Manila Standard

Manila Standard is an English-language broadsheet newspaper published in the Philippines. It was established on February 11, 1987, during the period of political and institutional transition that followed the end of the Marcos era. Its early offices were located along Ayala Avenue in Makati, one of the country's principal business districts. The newspaper subsequently passed through several ownership and corporate restructurings involving Philippine business groups, while retaining its identity as a general-interest national newspaper. In 1989, the group associated with Andres Soriano III acquired the interests of the Elizalde group. The publishing operation was renamed Kagitingan Publications and later moved to the Port Area in Manila. In June 1991, businessman Alfonso Yuchengco's group acquired an interest and separated the publishing business into a new corporate structure, Kamahalan Publishing Corporation. The former Kagitingan Publications entity was renamed Kagitingan Printing Press Inc., which continued to be connected with the newspaper's printing operations. Enrique K. Razon Jr. later acquired the Yuchengco interests and bought out the Soriano group. By 1997, he had become the sole owner of Kamahalan Publishing Corporation and Kagitingan Printing Press Inc. The newspaper changed ownership again in 2010, when the Razon group sold its interest to the Romualdez group. The change took place as Razon's business interests expanded through Bloomberry Resorts & Hotels Corporation, the operator of Solaire Resort & Casino. A major editorial and product transition occurred in the 2000s. On March 6, 2005, Manila Standard merged with the newspaper Today and adopted the name Manila Standard Today, commonly abbreviated as MST. In 2008, Victor Agustin became chairman of the editorial board. During his tenure, the organization formally adopted an environmental advocacy, adding a stated public-interest orientation to its newspaper activities. The publication was relaunched in a smaller tallboy format in 2015 and used the names The Standard and, temporarily, The New Standard. The format was larger than a tabloid but smaller than a conventional broadsheet, with prominent photographic presentation on the front page. Weekend editions introduced the redesign before it was extended to weekday editions beginning February 23, 2015. That year, the newspaper was named Newspaper of the Year at the Rotary Club of Manila Journalism Awards, with the award associated with its reporting on issues including the Mamasapano incident and alleged payola controversies surrounding the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law. On July 25, 2016, the publication returned to the traditional broadsheet format and restored its original Manila Standard name. The relaunch was timed to coincide with the first State of the Nation Address of President Rodrigo Duterte. The newspaper's coverage includes national politics, business, public affairs, opinion, entertainment, lifestyle, sports, motoring and related general-news subjects. As of the reference material, the newspaper remained owned by the Romualdez family and operated within a wider publishing relationship that also includes the tabloid titles People's Journal and People's Tonight through Journal Publications, Inc.

Manila Standard began publication on February 11, 1987, as an English-language broadsheet in the Philippines. Its first offices were located on Ayala Avenue in Makati. The newspaper's early corporate history was shaped by successive changes in ownership and publishing structure. In 1989, the group of Andres Soriano III acquired the interests of the Elizalde group, renamed the company Kagitingan Publications and moved the operation to Manila's Port Area. In June 1991, businessman Alfonso Yuchengco's group acquired an interest in the newspaper business and separated the publishing company from the printing operation. The publishing entity was incorporated as Kamahalan Publishing Corporation, while Kagitingan Publications became Kagitingan Printing Press Inc. The latter continued to print the newspaper under its changing brand identities. In 1997, Enrique K. Razon Jr., chairman and president of International Container Terminal Services Inc., acquired the Yuchengco interests and bought out the Soriano group, making him the sole owner of the two related companies. The newspaper expanded its institutional identity through editorial leadership and a later ownership transition. Victor Agustin became chairman of the Editorial Board in 2008. During his tenure, the organization formally adopted an environmental advocacy. In 2010, the Razon group sold its interest to the Romualdez group, as Razon developed Bloomberry Resorts & Hotels Corporation and its Solaire Resort & Casino business. The Romualdez family subsequently became the identified owner of the newspaper. The family was also associated with Journal Publications, Inc., publisher of People's Journal and People's Tonight. A significant brand change came from the March 6, 2005 merger with Today. The resulting publication was called Manila Standard Today, or MST. In 2015, the newspaper underwent a visual and format relaunch and adopted The Standard, with The New Standard used temporarily. It introduced a tallboy broadsheet format: larger than a tabloid but smaller than a conventional newspaper, and designed around prominent front-page imagery. Weekend editions received the format first, followed by weekday editions from February 23, 2015. The 2015 relaunch period also brought external recognition. The Standard was named Newspaper of the Year at the Rotary Club of Manila Journalism Awards. The cited reporting included coverage of the Mamasapano incident and alleged payola issues related to the Bangsamoro Basic Law. On July 25, 2016, the publication reversed the rebranding, restored the Manila Standard name and returned to a conventional broadsheet format. The change was timed around President Rodrigo Duterte's first State of the Nation Address. The newspaper's editorial scope encompasses national news, politics, business, opinion, entertainment, lifestyle, sports and motoring. Its column lineup has included contributors writing on public affairs, business, culture, science, food, pets, horse racing and automotive subjects. The available reference material does not establish a current editor-in-chief, current corporate officers, circulation figure, revenue figure or a separately identified parent company. It does establish the Romualdez family as owner as of 2017 and identifies the publication as an active Philippine newspaper.

