March 17, 2015

Politico to launch website and print edition for Europe employing 40 journalists

US-founded Politico is to launch a website and print edition in Europe with 40 journalists. (Picture: Reuters)

The media outlet, which claims a weekday print circulation of 35,000 in the US and a website with 7 or 8m unique users a month, says it will have “more reporters in the two main political and regulatory centers of the world – Washington and Brussels – than any other publication” from 21 April.

According to a staff email reproduced on Capital New York, which is owned by Politico, its aim is to become the “dominant politics and policy publication in Europe”.

Its US newspaper is available free in locations throughout Washington and US subscriptions cost $200 (£135) or $600 (£406) for overseas readers. It also has “select availability” in New York.

Politico, which was founded in 2007 and claims to have around 150 editorial staff based in the US, has also had a magazine since November 2013 which comes out six times a year. It has published a subscription-based policy news web service, Politico Pro, which covers "agriculture, campaigns, cybersecurity, defense, education, eHealth, energy, financial services, health care, tax, technology, trade and transportation", since 2011.

According to The Guardian, Politico will initially employ 40 journalists in Europe and distribute between 25,000 and 30,000 print copies in Brussels and other major European cities, including London, Paris and Berlin.

The news organisation announced in September that it was partnering with Germany’s Axel Springer to launch in Europe.

Politico joins other major publications, such as the Huffington Post, Buzzfeed and Business Insider, in coming to the UK and Europe from the US.

In an interview with Press Gazette last month, Guido Fawkes editor Paul Staines announced plans to expand his political website into the English speaking world – but ruled out the US, citing the strength of Politico.

Asked why he would not be targeting the US, Staines said: “I think we would have a great deal of difficulty… beating Politico. Politico do a brilliant job."