Summary
The European, billed as "Europe's first national newspaper", was a British weekly newspaper founded by Robert Maxwell.[1] It was published from 11 May 1990 until December 1998.
 Front page of the first issue | |
| Type | Weekly newspaper |
|---|---|
| Format | Broadsheet |
| Owner(s) | Robert Maxwell (1990–91) Barclay Brothers (1992–98) |
| Launched | 11 May 1990 |
| Political alignment | Pro-Europeanism Pan-European identity |
| Language | English |
| Ceased publication | 14 December 1998 |
| City | London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| OCLC number | 25062933 |
History edit
Maxwell founded the paper in the fervour which immediately followed the destruction of the Berlin Wall and collapse of the Iron Curtain: the name was a reflection of the feelings of pan-European unity which were brought on by the historic changes, an ideal which Maxwell wholeheartedly supported.[2] According to Time magazine, Maxwell originally envisaged a daily with a circulation of 650,000, but by the launch date plans had been cut down to a more realistic weekly with a circulation of 225,000.[3] In the event, the circulation peaked at 180,000, over half of which was British.
Following Maxwell's death, the Barclay brothers bought the newspaper in 1992, investing an estimated $110 million and in 1996 transforming it into a high-end tabloid format oriented at the business community edited by Andrew Neil.
In 1996, The European had a staff of 70 in London, 3 in Brussels, 1 in Paris, 1 in Berlin, 1 in Moscow, as well as a network of 100 freelance writers throughout Europe.[citation needed]
Among the newspaper's innovations was a weekly short fiction contribution from published and previously unpublished writers.
The New European (a pro-EU newspaper founded in 2016 following the Brexit referendum) is partially inspired by The European's experience.
Editors edit
- 1990: Ian Watson
- 1991: John Bryant
- 1992: Charles Garside
- 1993: Herbert Pearson
- 1994: Charles Garside
- 1996: Andrew Neil
- 1998: Gerry Malone
Contributors (partial list) edit
- Nigel Cox
- Jean Cavé
- Bronwyn Cosgrave
- Jean Schalit
- Roger Faligot
- Peter Millar
- Jane Mulvagh
- Stephanie Theobald
- Peter Ustinov
- Mark Porter
- Walter Ellis
- Anne-Elisabeth Moutet
- Tim Walker, later to work on The New European[4]
- Teodor Troev, later a Financial Times contributor
- Yaroslav Trofimov
References edit
- ^ Michał Jacuński (Fall 2008). "The role of European political parties in closing the communication gap within the European Union. A critical view" (PDF). Central European Journal of Communication. 1 (1). Retrieved 31 December 2014.
- ^ Cusack, Andrew (21 July 2008). "The life & death of The European: An idea before its time or the mad dream of a master swindler?". Norumbega. Archived from the original on 3 August 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
- ^ Time, 15 May 1990.
- ^ "The European: A newspaper from the past that still reflects present day problems". 12 February 2020.
Further reading edit
- Robert Maxwell's The European, Magforum.com