Publisher: The Florentine - The English speaking local newspaper in Florence

EDITORIAL STATEMENT An independent, free press, The Florentine (affectionately known as TF) is the longest-running English language publication in Florence, with a circulation of 10,000 copies every month and is consulted online by over a quarter of a million readers each year. Established in April 2005, our target audience is the vast English-speaking community that lives in Florence and Italy as well as lovers of Florence and Tuscany around the world. Recognizing that this community needed a stronger voice, TF’s readership extends beyond city walls, striving to address this community needs. Our readers are also our writers. Long before citizen journalism and thanks to a constant dialogue with our readers, TF was born as a grassroots publication, published for the community by the community. Dialogue with our readership is even more open due to social media. On Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Instagram, TF’s editorial team actively welcomes comments and contributions. Readership Our readers fall into a range of categories. TF is distributed through 130 points throughout Florence, where it is enjoyed by English-speaking expatriates, foreign students, tourists and internationally-oriented Italians. Subscriptions are sent worldwide, reaching readers in other cities in Italy, the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and more. Last but not least, TF’s print editions are available online and our website is browsed by Italy lovers worldwide who wish to be kept up-to-date on news and stay connected to Italy. TF is effectively a ‘glocal’ publication—devised and created locally in Florence, yet with a global reach and following. Topics TF has four main sections: Florence, Tuscany and Italy news; feature articles on current issues, people, culture, the arts, travel, food + wine and more; events listings and articles; and classifieds. This balance between news, events and feature articles makes TF a news magazine, with a longer shelf life than a simple newspaper, but more current and frequently published than a magazine. Policy TF is a free, independent press, thus it does not receive subsidies or institutional support. This permits us complete freedom of expression. Our approach to news is factual and politically neutral. Operational and printing costs are partially diffused by advertising income and supplemented by English language services such as high-quality translations and ad hoc content production in the English language. THE FLORENTINE STAFF The TF team benefits from its international outlook. The management and advertising areas are run by Italians, who also contribute to the overall look and editorial policy of the magazine, while TF’s native English editorial staff produce content for both TF and its clients, and coordinate a network of external contributors. Our 250+ contributors range in age from 14 to 70 years, and live both in and beyond Florence and Tuscany. Editorial Staff Managing editor: Helen Farrell In charge of the overall content and day-to-day running of The Florentine, Helen has always worked with words, as an editor and as a translator in the United Kingdom and in Italy. Helen is a full member of the Italian translators’ and interpreters’ association and a court-appointed linguist. On the odd occasion when she switches off from her word-related activities, Helen can be found playing tennis and badminton, or baking a batch of cupcakes in her otherwise very Tuscan kitchen. @helencfarrell Events + features editor: Catriona Miller When not attending all the events she has compiled for the paper, Catriona loves writing, meeting new people and making cheesecake. She has become slightly addicted to coffee since living in Italy and has no qualms about ordering a cappuccino after 11am. @Catriona_19 Social media manager: Alexandra Korey Alexandra has a PhD in art history from the University of Chicago. She has been in Florence since 1999, during which time she has studied, taught study abroad, and worked in social media for the Region of Tuscany. @arttrav Culture editor: Jane Fortune Author and philanthropist, Jane is an important element of the TF community. She has published several books with The Florentine Press and is recognised for her important contribution to the restoration of works by women artists. In 2013, Jane won an Emmy Award for the documentary based on her book, Invisible Women. Forgotten Artists of Florence. Editor-at-large: Alexandra Lawrence Alexandra and her Florentine beau bring the local dialect to life with the regular column, Florentinisms. After an exciting 800-hour journey, Alexandra became a licensed guide for the city and province of Florence. Alexandra organizes and runs The Florentine’s So You Think You Know Florence? Walks & Visits program. She adds this title to numerous others she has collected over the last 14 years of living in Italy, including lecturer, editor and mamma. @ItalyAlexandra Copy editor: Ellen Wert Ellen has the essential job of making sure typos and bad grammar don’t make their way onto the pages of TF. Her PhD in English makes her the perfect person for this job. She lives and works between Florence and Philadelphia. Staff writer: Mary Gray Mary spent an undergraduate semester in Florence and shortly after graduation bought a one-way ticket back to Italy. After spending a year in Rome studying Italian and teaching English, she returned to Florence and now writes for The Florentine and co-manages Tuscany social media for Context Travel. She is also on an on-going quest to sample all the schiacciata in Florence. @VeryMaryGray MANAGEMENT Director and co-founder: Marco Badiani A visual thinker and outstanding photographer, Marco provides the energy and creative force behind TF. Marco is also the art director of