Tech in Asia hires veteran journalist as editor-in-chief

Dear readers,

Ten years ago, Tech in Asia was just a simple “blog” started by a university student.

By the time I joined in 2013, it had already earned a reputation as a leading source of tech and startup news in Asia.

With little management experience, I was soon thrust into the chief editor role and unprepared for what was to come.

We’ve made plenty of mistakes, but we’ve also learned a lot and became a professional newsroom in the process.

Last year, we launched a subscription program, and our content was no longer 100% free.

I’ll confess that I had my doubts about this move. It was a big change, and many people on social media understandably balked at the news.

But those fears proved to be unfounded.

It was challenging for our newsroom to transition from focusing on quantity to quality, but we did it. We racked up thousands of subscribers quickly. And we’ve grown week after week since the launch, even after our promotional pricing ended.

We’ve reached a point where the newsroom is profitable based on subscription revenue alone – and that’s not counting our sizable ads and branded content income.

But despite these achievements, we still have a long way to go. We can be more consistent, and content quality can improve.

That’s why we’ve made a couple of key hires to help write Tech in Asia’s next chapter.

Jonathan Burgos, our new editor-in-chief, comes with decades of experience at AFX Asia, Thomson Reuters, Bloomberg, and Forbes.

Despite having joined us for just a few weeks, his experienced hand and steady voice have already helped shape our stories and made them better. Check out our most recent premium content here.

I’m confident that our newsroom will continue to grow under his mentorship and guidance.

I’m also happy to announce that we’ve hired Kenan Machado as our senior correspondent. A seasoned reporter with stints at Reuters, CNBC, and The Wall Street Journal, he’s already made an impact with his stories on India.

These new teammates give me the assurance to step away from the EIC role and contribute to Tech in Asia in the best possible way. As our chief correspondent, I can go back to leading the best way I know how: by example.

This decision to move to the frontlines has been in the works for some time now. The search for a new EIC began many months ago, when I told our founder, Willis Wee, about my desire to go back to my first loves: writing, journalism, and content.

It was clear that the team needed a full-time leader. It’s a role that involves a host of processes, such as planning, editing, mentoring, hiring, and implementing. The chief editor is also a conduit between the editorial team, other departments, and the audience.

So I found myself at a crossroads: I needed to choose between being a full-time manager and being a hands-on content person. And even though Willis asked me many times if I was sure about my decision, I’ve never been clearer about what I want.

Even as I kept the chief editor seat warm, you might’ve noticed that I’ve been publishing more lately.

The reason is simple. Our shift to a subscription model has allowed journalists like me to focus on value-adding reporting. Outside of Tech in Asia, there aren’t many places where I can completely devote myself to in-depth tech journalism.

And what better region to set my sights on than Southeast Asia?

You can expect more stories from me as Tech in Asia’s chief correspondent. I’ll also focus on creating cutting-edge content formats that will take the industry forward.

I’ll also be working behind-the-scenes with Jonathan to build out a structured training program and mentor the next generation of reporters. We’re known as a training ground for some of the best tech journalists in Asia, and I’m excited to build on that track record.

Another thing I’m excited to do: playing a part in reversing journalism’s downward trajectory. I’m sick of hearing about layoffs and attrition in newsrooms around the world, and the resulting decline content quality and erosion of readers’ trust.

There’s no reason why journalism can’t be a fulfilling and, yes, decent-paying career (we’re hiring, by the way). While the industry continues to struggle, the tide seems to be turning, and I hope Tech in Asia continues to be part of that developing story.

Beginning next week, Jonathan will be taking over our weekly editor’s letter. He’ll also be rolling out a series of interviews spotlighting the talented individuals in the editorial team.

I’m sure you’ll want to hear from him and everyone else, so stay tuned 🙂

Cheers,

Terence
Chief Correspondent