Borneo Bulletin
Encyclopedia
The Borneo Bulletin is a daily English-language
newspaper in Brunei
. It is published by Brunei Press, which also publishes a Malay-language
daily, Media Permata
. The Bulletin circulates around 20,000 copies on weekdays and 25,000 copies on Saturday and Sunday.
s in Brunei. Its founders were two Englishmen, William Frederick Runagall and Geoffery Weir Kerr. Runagall left his publishing business in Singapore (The Craftsman Press) to set up the Brunei Press in Kuala Belait, Brunei. Kerr was at that time the Shell Oil Company information director based in Seria, Brunei. The Borneo Bulletin consisted of 12 pages and had a circulation of 3,500 copies. In 1959, the paper was sold to the Straits Times of Singapore. The paper was expanded over the years to include over 40 pages of content and advertising. It was published on a Friday.
In 1985, Brunei
's first public-listed company, QAF, took over part of the shares of Brunei Press from the Straits Times. In September 1990, QAF acquired full ownership and the Borneo Bulletin became a daily (Monday - Saturday) paper. In 1991, it added its Sunday edition and thus became a true daily paper.
The paper launched an online version in the mid-1990s.
government.
However, letters to the editor often included comments critical of the government's handling of certain social, economic, and environmental issues. On occasion the government responded to public opinion on topics concerning social or environmental problems.
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
newspaper in Brunei
Brunei
Brunei , officially the State of Brunei Darussalam or the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace , is a sovereign state located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia...
. It is published by Brunei Press, which also publishes a Malay-language
Malay language
Malay is a major language of the Austronesian family. It is the official language of Malaysia , Indonesia , Brunei and Singapore...
daily, Media Permata
Media Permata
Media Permata is a Malay-language newspaper published Monday to Saturday in Brunei by Brunei Press Sdn Bhd, which also publishes the Borneo Bulletin. The Saturday edition features a special 16-page pull out called Suasana, which offers lifestyle and entertainment news....
. The Bulletin circulates around 20,000 copies on weekdays and 25,000 copies on Saturday and Sunday.
History
The paper was first published in 1953 as a weekly community newspaper for expatriateExpatriate
An expatriate is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing...
s in Brunei. Its founders were two Englishmen, William Frederick Runagall and Geoffery Weir Kerr. Runagall left his publishing business in Singapore (The Craftsman Press) to set up the Brunei Press in Kuala Belait, Brunei. Kerr was at that time the Shell Oil Company information director based in Seria, Brunei. The Borneo Bulletin consisted of 12 pages and had a circulation of 3,500 copies. In 1959, the paper was sold to the Straits Times of Singapore. The paper was expanded over the years to include over 40 pages of content and advertising. It was published on a Friday.
In 1985, Brunei
Brunei
Brunei , officially the State of Brunei Darussalam or the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace , is a sovereign state located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia...
's first public-listed company, QAF, took over part of the shares of Brunei Press from the Straits Times. In September 1990, QAF acquired full ownership and the Borneo Bulletin became a daily (Monday - Saturday) paper. In 1991, it added its Sunday edition and thus became a true daily paper.
The paper launched an online version in the mid-1990s.
Contents and Sections
There are seven main sections to the newspaper - Local News, Borneo News, Regional News, World News, Financial, Classified and Sports. With the exception of local news and some Borneo news, most of the other sections contains reports from other international news services. There are occasional analysis and special reports covering a wide array of topics which are mostly obtained from overseas news services. The newspaper practices self-censorship in its choice of topics to avoid angering the BruneiBrunei
Brunei , officially the State of Brunei Darussalam or the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace , is a sovereign state located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia...
government.
However, letters to the editor often included comments critical of the government's handling of certain social, economic, and environmental issues. On occasion the government responded to public opinion on topics concerning social or environmental problems.