As a boy back in Malaysia in the early 1990s, there were several publications that colored my life. I do not pretend that I comprehended what I read then but I can vividly recall how I loved those pictures, graphs and tables. My father purchased it and I was simply an excited but confused free rider. I was unsure what I was reading, or really, looking at. More likely than not, I was excited about the editorial cartoons.
Nevertheless, my early exposure to these publications probably have a hand in slowly prodding me into the realm of economics. These publications, among others, were The Economist, Fortune, Asia Inc. and the Far Eastern Economic Review.
The Far Eastern Economic Review — popularly known as the FEER — was probably the number one regional publication for quite awhile in Asia or specifically, in Southeast Asia and East Asia excluding Japan. But the Asian Financial Crisis and subsequent years were harsh for the publication. In mid-2000s, it had to restructure. I remember that it closed down for awhile but Dow Jones came to the rescue. Dow Jones put some life into the FEER.
It appears now that even Dow Jones cannot save the FEER from death. Reports have it that Dow Jones will close the FEER:
Dow Jones on Tuesday announced the closure of Far Eastern Economic Review, a 63-year-old current affairs magazine about Asia, as Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation steps up the restructuring of its businesses in the region.
The company said Feer, based in Hong Kong, would shut down in December as part of a reorganisation to focus on its core products and key markets in Asia, including India, China and Japan. [Far Eastern Economic Review to close. Financial Times. Justine Lau. September 22 2009]
To be perfectly honest, I do not read the FEER any longer.
The last time I had my hands on the FEER was in early 2009. It happened by pure accident; I was waiting for a person and then I thought I spotted a brand that I recognized. I was ecstatic for a moment until I unfortunately discovered that it was not as exciting as it used to be. The closure of the FEER therefore will not affect me too much.
I also do not like the cover. I prefer the old yellowish strip along with the color of black and white so prominently displayed on the front cover. As it appears now, it seems too Harvardish. Yes, I can be that shallow.
Nevertheless, the loss of the FEER will mark an end of an era.
I do however hope that some knight in shining armor will come to the rescue. The FEER is an Asian heritage. It will be most shameful to lose it. It is especially shameful to lose a publication that so deftly fought against the illiberal governments of Southeast Asia. In times when liberalism was a bad word, the FEER was a torchbearer.
If no knight appears, then I fear, I will have to say, thank you for the memories, FEER. And goodbye. Whatever happens, you know that you carved a place in my heart.
