AFP, French partner launch global leisure newswire in Asia
Agence France-Presse and French agency relaxnews have launched a global leisure newswire in Asia that they hope will become the world's leading source for lifestyle news. Aimed at the media, industry brands, PR agencies and telecommunications companies, the service will offer stories and multimedia reports on tourism, home life, entertainment, health and well-being.
Covering a range of subjects from cosmetics to cooking, the environment and travel, relaxnews will provide daily content, a must-see events calendar, video and slide shows, opinion polls and more.
"In the past, we would see science, health and leisure stories in weekend supplements. Now we often see them on the front pages," said AFP's Asia regional director Eric Wishart at the launch party in Hong Kong on Wednesday. "There is a tremendous interest in lifestyle news today," he said.
The new service, launched in Paris late last year, will initially be available in English and French, with Arabic and Spanish services to follow. The wire will have full-time correspondents in New York, London, Dubai and Hong Kong with a desk of 10 editors in Paris. "We have seen 'leisurisation' on a worldwide basis, with people spending more and more time and money on leisure interests," said Jerome Doncieux, CEO of relaxnews.
He added that a survey ahead of the launch had shown the appetite for leisure activities is increasing even in the current economic climate. The new service will be sold on a subscription basis, with 70 percent of the content to come from relaxnews and 30 percent from AFP, one of the world's major international news agencies. The goal is to bring in revenue of 15 million euros (19 million dollars) by 2012.