French News closure, Miranda Neame explains
EDITOR of French News, Miranda Neame, has written about the difficulties the newspaper faced leading up to its closure.
In a post on the blog of Nick Rowswell, a regular contributor to the newspaper, Miranda Neame explains that the money coming into the newspaper collapsed in October meaning they were unable to print the December issue or even pay the staff.
Whilst the French News website remains live the December issue will be available through it once uploaded, and existing subscribers are advised to work together to reclaim any money owed due to the cost of administrating small claims.
Miranda Neame passes on her thanks to 'readers, surfers, contributors and advertisers' as well as her understanding printers, and finishes by saying the 'struggle to stay in business has left us both exhausted, older and wiser… and even poorer'.
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I was contacted by French News on 20th November, to see if I wanted to renew my advert. They said I had just enough time to be published in the December issue. I paid for 3 months, but I guess I won't get much for my money. I appreciate they were having problems, but they must have known then that there would be nothing published in December.
Posted by: Susan Hodge of SIMPLY BRITISH | Dec 05, 2008 at 13:50
Hi Susan, I think as an advertiser it will be the job of the administrator to contact you, it might help if you send a letter into the office to ensure they know of you.
But I must admit there doesn't seem to be too much information available at the moment.
Kind regards, Craig
Posted by: Craig McGinty | Dec 06, 2008 at 11:28
What does "existing subscribers are advised to work together to reclaim any money owed due to the cost of administrating small claims" mean?
Posted by: Denise Singleton | Dec 08, 2008 at 23:15
Hi Denise, I suppose in US legal speak you are talking a 'class action' operation, but truthfully I think subscribers have lost their outstanding monies.
As for advertisers, they should be contacted directly.
All the best, Craig
Posted by: Craig McGinty | Dec 09, 2008 at 11:28
Save French-News is gathering momentum, readers etc; to date, have forwarded over 40,000 euros, the target is 200,000 euros.
That's the fighting spirit I want to hear and what the Brits were once famous for in true Churchill style, proving even in these difficult times, it's not dead and gone.
Posted by: john.gilmore | Dec 13, 2008 at 08:28
who is organising to try to get french news running again
Posted by: pamela graham-wolfe | Jul 07, 2009 at 17:02
Hi Pamela, The French News website offers a few more details on the steps being taken:
http://www.french-news.com/
All the best, Craig
Posted by: Craig McGinty | Jul 08, 2009 at 07:58