in 1903, the newspaper has developed an enviable reputation for authoritative, influential and independent reporting on Hong Kong, China and the rest of Asia. Available in print, iPad™ and online through scmp.com and e-reader editions, South China Morning Post reaches a global audience with daily breaking news, insightful analysis and opinion, multimedia articles and interactive forums. Striving to maintain the highest standards among the world’s quality newspapers, the South China Morning Post receives constant international recognition. It received 60 awards in 2010 for excellence in editorial, marketing and technical capability. Other publication titles of the Group include the Sunday Morning Post, the Chinese editions of Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar and CosmoGirl! magazines. For more information, please visit us at www.scmpgroup.com.

 

For enquiries please contact:

Pauline Wan
Manager, Marketing Services
Tel: (852) 2565 2350 / Fax: (852) 2565 5380
Email: pauline.wan@scmp.com
 

 

Jiu Jik celebrates 10th anniversary and continued growth with aggressive marketing push

Hong Kong, September 19, 2011 – SCMP Group’s Chinese language recruitment magazine, Jiu Jik, celebrates its 10th anniversary this week.

The market-leading magazine title for retail and general administrative positions first launched in July 2001, and has grown to a circulation of 210,000 per week, with free distribution points throughout Hong Kong. Its online site Jiujik.com receives 4 million page views, with 200,000 unique visitors monthly and over 180,000 registered members.

Stanley Suen, SCMP’s Director of Recruitment Services said, “The secret of Jiu Jik going from strength to strength over the years lies in the continuous development of the brand, and innovation in the way we connect with our job-seekers. Jiu Jik held the industry’s first job speed-dating event last year, when job seekers and employers were brought together for a brief encounter. It was a fun idea that worked even better than we imagined. Employers often know whether there’s chemistry with a candidate within the first few minutes of meeting them. The event enabled them to do that with minimal time wastage, drawing from a wider pool of quick interviews then following with in-depths with the top potential matches.”

Jiu Jik’s recent brand campaign also broke the mold for the recruitment category. With a “Jiu Jik” gang of four young peers, and a brightly coloured marketing campaign encompassing viral video, bus advertising, website, print and radio, Jiu Jik boldly focused on empowering smart young job-seekers by giving them voice with the brand proposition “Jiu Jik gets you the job that raises your ‘street-cred’ and gives you a more powerful voice.”

The campaign was supplemented with a highly tactical push at the Education and Career Expo, where thousands of job seekers registered via iPads to win prizes. Additionally in June the 10th anniversary lucky prize draw caught the attention of 1,900 new members and revitalised 1,400 existing members to update their profiles. The following month, Jiu Jik invited ‘fans’ to a sharing competition via Facebook. Followers were able to write in about columns in the paper that they particularly liked, and shared their comments with other followers. The top ten winners were selected by the editorial team. Most recently in August, Jiu Jik took to the streets of Hong Kong, with a roadshow aboard the Jiu Jik Truck. The truck campaign went to 4 high foot-fall locations armed with ‘Hot Jobs’ leaflets and souvenirs, and successfully recruited nearly 1,000 new members.

Mr. Suen added “It’s vital to keep our established brand fresh and exciting, and acknowledge the changes that are happening in the marketplace. We have to stay on top of how our job-seekers communicate to each other, what technology gets them excited, and what promotions really appeal to them. Most of all, Jiu Jik has a unique and engaging brand personality that sets it apart from the other options in the marketplace. What’s important to us is that job-seekers can relate to Jiu Jik as a brand, and that it speaks their language.”

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About SCMP Group Ltd and South China Morning Post

SCMP Group Limited (SEHK: 583) is a leading newspaper and magazine publisher in Asia. Its flagship publication, South China Morning Post, is Hong Kong’s world renowned English language newspaper and has the city’s most affluent and influential readership. First published in 1903, the newspaper has developed an enviable reputation for authoritative, influential and independent reporting on Hong Kong, China and the rest of Asia. Available in print, iPad™ and online through scmp.com and e-reader editions, South China Morning Post reaches a global audience with daily breaking news, insightful analysis and opinion, multimedia articles and interactive forums. Striving to maintain the highest standards among the world’s quality newspapers, the South China Morning Post receives constant international recognition. It received 60 awards in 2010 for excellence in editorial, marketing and technical capability. Other publication titles of the Group include the Sunday Morning Post, the Chinese editions of Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar and CosmoGirl! magazines. For more information, please visit us at www.scmpgroup.com.
 
