This is a very special issue for Macau CLOSER, as we celebrate 15 years of publishing. The city and the media industry have changed dramatically over this time, and of course in recent years, the whole world has changed too.
Our first issue in early 2007 featured gaming industry legend, the late Stanley Ho, on the cover, and included an in-depth interview with him about his predictions for the gaming and tourism industry, which was already developing quickly at that time. Today, that industry is facing major challenges that could never have been foreseen. We also wrote about a brand new exciting tech product, the first ever Apple iPhone!
Since then, of course, smartphones and all their various fantastic Apps have totally revolutionised how we communicate with each other, not to mention how we play games and access entertainment, music, news… basically every form of media.
It is fitting then, in our 15th Anniversary issue, that we speak with 15 local people who have really embraced these new media platforms, to become what is now known as KOL’s, Key Opinion Leaders, or ‘Influencers’. There are already many people in town who are using various platforms, mostly Instagram, YouTube and TikTok, to create an online presence, and share their experiences and thoughts with their followers, and some have become quite famous and even managed to turn it into a successful career. But behind the scenes, it’s not all as glamorous as it may seem. We talk to these KOLs about the challenges of producing popular content, attracting followers and staying creative and up-to-date in the fast changing world of social media.
We also interview William Keong, better known as Ginger, Executive Director of Manner Culture Ltd., the leading local company in the area of online content creation, specialising in humorous Cantonese YouTube videos with a distinctly Macau flavour.
In Arts, we check out the new Amagao Gallery at Artyzen Grand Lapa focusing on artwork from the Portuguese-speaking world, and we visit Humarish Club x H853 Art Space at Lisboeta Macau, presenting some exciting new talent from the Japanese contemporary art scene in Light Vision. We also explore the latest work of Portuguese architect and photographer Francisco Ricarte, Dark Matter, at the Art Garden of the Art For All Society.
Recently Wynn Macau hosted the online awards ceremony for Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, so we meet some of the talented chefs at the top of this year’s list. We also take a tour of the 10th edition of Masters of Wines and Spirits (MOWS) at City of Dreams, presented by DFS and featuring an exclusive collection of some of the rarest fine wines, spirits and Champagnes in world.
In Fashion, Longines presents its limited-edition Longines Spirit – Macau Edition at its flagship store in Senado Square. And we meet Bella Horner, the creative entrepreneur behind the local sustainable swimwear brand Alta Bella.
In Home Affairs, we visit the apartment of Danilo Lemos Afonso-Henriques, Timor-Leste Delegate for the Forum for Commercial and Economic Cooperation between China and Portuguese Speaking Countries (Macau) since 2014.
And for all those aspiring KOLs, we also road test the brand new Xiaomi 12X phone and it’s fantastic 50MP wide-angle camera.
Fifteen years of publishing is a great milestone for us here at CLOSER, and we are very happy to have been able to feature so many interesting stories about this amazing and dynamic city that we call home. We are also tremendously grateful to all our partners and readers for your ongoing support over the years, and we look forward to many more years of covering all the fascinating people and events of this city.
Happy Reading!