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Publication of Island Locator discontinued
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Posted on Jan 27 2009
Island Locator Magazine, which has been in existence for some 20 years, is ceasing publication due to the economic crunch. Its final edition is the November-December 2008 issue, copies of which are being distributed this month.
The monthly magazine is distributed free of charge to readers and relied solely on advertising to run its business.
Residents relied on Island Locator to “locate” real estate, apartments for rent, cars, and other goods on Saipan. Starting in April 2007, the magazine had expanded its readership with the addition of news features, making it a favorite read by many.
Beth Del Rosario, branch manager of Elite Printing, yesterday said the economic recession, which led to low advertising income, necessitated the closure of the publication but said this may be temporary.
“Once the economy gets better, we may republish the magazine,” Del Rosario said.
Island Locator and Elite Printing are owned by ASG Corp.
“The magazine served a lot of purposes…I’m sure people will miss it,” Dr. Jack Hardy, former owner of Island Locator, told Saipan Tribune.
Hardy and Kayla Kim bought the publication from its original owner, Bruce Smith, around 1995.
“Smith started it in the early ‘90s. I worked with him when I started with photography. I also worked with the other owner, a dentist, usually for free, taking photos. I thought it’s a great idea and asset to the community so I, along with a Korean lady, Kayla Kim, bought it around 1995,” he said.
Hardy, a retired surgeon and now a full-time professional photographer, sold it about two years later to ASG Corp., which owns Elite Printing, that prints the magazine. Resty Segismundo, owner of ASG Corp., could not be reached for comment yesterday.
In the last issue of Island Locator, the editor said the magazine, like any other business on island, tried to stay in business with the economic slump affecting the U.S. and island communities.
“Sadly, our magazine couldn’t stand the beating of the economic difficulties anymore. We have to fold up and temporarily discontinue publishing,” the magazine said.
The last issue’s feature cover is Shodo calligraphy, which originated in China and came to Japan in the sixth or seventh century.
