Standard unveils Pulser, East Africa’s first lifestyle magazine

The Standard Group on Thursday night unveiled a new lifestyle magazine targeting the youth. The 64-page Pulser Magazine was on Friday independently being distributed free in Nairobi though it was not immediately clear whether it is a short-term or long-term strategy by the Mombasa Road-headquartered media house.

In the digital space, Pulser, whose tagline is Live It Up, is available for Ksh 20 for a single issue or a monthly subscription of Ksh 80. Annually, one can access it for Ksh 717.84 (US$7.76).

The media house says the new kid in the Pulse family “brings together the continental showbiz scene in a way never seen before.”

On Thursday, the marketing department had revealed that the Standard was launching a new Print + Digital platform, as part of its growth strategy with the aim of dominating in the youth segment and grow digital and advertising revenues.

It added the new outfit would contain new, exciting and the editorial content geared towards latest entertainment news, travel, food and drinks, fitness, top celebrity photos, high fashion, trendy people and places.

However, despite the glittering launch party held at The Junction Courtyard, Ngong Road, the first issue of Pulser has been received with mixed reactions with some censuring the team for prioritising coverage of popular Tanzanian musician Diamond Platinumz with some saying it should as well have been unveiled in Kenya’s southern neighbour.

You should have launched the magazine in Tanzania!pulser magazine

— Rebecca Maina (@RebeccaMaina14) March 22, 2019

;

Seriously….lauching Kenyan pulser with a Tanzania/ diamond on top page…foolishness

— richman wamaduve (@WamaduveRichman) March 21, 2019

Lakini how do you launch a kenyan magazine to/ for the Kenyan market na cover page ni picha ya Tanzanian artist? Smh! ?#Liveitup #pulser

— Wambui Kariuki (@I_amWambui) March 21, 2019

However, according to the marketing department, the new product’s objective is to become the leading authority for all things trend + taste in East Africa.

#LiveItUp ¦ Pulser magazine is an East African Magazine, you’ll be seeing more faces from different EA countries. Meanwhile get your copy, BTW mag ni bure ? pic.twitter.com/PTAKNPY2cG

— LEGIT DAILY™ (@iamlegitdaily) March 21, 2019

The first issue contains stories on various local celebs, among them, actress and TV host Sassy Serah Ndanu Teshna, reggae fanatic ‘Night Nurse’ Talia Oyando,  Singer Akothee’s daughter Celly Rue Brown and Diamond’s Kenyan girlfriend Tanasha Donna.

It also features Tanzanian songstresses Faustina Mfinanga, popularly known as Nandy and Vanessa Hau Mdee.