Far Eastern Economic Review to call it a day after 63 years

The Far Eastern Economic Review, which for decades chronicled a region beset by revolutions, civil strife and authoritarian regimes, will cease publishing in December.

Its parent company, Dow Jones, said yesterday it would close the magazine to 'focus on its core publications' and so that 'opinion and commentary resources from Asia can be expanded across all Dow Jones properties'.

Todd Larsen, chief operating officer at Dow Jones Consumer Media Group, said: 'The decision to cease publication of the Review is a difficult one, made after a careful study of the magazine's prospects in a challenging business climate.'

A statement noted that continued losses in advertising revenue and readers 'is now unsustainable'.

The Review had already irrevocably changed when it was converted from a weekly into a monthly journal in 2004.

Nevertheless, 'it's a sad day', said writer and political commentator Frank Ching, who served in various editorial positions on the Review.

'This feels like a second death. But at least [in 2004], the name continued. Now, even that is gone.'