• by Erik Sass  @eriksass1, June 1, 2007

A subscription newsletter targeting people who live and travel overseas, including for business, is relaunching as a full-color magazine with monthly distribution. The new magazine will draw on the company's resources, including a global network of 200 correspondents at several offices worldwide. According to the company, its product line now includes over 40 books, 12 free electronic newsletters, and a Web site that attracts approximately 500,000 unique visitors a month.

As countries become more closely connected in the global economy, a number of new publications have been launched that cater to the business and lifestyle interests of an increasingly cosmopolitan readership. While the circulation of many such titles is relatively modest, compared to general-interest consumer magazines, their audiences tend to be young, well-educated, and affluent.

One title, East-West magazine, targets young Asian-American adults who find themselves moving in two cultural milieus--mainstream America and the heritage of their parents' (or grandparents') country of origin. Covering the interaction of immigrant and mainstream culture, the lifestyle title touches on food, fashion, music, literature, mass media and personal identity.

Global Sources Launches Elegant Living in China

This September, China is getting a new reference magazine for all things "elegant" with the launch of an in-country edition of Elegant Living magazine and an accompanying Web site, according to publisher Global Sources. The new title aims to pick up readers from the existing Chief Executive China brand, already popular in China. According to chairman and CEO Merle Hinrichs, the title, targeting China's burgeoning affluent classes, "will leverage the Chief Executive China brand and its audience of over 1 million readers in print and online."

A number of lifestyle and homemaking magazines have launched China-specific editions over the last year. These include a Chinese edition of Better Homes & Gardens, targeting the country's rapidly growing middle class with culturally appropriate décor and homemaking advice.

Travel Channel Buys World Hum

TravelChannel.com, the Web site of the TV channel of the same name, has purchased an online travel magazine called World Hum, and the two sites will begin sharing content, according to executives from the two companies. The founding editors of World Hum, Jim Benning and Michael Yessis, will continue contributing to the pub as well as TravelChannel.com.

Backpacker Appoints Publisher, Marketing Director

Backpacker, recently purchased by Active Interest Media, has named Kent Ebersole as publisher and Charina Lumley as marketing director, management announced this week. AIM bought the title from Rodale two weeks ago.