Fans mourn end of Kwanruen magazine in print

Fans mourn end of Kwanruen magazine in print

Miss Universe Thailand 2017 Mareeya Poonlertlarp appears on the cover of the next-to-last edition of the print version of Kwanruen magazine. (Photo from @kwanruenmag Twitter account)
Miss Universe Thailand 2017 Mareeya Poonlertlarp appears on the cover of the next-to-last edition of the print version of Kwanruen magazine. (Photo from @kwanruenmag Twitter account)

After 49 years in business, <i>Kwanruen</i> magazine has decided to end its print edition, in an announcement that has been greeted with messages of condolence from loyal readers.

The magazine has told subscribers in a letter that the December print issue will be the last of the 1,102 editions that have appeared on newsstands since its debut in 1968. It will continue to appear online and its Sri Siam Printing Press business will continue to operate.

The magazine said financial challenges and the changing behaviour of readers in the era of online and social media were among the reasons for suspending the print edition.

"Kwanruen magazine has been trying its best to cope with the changes in the economy and society which have been affecting its publication all along," the letter to subscribers says.

"After all these 49 years, our staff would like to thank all of our subscribers who have followed us and are our fans."

Kwanruen is the latest victim among local print magazines that have experienced severe declines in advertising and circulation as more readers migrate to digital platforms. Image and Nation Weekly were among others that could not survive the trend.

While Kwanruen was one of the oldest women's magazines in the country, executive editor Satida Klongvessa, the daughter of the founders, had modernised its image to dispel perceptions that most of its readers were older than the magazine itself.

Kwanruen is for people of all ages. It serves the whole family. When you have a copy at home, it’s a good read for everyone, including kids, who have their own section,” she told the Bangkok Post in an interview last year.

Appearing on newsstands for almost a half century, Kwanruen also has a website as well as a Facebook page with 580,000 followers and a Twitter account to promote itself but the strategy apparently was not enough to keep the print product financially viable.

"Kwanruen was my 'teacher' in my career. Although it will be closed now, I hope to see the magazine online. I believe that readers still want to consume good content from Kwanruen," Wongthanong Chainarongsing wrote in a Twitter post on Saturday.

Wongthanong founded a day magazine before taking his followers online with The Standard.

The Facebook and Twitter accounts of Kwanruen do not mention the decision but reactions in social media to the letter to subscribers have started to go viral.

"As a model who has been on the cover, I was stunned when I heard that Kwanruen is another one to go. Would like to give all team members my support and thank everyone," Yossinee Nanakorn posted on her Twitter account.

Kwanruen began life by positioning itself as a magazine for all family members. In its debut edition it called itself a "sweet home magazine".

The magazine offered readers a mixture of family, cooking, health and fashion content as well as dress patterns and handicraft tips. It also built a loyal following among readers and writers alike by devoting as much as 40% of its space to publishing novels.

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