Flod, the communications company that manages TF’s paper edition and web presence. @marcobadiani Vice-director and co-founder: Giovanni Giusti Giovanni takes the lead on institutional projects, such as the tourism portal for the Tuscan Region and the City of Florence’s English website, as well as managing the LdM News service for Istituto Lorenzo de' Medici. Giovanni is also a partner of flod, the communications company that manages TF’s paper edition and web presence. @giustig Art director and co-founder: Leonardo Cardini Having attended Florence Art Institute, Leonardo manages the graphic design and layout of The Florentine. He has designed a multitude of cover illustrations and comics. Leonardo is also a partner of Flod, the communications company that manages TF’s paper edition and web presence. Advertising manager: Giacomo Badiani (pubblicita@theflorentine.net) Have a chat with Giacomo and find out the best ways to promote your business to Florence lovers all over the world. Online, paper, social media and more! THE FLORENTINE GROUP The Florentine news magazine is part of a larger communications group, The Florentine Group, and is produced by the creative company Flod srl. Flod: Creative agency in Florence specializing in arts marketing, the promotion of Made in Italy, institutional communication, and production assistance for international film and photography. Clients include: Florens 2010, Museo del Tessuto di Prato, Regione Toscana, Meyer Hospital, Camera di Commercio di Prato, Publiacqua, BP Studio, Gastronomia Toscana, Borgo de’ Medici, Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio, Lorenzo de’ Medici Institute, BettaKnit, Mama’s Bakery.. The Florentine group services: translation and English language editorial services for clients including: Fondazione Sistema Toscana (intoscana.it), Comune di Firenze, Gruppo Editoriale (Firenze magazine), Lorenzo de’ Medici. The Florentine Press small publisher for Florence- and Tuscany-inspired writing, founded in 2006. THE FLORENTINE GROUP HISTORY The following is a timeline of relevant events and acknowledgements in the history of TF: April 2005: TF is based on an idea by Nita and Tony Tucker, U.S.-born expats who had lived in other cities around the world and were surprised not to find an English language newspaper in Florence. They partner with the Italian firm, B’Gruppo Srl, to make, print and distribute TF. When the Tuckers move away two years later, the rest of the team remains intact and continues to publish TF. December 2005 + 2006: Special issue ‘Ponte Vecchio Golf Challenge’ in Italian and English; produced as a supplement upon request of the organisers of this important international golf event that is played on the Arno River.. May 2006: Founded The Florentine Press and published the first book Italians Dance and I’m a Wallflower by Linda Falcone, now in its third edition with over 6 000 copies. The catalogue now counts eight books, available on the e-commerce website www.theflorentinepress.com. November 2006: Special issue for the 40th anniversary of the 1966 Florence flood; produced with the institutional patronage of the Tuscan Region, the Province of Florence, the City of Florence, the Toscana-USA Association, and the Mediateca Toscana, the 32-page supplement features a welcome letter from U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy. 2007–9: TF receives provincial funding for two years to support ‘The Florentine in the classroom’ project, consisting of the production and distribution of content in English classrooms in Florence high schools. 2007–now: TF is awarded a contract to do all translations for turismo.intoscana.it, under the direction of Fondazione Sistema Toscana 2008–2010: The ‘TF Social Network’ anticipated social trends by organizing in-person events that in total brought together about a thousand people. November 2009: Special issue for the 90th anniversary of the British Institute of Florence, a 32-page supplement made upon commission. April 2009: TF celebrates its 100th issue. 2009: Upon request of the City of Florence, TF partners with the City of Florence to produce the English language website detailing the city’s services for foreign visitors and residents. The text and organization of this first site was updated and amplified in 2011. September 2010: Graphic overhaul of TF, introducing a new logo and a streamlined, more contemporary style April 2011: The Florentine is among two dozen local cultural associations invited to organise events at the newly reopened Le Murate complex by the City of Florence’s culture superintendent, Giuliano da Empoli. September 2011: Mayor Matteo Renzi asks TF for a space in which he can communicate directly with English speakers on the pages of TF. The column ‘Write the Mayor’ is launched. 2012: TF launches a series of walks and visits with licensed tour guide and editor-at-large Alexandra Lawrence. May 2013: TF gets a mention in Dan Brown’s bestselling book, Inferno. At the press conference held at the Palazzo Vecchio, Dan Brown said, ‘I was familiar with The Florentine from a visit here two years ago, and also online, and it was enormously helpful, obviously, to get a flavor. I would not have included it if I were not a fan.’ June 2013: The documentary, Invisible Women. Forgotten Artists of Florence, wins an Emmy award. It is based on the book written by TF’s culture editor, Jane Fortune, and published by The Florentine Press. The award is celebrated by the Italian premiere at Florence’s Odeon cinema, shown to a packed audience of 450 people. January 2014: The Florentine launches its first ever digital-only issue, with unprecedented success—60,000 copies downloaded and read around the world. Based on this ‘experiment’, The Florentine changes tack and becomes a monthly paper publication with a digital-first approach to breaking news and events.