Who We Are and Why We’re Here

Letter from the Editor

[Guillaume Bontemps/Ville de Paris]

“Paris is always a good idea.”

The phrase is often associated with (though apparently not said by) Audrey Hepburn in the 1954 movie, Sabrina, thanks to her unique connection with the City of Light.

Millions of people around the world would agree. Some of them live in Paris; some of those are journalists and correspondents – like us, who know and see and understand the city in a different way. We have witnessed it grow and change and develop into a modern European leader and a world-class capital in business, politics, and defense, as well as a beacon in the three Cs: culture, couture, and cuisine.

At the same time, we have seen the news business morph into something less: less reliable, less well-financed, with fewer journalists. Many of those who have been jettisoned from newsrooms have resurfaced with bespoke online news platforms. Worthy undertakings but solo performances can only go so far.

We believe there is more to be gained for journalists, news consumers, and the future of real journalism by coming together to launch tailor-made online magazines – such as this one: Reporting from Paris. With real news and real analysis by real journalists.

Most of us are members of the Anglo-American Press Association of Paris. Founded in 1907, it is the oldest foreign press association in France. Most of us have been here for many decades and have worked for a variety of English-language publications and broadcast outlets: Associated Press, CBS News, the Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, CNBC, PBS, ABC News, Dow Jones, and more.

We aim to reach a global English-speaking audience who have an affinity for and more than a passing knowledge of Paris. We’re not aiming at an audience focused on luxury but on passion: for insights and ideas, facts and fancies, profound thought, and light-hearted whimsy. (There is a bit of luxury thrown in, of course: this is the land of Versailles, after all, and luxury is big business in Paris.)

We’re starting out with the support of a wise investor who believes a new, online model for the dissemination of news and information is the future. Substack as a platform is free to use and wonderfully manageable. This makes it possible to spend most of our budget on journalists and journalism to ensure a high standard of editorial output.

We’ll be circulating Reporting from Paris gratis, every month. Eventually, we will introduce a paywall for some content – the kind of long-form content that costs more to produce. And to add more free stories and freelance contributors.

We hope this first edition finds a place in your busy day, and we look forward to your comments.

Sincerely,

Shellie Karabell has spent more than 40 years in broadcast journalism as a news executive, anchor, producer, and field reporter in her native USA, Europe, the USSR/Russia and the Middle East for ABC/WTN, PBS, Dow Jones Broadcast, CNBC, and Forbes.com. She has covered some of the major news events of the 20^th century: the release of the American hostages from Iran in 1981; the collapse of the Berlin Wall (1989); civil wars in Lebanon (1983) and Yugoslavia (1991-92), and USSR/Russia (1986- present). She is currently VP of the Anglo American Press Association of Paris (President 2022-2025).