For enquiries please contact:

Adela Liew
Senior Manager, PR and Corporate Communications Manager
South China Morning Post
Email: communications@scmp.com

Starstreet Precinct and SCMP Marketing Services present a dazzling ‘Starstreet Gourmet & Wine Walk’

Hong Kong, September 15, 2011 – The Starstreet Gourmet & Wine Walk is back this October. Gourmands and wine connoisseurs will be able to savour a delectable range of wines and food, while enjoying exclusive shopping privileges at the stylish lifestyle boutiques in Starstreet Precinct that is known to offer surprises around every corner.

Hosted by Starstreet Precinct, powered by South China Morning Post Marketing Services and sponsored by American Express, this year’s event promises the most fun at the colorful and artistic neighbourhood. From 2 pm to 6 pm on 22 October 2011, patrons will be able to enjoy the delightful offerings at 15 eclectic dining establishments and 10 design-driven lifestyle stores. The area will be turned into a whimsical culinary world with “flogos” – foam-made cutleries, ice-cream and many other delicious food icons floating in the air. Patrons will also meet street performers, body painters and musicians who are ready to greet and entertain visitors.

Fabulous prizes await those who complete the walk by visiting all the participating venues on the day. These include HK$15,000 worth of travel vouchers from Swire Travel* and many others.

All profits of the Starstreet Gourmet and Wine Walk will be donated to St. James’ Settlement to support its charity project, Grant-in-aid Brightens Children’s Lives. The project will improve the learning conditions of underprivileged children aged between 3 and 15 in Hong Kong.

For details of the event and ticket purchase, please go to events.scmp.com/starstreet. Ticket costs HK$375 each, HK$320 each for group of four or more, and HK$280 each for American Express Cardmembers. Hurry and get your tickets now!

*On a first-come first-served basis, subject to the organiser’s final decision. Terms and conditions apply

Starstreet – Gourmet & Wine Walk


Date: Saturday, 22 October 2011
Time: 2pm – 6pm
Venue: Starstreet Precinct, Wanchai
Registration: Three Pacific Place

List of participating outlets (in alphabetical order)
  1. caffè HABITŪ
  2. CASTELLO del VINO
  3. CÉPAGE
  4. Chez Patrick Deli
  5. Classified Star Street
  6. Dressed
  7. Margaret River Wines
  8. NaturoPlus
  9. 1/5 nuevo
  10. PizzaExpress
  11. Pret A Manger
  12. Slim’s
  13. Woo Tung Yakiniku Dining Bar
  14. Xi Yan Sweets
  15. Yo Mama


List of participating lifestyle outlets (in alphabetical order)
  1. Daydream Nation
  2. 45R
  3. Galerie Huit
  4. Kapok
  5. Monocle
  6. OVO GARDEN
  7. OVO home
  8. Sonjia
  9. Spa L’OCCITANE
  10. Vein


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About Starstreet Precinct
Starstreet Precinct, centred around Three Pacific Place and comprising mainly Star Street, Moon Street, Sun Street, and Wing Fung Street, is a destination for those who prefer unique lifestyle choices.

Back in the 1900s, it was the location of Hong Kong Electric’s power plant in Wan Chai. Today, the precinct has evolved into an emerging dining area with strong artistic overtones, thanks to a group of creative talents, designers and free-thinking restaurateurs who have filled the area with cafes, restaurants, bars, galleries, florists and home design outlets.

Together with a thoughtfully landscaped environment and a Three Pacific Place Link connecting the precinct to the rest of the Pacific Place complex, these shops have turned the area into a Hong Kong lifestyle community.

For more information, please visit www.starstreet.com.hk

About SCMP Marketing Services

SCMP Marketing Services provides the most effective integrated solutions to build brands and generate responses for advertisers by pushing all boundaries in marketing. By combining strategic insights and innovative ideas with the credibility of the SCMP brand name and its extensive reader base, SCMP Marketing Services offers a new breed of marketing solutions to clients.

