Seasoned journalists also chortled at the suggestion that a sometime T-shirt kingpin could run a newspaper, too. But as Mr. Lai tells it, he wasn't even thinking about publishing a newspaper in the traditional sense. He simply noticed a growing demand for consumer news from young middle-class consumers, something he thought no newspaper was taking seriously enough. A lot of other factors also contribute to the paper's character, including strong democratic leanings and intrusive accounts of movie stars' trysts. But the consumer news remains foremost in Mr. Lai's eyes.
Moralists are outraged.
That has more to do with Mr. Lai's interpretation of what it takes to capture the attention of young readers accustomed to watching television. It all boils down to huge, dramatic pictures, lots of color and minimum black and white. But sometimes the paper goes overboard with the blood and gore, Mr. Lai confesses. The readers' focus groups tell him so. By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy .