U Magazine to reportedly cease online version

Hong Kong lifestyle and travel magazine U Magazine will reportedly shut its online version on Friday, marking the end of an era for the 19-year publication.

The lifestyle publication, founded in 2005, axed its print version in September 2023 in response to market developments and the digital transformation of the group.

It said that it's a tough decision to suspend the print version, but all digital platforms of the magazine will continue to operate as usual and will be updated regularly. It added that it will arrange refunds for subscribers of the magazine’s e-version.

Don’t miss: U magazine to cut print version as part of digital transformation efforts

Around six months after the transformation, the magazine will reportedly end its online version this Friday, according to ReNews, a local online news website.

It is understood that the company held an internal meeting on 18 June, with the management clarifying that the magazine will continue to operate after restructuring its teams.

However, the magazine's deputy editor refuted the rumour by stating on social media that there will be no team restructuring, and all 32 employees of U Magazine will be laid off, according to The Standard.

MARKETING-INTERACTIVE has reached out to U Magazine for a statement.

Apart from U Magazine, there have been a number of local publications and media ceasing their operations or print versions in recent years. For example, Hong Kong-based newspaper Apple Daily was forced to shut its door in 2021 after its editor-in-chief and four directors were arrested for alleged collusion with foreign forces.

In 2020, worldwide IKEA franchisor Inter IKEA Systems has decided to cease publication of its IKEA catalogue after 70 years as part of its digital transformation efforts. This comes as the furniture retailer see that customer behaviour and media consumption have changed, and fewer people read the IKEA catalogue today than in past years. 

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