SCMP Marketing Services provides deep expertise in custom publishing, event management, creative support, video services and other integrated solutions.

About SCMP Group Ltd and South China Morning Post

SCMP Group Limited (SEHK: 583) is a leading newspaper and magazine publisher in Asia. Its flagship publication, South China Morning Post, is Hong Kong’s world renowned English language newspaper and has the city’s most affluent and influential readership. First published in 1903, the newspaper has developed an enviable reputation for authoritative, influential and independent reporting on Hong Kong, China and the rest of Asia. Available in print, iPad™ and online through scmp.com and e-reader editions, South China Morning Post reaches a global audience with daily breaking news, insightful analysis and opinion, multimedia articles and interactive forums. Striving to maintain the highest standards among the world’s quality newspapers, the South China Morning Post receives constant international recognition. It received 60 awards in 2010 for excellence in editorial, marketing and technical capability. Other publication titles of the Group include the Sunday Morning Post, the Chinese editions of Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar and CosmoGirl! magazines. For more information, please visit us at www.scmpgroup.com

About South China Morning Post

First published in 1903, South China Morning Post is Hong Kong’s premier English language newspaper and has the city’s most affluent and influential readership. With a reputation for authoritative, influential and independent reporting on Hong Kong and China, it has won 58 journalistic excellence awards in the past year alone. The newspaper is supported with its online publication scmp.com and its Sunday edition, Sunday Morning Post.

For further information please contact:

Pauline Wan
Manager, Marketing Services
Tel: (852) 2565 2350
Fax: (852) 2565 5380
Email: pauline.wan@scmp.com

SCMP Group Limited reports four-fold increase in net profit for first half 2011

Hong Kong, August 25, 2011 – The South China Morning Post Group Limited today announced the unaudited interim results for the six months ended June 30, 2011.

The operating results improved significantly as a result of careful cost management and a more positive economy. Total revenue was HK$443.5m compared with HK$411.7m in 1H 2010, an increase of 8%. Operating profit from principal activities increased 70% to HK$112.8m for 1H 2011. Net profit attributable to shareholders for the period was HK$223.7m, compared with a $52.3m during 1H in 2010. This year’s net profit included a property revaluation gain net of deferred tax of $128.2 million.

Basic earnings per share came to HK$0.143 per share, compared to HK$0.034 per share in 1H, 2010. Interim dividend per share was HK$0.04.

The newspaper publishing division, which generated 84% of the revenue and 72% of the operating profit, reported an increase of 9% increase in revenue and an 80% increase in net profit to $73.7m (from $41.0m for the same period in 2010). Revenue from advertising and marketing services increased by 11%, driven by a higher volume of display advertising in newspaper, glossy magazines and Post Magazine. Recruitment revenue increased 8%, mainly driven by strong growth in online recruitment advertisements.

The un-audited circulation of South China Morning Post in the first half of 2011 was estimated at 101,800 copies, same level as last year, and that of Sunday Morning Post was 81,300, increased by 3% as compared with the first half of 2010.

“The first half results are very encouraging, and reflect careful budget management and significant effort from the team to drive new revenue sources as well as to optimize the existing product portfolio.” said Ms Elsie Cheung, COO for the SCMP Group Limited. “Looking into the second half of this year, the Group will continue to strengthen its print and digital products for readers and deliver exciting new marketing opportunities for its advertising clients. Provided that the economy remains stable in the months ahead, the Group is confident that the business momentum will be maintained in the second half of 2011.



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About SCMP Group Ltd and South China Morning Post

SCMP Group Limited (SEHK: 583) is a leading newspaper and magazine publisher in Asia. Its flagship publication, South China Morning Post, is Hong Kong’s world renowned English language newspaper and has the city’s most affluent and influential readership. First published in 1903, the newspaper has developed an enviable reputation for authoritative, influential and independent reporting on Hong Kong, China and the rest of Asia. Available in print, iPad™ and online through scmp.com and e-reader editions, South China Morning Post reaches a global audience with daily breaking news, insightful analysis and opinion, multimedia articles and interactive forums. Striving to maintain the highest standards among the world’s quality newspapers, the South China Morning Post receives constant international recognition. It received 60 awards in 2010 for excellence in editorial, marketing and technical capability. Other publication titles of the Group include the Sunday Morning Post, the Chinese editions of Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar and CosmoGirl! magazines. For more information, please visit us at www.scmpgroup.com.

For enquiries please contact:

Adela Liew
Senior PR and Corporate Communications Manager
South China Morning Post
Email: communications@scmp.com
 

South China Morning Post wins Jury Commendation for World Young Reader Prize in global WAN-IFRA Awards

Hong Kong, August 19, 2011 – The South China Morning Post is proud to announce that Young Post has been awarded a Jury Commendation in the Public Service category for this year’s World Young Reader Prize.

The World Young Reader Prizes, organised by the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA), are awarded annually to innovative newspapers that have devised the best project or activity in areas of young reader development. WAN-IFRA is the global organisation of the world’s press, representing more than 18,000 publications, 15,000 online sites and over 3,000 companies in more than 120 countries.

The award is bestowed on Young Post’s Heritage Detective series, in which schools were given the opportunity to field teams of reporters and photographers to develop stories. The best stories were published on Young Post’s front pages between May and June 2011.

The Jury of the award commented that “This was a great way to get young people with a heavy and academic workload out of the classroom and into their communities to find out about their heritage. It provided them with an opportunity to practise skills they do not normally have the chance to hone at school. It is impressive that the teams participated with no incentive other than to find out more about their heritage and get their stories published in the paper. We really liked the idea of assigning young reporters to gather their own information. We think that encouraging students to create teams is an excellent idea — it makes them more willing to participate and is likely to provide better results on average than a writing competition focused on individual authors. This project provided a great opportunity for young people to find out about and interact with their elders from a different perspective. It showed them that they have important lessons to learn from the older generation. It also helped them to understand the importance of heritage preservation and to respect the history of their city, an important value in this age of modernisation.”

Cliff Buddle, Acting Editor-in-Chief remarked that “Young Post is an English educational tool that is fun and stimulating. I am delighted that the Young Post team has been given this prestigious award amongst global news organisations. The award recognises their great work, and the ability of Young Post to capture the imagination of and to actively engage with our young readers.”



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About SCMP Group Ltd and South China Morning Post

SCMP Group Limited (SEHK: 583) is a leading newspaper and magazine publisher in Asia. Its flagship publication, South China Morning Post, is Hong Kong’s world renowned English language newspaper and has the city’s most affluent and influential readership. First published in 1903, the newspaper has developed an enviable reputation for authoritative, influential and independent reporting on Hong Kong, China and the rest of Asia. Available in print, iPad™ and online through scmp.com and e-reader editions, South China Morning Post reaches a global audience with daily breaking news, insightful analysis and opinion, multimedia articles and interactive forums. Striving to maintain the highest standards among the world’s quality newspapers, the South China Morning Post receives constant international recognition. It received 60 awards in 2010 for excellence in editorial, marketing and technical capability. Other publication titles of the Group include the Sunday Morning Post, the Chinese editions of Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar and CosmoGirl! magazines. For more information, please visit us at www.scmpgroup.com.

For enquiries please contact:

Anne Wong
Director of Marketing
South China Morning Post
Email: communications@scmp.com
 

South China Morning Post launches XXIV 2011 in Simplified Chinese and English

Hong Kong, July 12, 2011 – Following the hugely successful first edition of XXIV in 2010 which received overwhelming demand from advertisers, the South China Morning Post is announcing the expansion of the annual publication to two versions – in simplified Chinese and in English – for 2011.

XXIV 2011 will bring in-depth interviews with some of Hong Kong’s most influential personalities on what the luxury of time means to them and feature their distinct choices for timepieces. Luxury timepieces are fast becoming the first choice as collectables and are increasingly a symbol of unique flair and taste for those who can afford the best in life.

The simplified Chinese version aims to capture the highest spending luxury consumers in Hong Kong – mainland visitors and business travellers. The English version will be distributed to Hong Kong’s elite.

