China's most widely read magazine, Reader, similar to
the American magazine Reader's Digest, launched an
official website on Thursday, bringing the 16-year-old magazine
into the digital era.
The website (www.duzhe.com) featured 14 columns, including
essays on art and philosophy, and many were printed on the home
page for netizens to read for free.
"The opening of our website is a step forward to meet the
challenges brought by digital publishing", said Peng Changcheng,
editor-in-chief of the magazine.
"In the beginning, the website will aim to provide an
interactive platform between the magazine and readers and expand
the magazine's influence on the internet," said Peng.
"Reader has lagged far behind its counterparts in setting up a
website due to the difficulties in protecting copyright," said
Peng.
"However, Reader should look to the opportunities
brought by the internet. Digital publishing is the future trend,"
he said.
The total market value of the digital magazine industry in China
is 20 million yuan (US$2.56 million) and is expected to hit 1.25
billion yuan (US$160 million) by 2010, according to the market
researcher iRearch.
First published in 1981, Reader is now the most read
magazine in China with an average monthly circulation of over nine
million.
Reader is a digest periodical with articles written by its
readers.
The magazine was originally named Duzhe Wenzhai
(Reader's Digest), which resulted in a copyright dispute with the
American magazine of the same name. In 1993, the Chinese digest
magazine changed its original name to Reader, ending the
year-long legal dispute.
(Xinhua News Agency January 19, 2007)