For almost a decade now, The Local has been delivering accessible European news to millions of Anglophone readers all round the world – but we're now about to get even better.

Today, the trial period ends and our English-language website launches in France. Next month, watch out for our Spain site, with an Italy edition soon to follow.

Led by Editor Ben McPartland, our Paris-based team will dedicate itself to providing comprehensive on-the-ground coverage of French daily news as it breaks.

Already, their stories have attracted tens of thousands of readers and our story on France’s ban on the word “hashtag” was even scooped up by Time magazine.

“There is never a dull day here,” said McPartland. “France is a great news patch and one of the most interesting countries to cover as a journalist.”

“Whether it’s about the food, literature, art, film or sport, everyone has opinions about France,” he added. “Our job is to inform these opinions with a steady flow of engaging, balanced reporting.”

The Local's CEO Paul Rapacioli - who founded the website in 2004 with James Savage - added: “Since France is at the heart of the complex community of Europe, our team in Paris has a great responsibility.” 

“Our coverage of France’s news will be comprehensive and original,” he promised.   

In just eight years The Local, which has its HQ in Stockholm, has grown from a weekly newsletter in 2004 with a readership of 12 to an internationally recognized and trusted news source. With the financial backing of Sjätte AP-fonden, Almi Invest and private investors, The Local was able to expand to Germany, opening a Berlin office in 2008.  

Today, more than 2.5 million people visit The Local’s Swedish, German and Swiss sites each month.