Sophia Yu, Director of Advertising and Marketing Services remarked: “XXIV is more than just another watch magazine. When we developed XXIV, we set out to differentiate our magazine from others in the market by focusing more on the unique stories behind the influential and the successful and their priorities in life. This approach proved hugely successful, and gave our readers both fascinating editorial as well as insight into the personality of both watch and owner.”

She added: “Providing a version in simplified Chinese is a natural response to the demand we’ve had for targeting affluent mainland customers. Our editorial will also reflect the broad interests of both audience segments.”

The simplified Chinese version will be launched on 6 October 2011, and the English version on 9 November 2011.

The advertising booking deadline is 5 August 2011 for the simplified Chinese version, and 9 September 2011 for the English version. For more information, contact advertising@scmp.com or call a representative at 2565 2435.



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About SCMP Group Ltd and South China Morning Post

SCMP Group Limited (SEHK: 583) is a leading newspaper and magazine publisher in Asia. Its flagship publication, South China Morning Post, is Hong Kong’s world renowned English language newspaper and has the city’s most affluent and influential readership. First published in 1903, the newspaper has developed an enviable reputation for authoritative, influential and independent reporting on Hong Kong, China and the rest of Asia. Available in print, iPad™ and online through scmp.com and e-reader editions, South China Morning Post reaches a global audience with daily breaking news, insightful analysis and opinion, multimedia articles and interactive forums. Striving to maintain the highest standards among the world’s quality newspapers, the South China Morning Post receives constant international recognition. It received 60 awards in 2010 for excellence in editorial, marketing and technical capability. Other publication titles of the Group include the Sunday Morning Post, the Chinese editions of Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar and CosmoGirl! magazines. For more information, please visit us at www.scmpgroup.com.

For enquiries please contact:

Anne Wong
Director of Marketing
South China Morning Post
Email: communications@scmp.com
 

12 Honours for South China Morning Post at the Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) Editorial Awards

Hong Kong, June 9, 2011 – The South China Morning Post won an impressive tally of 12 honours at the 2011 Society of Publishers in Asia Awards (SOPA) for Editorial Excellence.

Topping last year’s haul of 10 nods, the announcement was made last night at the annual SOPA Awards ceremony. The South China Morning Post scooped more awards than any other paper, with a total of six prizes and six honorable mentions.

The Post dominated the news photography and feature writing categories, taking both the award for excellence and the honorable mentions. Felix Wong took the top prize for his Qinghai earthquake coverage.

Ng Tse-wei and Paul Mooney’s reports chronicling the case of a mainland defence lawyer won an award for excellence in human rights reporting. A series of reports on the New Territories won Cheung Chi-fai and Olga Wong the award for excellence in reporting on the environment. Naomi Rovnick’s "The Rise and Fall of Taizinai" won the award for excellence in business writing and Shirley Yam won the award for excellence in opinion writing with her insights on listed companies in the mainland. Steve Ribet won the award for excellence in feature writing with his story "Death of a Tyrant" about the teenage murderer victimised by an oppressive village chief in China’s Shanxi province. The seventh award was attributed to a 12th September 2010 issue of Post Magazine for its excellence in magazine design.

In addition to honorable mentions in feature writing, photography, scoop writing and investigative reporting, the South China Morning Post also won recognition for the multi-media news presentation of its interactive eco-watchdog site CitizenMap.

Speaking on behalf of the SCMP, Cliff Buddle, Acting Editor in Chief said, "The pursuit of editorial excellence has always been our promise to our readers, and to equal our best year ever for SOPA award wins in 2011 is a testament to the sheer hard work and dedication of our team. I am delighted they have received recognition for their perseverance."

Appendix I
List of SOPA 2011 Awards won by the South China Morning Post


Excellence in Business Reporting – Award for Excellence
Publication: South China Morning Post
Title of Entry: The Rise and Fall of Taizinai
Award Recipients: Naomi Rovnick, Toh Han Shih, Lulu Chen

Excellence in Feature Writing – Award for Excellence
Publication: Post Magazine
Title of Entry: Death of a Tyrant
Award Recipients: Steven Ribet

Excellence in News Photography – Award for Excellence
Publication: South China Morning Post
Title of Entry: Qinghai Earthquake
Award Recipients: Felix Wong

Excellence in Magazine Design – Award for Excellence
Publication: Post Magazine
Title of Entry: September 12, 2010 Issue
Award Recipients: Steve Ellul

Excellence in Opinion Writing – Award for Excellence
Publication: South China Morning Post
Title of Entry: Shining a Light on China’s Listed Companies
Award Recipient: Shirley Yam

Excellence in Reporting on the Environment – Award for Excellence
Publication: South China Morning Post
Title of Entry: New Territories Series
Award Recipients: Cheung Chi-fai, Olga Wong

Excellence in Multimedia News Presentation – Honorable Mention
Publication: SCMP.com
Title of Entry: CitizenMap

Excellence in Human Rights Reporting – Honorable Mention
Publication: South China Morning Post
Title of Entry: Mainland Lawyers
Award Recipients: Ng Tze-wei, Paul Mooney

Excellence in Feature Writing – Honorable Mention
Publication: Post Magazine
Title of Entry: Gathering Dust
Award Recipients: Paul Mooney, Jim Morris, Te-Ping Chen

Excellence in News Photography – Honorable Mention
Publication: South China Morning Post
Title of Entry: Discovery of the First Body in Ma Tau Wai Collapse Block
Award Recipients: Sam Tsang

The Scoop Award – Honorable Mention
Publcation: South China Morning Post
Title of Entry: PLA
Award Recipient: Greg Torode

Excellence in Investigative Reporting – Honorable Mention
Publication: South China Morning Post
Title of Entry: Clubs
Award Recipient: Vivian Kwok

Appendix II
Full list of 2011 Society of Publishers in Asia Awards for Editorial Excellence


Publication
Award of Excellence
Honorable Mention
Grand Total
South China Morning Post
6
6
12
Apple Daily Hong Kong
3
2
5
Apple Daily Taiwan
2
2
artech
1
1
Bloomberg News /
Bloomberg Businessweek
1
1
Business Weekly
2
2
Central News Agency –
News.com
1
1
CommonWealth Magazine
1
3
4
Dinos Alive!
1
1
Female
1
1
Financial Times
1
4
5
FT Chinese.com
1
1
Global Views Monthly
1
1
Hong Kong Economic Journal
1
1
International Herald Tribune
4
1
5
Jakarta Globe
2
4
6
Life Magazine
2
2
Ming Pao
2
1
3
MINT
1
1
Newsweek
1
1
Phnom Penh Post
2
2
4
The New Paper On Sunday
1
1
The Straits Times
2
2
4
The Wall Street Journal Asia
1
1
2
Thomson Reuters
1
2
3
TIME Magazine (Asia Edition)
3
3
TIME.com
1
1
Yazhou Zhoukan
3
2
5
Grand Total
40
39
79




Celebrating the Post’s wins are (back row from left to right) social media editor Yolanda Ma; acting editor-in-chief Cliff Buddle; China editor Ting Shi; photo editor Yves Sieur; senior editor S. K. Witcher; senior art director Troy Dunkley; (front row left and right) and head of graphics Stephen Case; opinion page editor Robert Haddow.

-End-


About SCMP Group Ltd and South China Morning Post

SCMP Group Limited (SEHK: 583) is a leading newspaper and magazine publisher in Asia. Its flagship publication, South China Morning Post, is Hong Kong’s world renowned English language newspaper and has the city’s most affluent and influential readership. First published in 1903, the newspaper has developed an enviable reputation for authoritative, influential and independent reporting on Hong Kong, China and the rest of Asia. Available in print, iPad™ and online through scmp.com and e-reader editions, South China Morning Post reaches a global audience with daily breaking news, insightful analysis and opinion, multimedia articles and interactive forums. Striving to maintain the highest standards among the world’s quality newspapers, the South China Morning Post receives constant international recognition. It received 60 awards in 2010 for excellence in editorial, marketing and technical capability. Other publication titles of the Group include the Sunday Morning Post, the Chinese editions of Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar and CosmoGirl! magazines. For more information, please visit us at www.scmpgroup.com.

For enquiries please contact:

Anne Wong
Director of Marketing
South China Morning Post
Email: communications@scmp.com