Today, Arianna Huffington announced the launch of the second Huffington Post expansion into a French language community, as Le Huffington Post Québec is now live.
Here’s what she had to say in a blog post this morning:
This is the first time we’ll have two HuffPost editions in the same country. But it won’t be a sibling rivalry; it will be a powerful collaboration, a reflection of our commitment to being a hub of reporting, comprehensive curation, group blogging and engagement across all of Canada. And since it’s part of HuffPost’s DNA to foster community — and also because it just makes a lot of sense — Le Huffington Post Québec’s editors will work closely with Le Huffington Post France to bring Quebecers the most relevant news and opinion from France, and vice versa.
Le Huffington Post France launched late last month, as Huffington said that she wanted to launch it at a “crucial time in France’s and Europe’s history.” Le Huffington Post France’s editorial director is Anne Sinclair, who is married to former IMF head Dominique Strauss-Kahn.
Le Huffington Post Québec’s managing editor is Patrick White, a Québec native with 20+ years of experience in the business. Radio-Canada’s Jean-Phillipe Cipriani is joining as the news editor. The blog editor is Tamy Emma Pepin, formerly part of Le Journal de Montreal, Québec’s biggest tabloid.
Huffington is emphasizing that Le Huffington Post Québec will really be all about Québec, and everyone associated has deep ties to the community. “We’ll cover everything that makes Québec unique, from its French-speaking heritage and stunning architecture to its politics and vibrant entertainment scene,” she says.
According to previous reports, Huffington Post is also set to launch the Huffington Post Streaming Network this summer. It will structure itself in a way similar to cable news networks and provide real-time news, commentary, and discussion.