FOREIGN joint venture media company Myanmar Consolidated Media (MCM) has announced that it will soon start publishing a new weekly journal called NOW!.

“I’m happy to announce that the Press Scrutiny and Registration Division has given us formal approval. We have a dedicated, disciplined team at MCM involved in this project, which will allow the company to train key staff in publishing management skills,” said Ross Dunkley, CEO and Editor in Chief of MCM.

Mr Dunkley said the magazine – a full-colour lifestyle weekly for women and men aged 18 to 40 – will target a high-end demographic that includes young decision makers and those with ample disposable income, many of whom are eager to stay in touch with what is happening beyond Myanmar’s shores. The journal will feature extensive international coverage of fashion and celebrity news – similar to what is found on international TV channels and in glossy magazines.

Unlike existing local lifestyle and fashion magazines, which are prohibitively expensive for most Myanmar readers and only come out once a month, NOW! will be able to stay abreast of current trends by publishing features, gossip and celebrity photos on a weekly basis. The newsstand price of the 52-page Myanmar-language journal will be just K500 a copy.

“NOW! is quite unusual for this market as it represents the first of its kind in Myanmar,” Mr Dunkley said. “We are harnessing our expertise, authority and commitment to excellence to produce a truly unique product. We are confident that NOW! will set a new benchmark here in terms of celebrity coverage, fashion and beauty with a classy photographic style and international-standard editorial content.

“Expect an in-depth look at the latest fashions, Hollywood and Bollywood gossip and features on health, careers, travel and technology. The journal’s shopping guides and beauty columns will keep readers in touch with the ever-changing notions of Myanmar beauty,” Mr Dunkley said.

NOW! will serve as a guide to good living, he explained, with a focus on looking and feeling good. Also featured will diet and exercise advice, recipes, horoscopes and the latest home décor looks.

“NOW! understands what living well is all about. Our target audience, of course, are young and affluent self-starters – and those who want to be like them. For those people, NOW! will be indispensable,” Mr Dunkley said.