New foreign magazines put on hold

Approval for new foreign magazines featuring content outside of the science and technology sector has been put on hold by the General Administration of Press and Publication, the Wall Street Journal reported. The move actually represents the official confirmation of a measure that has been in place for about a year, limiting the kinds of publication that can receive government approval. It appears this further step has been taken in response to the confusion surrounding rock music magazine Rolling Stone, which made its China debut last month only to be promptly banned as it hadn't applied for GAPP approval. The moratorium on new titles is likely to hit lifestyle magazines the hardest as foreign publishers were looking to exploit this market while television remains off limits to overseas participation. Foreign companies can only publish magazines in China through “copyright cooperation” agreements with state-owned partners.