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Confirmed: that's Beijing to re-launch, old staff to start new mag
- By Cam MacMurchy
- Published June 11, 2008
- China Media News , News
-
Rating:
HANOI, VIETNAM – The management team of True Run media has circulated an email to all staff outlining the changes that are now taking place.
As we told you earlier, True Run will be splitting from China Intercontinental Press. CIP will continue operating a magazine under the title that’s Beijing, while True Run will launch its own magazine called The Beijinger using former that’s Beijing staff.
The email posted below is from Managing Editor Adam Pillsbury and was sent to the editors of True Run:
From: Adam Pillsbury
Date: Jun 11, 2008 11:29 AM
Subject: Putting a few rumors to rest
To:
Hey Guys,
Here's some information on recent developments at True Run Media, the parent company of Immersion Guides. It may seem dramatic on the surface of it, but we're all feeling rather calm here. Hopefully, the info that follows will put to rest some of the rumors that have been circulating in Beijing.
Our company, the producers of "that's Beijing" magazine since its debut issue in October 2001 right through the June 2008 issue, will now no longer be involved with the brand "that's".
Our publisher, who controls the publishing license of "that's", has ended our long-term cooperation and hired someone else to produce "that's Beijing" magazine from now on.
Our company, however, will be soldiering on with a magazine you'll find to be quite similar to that's Beijing -- a magazine to be called "the Beijinger" which will make its debut with the July 2008 issue.
It features the same layout, the same content, the same distribution, and most importantly, the same team that has brought you that's Beijing since we created its debut issue in October 2001.
Certainly there will be confusion as a new team of people we don't know begins producing a magazine called "that's Beijing". Our publisher has not told us who they are or when their first issue will come out.
While it is a shame our publisher will no longer allow us to use the "that's" brand, we are confident that it's the people -- our editors, salespeople, distribution team, marketing team and all of our support staff -- that has made this brand what it is, and these same people will have no problem making "the Beijinger" every bit as impactful as its former incarnation.
I hope I can count on your support of our newly rebranded title and help me spread the word that the team that brought you "that's Beijing" for almost seven years now will now be bringing you "the Beijinger".
Sincerely,
Adam
PS: Our other magazines Agenda, Urbane and tbjkids, as well as our Immersion Guides series of books and maps, are unaffected by this move. We'll continue to bring you the best of Beijing with each of these products.
Spread The Word
6 Responses to "Confirmed: that's Beijing to re-launch, old staff to start new mag" 
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said this on 12 Jun 2008 9:47:36 AM PST
Micheal Wester at Truerun sent this out on FACEBOOK on June 9, 2008. Its hardly a scoop or a private e-mail sent to staff. Why present it as such?
"Hi all -- It's official -- my company, the producer of "that's Beijing" magazine since its debut issue in October 2001 right through the June 2008 issue, will now no longer be involved with the brand "that's". Our publisher, who controls the publishing license and trademark of "that's", has ended our long-term cooperation and hired someone else to produce "that's Beijing" magazine from now on. Our company, however, will be soldiering on with a magazine you'll find to be quite similar to that's Beijing -- a magazine to be called "the Beijinger" which will make its debut with the July 2008 issue. It features the same layout, the same content, the same distribution, and most importantly, the same team that has brought you that's Beijing since we created its debut issue in October 2001. Certainly there will be confusion as a new team of people we don’t know begins producing a magazine called "that's Beijing". Our publisher has not told us who they are or when their first issue will come out. While it is a shame our publisher will no longer allow us to use the “that’s” brand, we are confident that it's the people -- our editors, salespeople, distribution team, marketing team and all of our support staff -- that has made this brand what it is, and these same people will have no problem making "the Beijinger" every bit as impactful as its former incarnation. I hope I can count on your support of our newly rebranded title and help me spread the word that the team that brought you "that's Beijing" for almost seven years now will now be bringing you "the Beijinger". Sincerely, Mike Wester PS: Our other magazines – Agenda, Urbane and tbjkids, as well as our Immersion Guides series of books and maps, are unaffected by this move. We’ll continue to bring you the best of Beijing with each of these products." |
Author/Admin)|
said this on 12 Jun 2008 4:14:36 PM PST
Hi,
This is Adam Pillsbury. I'd like to offer two clarifications to this post: First, I am not the managing editor of True Run Media or that's Beijing, but simply the managing editor of Immersion Guides, the company's book and map division. Second, our company does not communicate news of this magnitude to its employees by email. Our boss, Mike Wester, explained the situation to us in person. I sent the email posted above to freelancers, former employees and friends. Thanks for your continued support. Adam |
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said this on 13 Jun 2008 7:07:13 AM PST
@ GracieLi: Thanks for your information. We had actually heard rumblings of what was going on at that's long before we posted something on this website. We felt that posting the direct email from Adam Pillsbury, while not being "breaking news", was authoritative enough to allow us to run the story.
@Adam: Thanks for your clarifications. My apologies for the inaccuracies you mentioned. |
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said this on 07 Aug 2008 6:06:22 PM PST
I can well understand why Mr Waster and co were booted out given my own experience of their appalling lack of manners and professionalism.
I first contacted Mr Pillsbury but finding him a bit of an air-head, decided to contact Mr W instead. 'This is something we're definitely interested in [my book]' (23rd May). He asked some questions to which I promptly gave detailed replies. But no response until one saying 'away on business, will get back to you on my return on June 11th'. Well, despite a few reminders, no reply for a further 8 weeks! Incompetence must surly have featured in their demise. You have been warned. |
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said this on 30 Sep 2008 9:31:23 PM PST
I have tried at least seven time to access "the Beijing" and it keeps crashing. Anyone else have that problem? Would like to get on to the site. Always enjoyed That's Beijing.
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said this on 12 Oct 2008 7:55:25 PM PST
A few months ago I was called in for an interview with the (so called new owners of That's). After I met them I turned it down. They wanted to re-launch That's China and a business magazine called Made In China. When I asked what the time frame was to launch both I laughed at them and said "you've got to be kidding" & "are you making a joke?". I met them in May 2008 and they wanted to launch both with new staff starting in August 2008.
The Beijinger site seems not to be working now. I have a feeling the government may have shut it down. |
