GUYS officially launched

FIRST of its kind in PNG, an online men’s magazine, Guys Official (GO) was launched at the Vision City Mall on Friday last week.

The magazine was founded through an initiative of Population Services International (PSI), the distributors of Seif Raida condoms.

Stories cover the much neglected subject of men’s health, fitness, business, sport, men’s fashion and various topics that would interest men.

There will also be a focus on hard news and issues in PNG and the world through an investigative journalism program Guys Official is currently working on.

GO Editor Carmel Pilotti said the aim is to cater to men of differing classes spreading relevant and useful information to its readership.

“Eventually we hope to become more diverse in terms of content to ably connect with a large audience across the country”.

She said the hope is that the magazine will become a medium for awareness and a tool that will promote open-mindedness among the men and women of PNG.

“This magazine targets men because as we know in our society, they are regarded as leaders; we cannot only keep working on women and leaving men out”.

“Ultimately we’d like to become an organ that will in some way promote positive change in the attitudes of every day Papua New Guineans”, she said.

Contributors to the magazine include general practitioner Doctor Poyap Rooney, founder of Warrior Culture, sociologist Eddy Aila, Fashion Guru Kevin Alo, fitness and sport professionals, business and finance experts and specialists in various fields.

This month the magazine features upcoming PNG-US rapper Jay Lieasi as its cover man and Taekwondo champion Samantha Kassman in its Fit Chicks category.

Guys Official stands out because it is information absolutely free and accessible to the public.

“GO is for the people and we wanted to make it as accessible as possible by making it an online publication. You don’t have to go to a news agency or shop to buy one; if you have an android phone, just log on and get free reading!” Pilotti said.

She said the population is moving evermore toward online interaction through social media, blogging and research – GO wants to reach the people there.

The launch was focussed on the public where people were encouraged to sign up and view the magazine, however signing up is not necessary to view the contents – anyone can read it.