• 2016

  Return to the Manila Standard name

  [1]Manila Standarden.wikipedia.org

  The newspaper restores its original name and conventional broadsheet format on July 25.

• 2015

  Rebrand as The Standard

  [1]Manila Standarden.wikipedia.org

  The publication adopts The Standard, temporarily uses The New Standard, and introduces a tallboy broadsheet format.

• 2010

  Romualdez group acquires the newspaper

  [1]Manila Standarden.wikipedia.org

  The Razon group sells its interest to the Romualdez group.

• 2008

  Victor Agustin takes editorial-board chairmanship

  [1]Manila Standarden.wikipedia.org

  Agustin becomes chairman of the Editorial Board, during which period the organization adopts an environmental advocacy.

• 2005

  Merger with Today

  [1]Manila Standarden.wikipedia.org

  The newspaper merges with Today on March 6 and becomes Manila Standard Today.

• 1997

  Enrique K. Razon Jr. becomes sole owner

  [1]Manila Standarden.wikipedia.org

  Razon acquires the Yuchengco interests and buys out the Soriano group.

• 1991

  Kamahalan Publishing Corporation is incorporated

  [1]Manila Standarden.wikipedia.org

  The publishing business is separated from the printing operation, with Kamahalan Publishing Corporation serving as the publishing entity.

• 1989

  Soriano group acquires the Elizalde interests

  [1]Manila Standarden.wikipedia.org

  The company is renamed Kagitingan Publications and later relocates to the Port Area in Manila.

• 1987

  Manila Standard is founded

  [1]Manila Standarden.wikipedia.org

  The newspaper begins publication on February 11, 1987, with offices on Ayala Avenue in Makati.

National English-language broadsheet newspaper serving Philippine general-interest, political, business and public-affairs readers.

• Daily newspaper · 1987

  Manila Standard

  The core English-language Philippine newspaper brand. It covers national and local public affairs, politics, business, opinion, entertainment, lifestyle, sports and motoring. The publication has operated in both conventional broadsheet and tallboy formats, and its brand identity has changed temporarily during periods of redesign.

• Merged newspaper edition · 2005

  Manila Standard Today

  The name used after Manila Standard merged with Today on March 6, 2005. The Manila Standard Today identity remained in use until the publication's subsequent rebranding as The Standard in 2015.

• Newspaper brand iteration · 2015

  The Standard

  A temporary newspaper identity introduced during the 2015 relaunch. It was associated with a tallboy format that sat between a tabloid and a traditional broadsheet, with photography given a prominent role in front-page presentation.

• 2008Environmental advocacy

  Philippines

  During Victor Agustin's chairmanship of the Editorial Board, the organization formally adopted an advocacy focused on environmental issues.

  Outcome. The advocacy became part of the publication's stated editorial and institutional orientation.

  Source

• 2016

  Restore the original brand and broadsheet formatGeneration change

  Background

  The Standard identity and tallboy format had been in use since the 2015 relaunch.

  Action taken

  On July 25, the publication reverted to the Manila Standard name and a conventional broadsheet format.

  Aftermath

  The original brand name was restored for the newspaper's ongoing publication.

  Source

• 2015

  Introduce the tallboy format and The Standard identityGeneration change

  Background

  The newspaper pursued a visual and physical redesign after operating for years as Manila Standard Today.

  Action taken

  It adopted The Standard name, temporarily used The New Standard, and rolled out a tallboy format beginning with weekend editions and then weekday editions from February 23.

  Aftermath

  The publication received Newspaper of the Year recognition from the Rotary Club of Manila Journalism Awards but returned to its original name and broadsheet format the following year.

  Source

• 2005

  Merge with TodayM&A

  Background

  Manila Standard combined with the newspaper Today as part of a major publishing and brand transition.

  Action taken

  The combined newspaper adopted the Manila Standard Today name.

  Aftermath

  The MST identity was later replaced by The Standard in 2015 and Manila Standard in 2016.

  Source

1. 1Manila Standarden.wikipedia.org
2. 2Manila Standard official websitethestandard.com.ph