English language newspapers ...

[peter]

The new



The former editor of the defunct French News is behind a new weekly English language newspaper launching in August : http://www.french-week.com

It will be distributed in newsagents throughout France, price 1 euro, and by subscription throughout Europe.

French Week (SAS Polymath Media RCS AGEN 522239151), BP1, 47330 Castillonnès, France. tel 05 53 70 40 23


The market is tougher than it was. Less anglophones planning to move to France, but more competition than 12 months ago.


The nearly new



http://www.thefrenchpaper.com

The oldest

[peter]

French Week fails :

Dear readers,

We are sorry to announce that the publishing company Polymath Media is being dissolved and no copy of French Week has been printed since issue number 23 (January 7-13). The costs of distributing the paper were much larger than expected and, despite the enthusiastic response from subscribers and advertisers, the paper was unable to cover its costs.

We have submitted a list of current subscribers to the liquidator who may contact you but we have to say that it is unlikely that any refund will be made as the company had too many debts. If you would like further information, please email us at thefrenchweek@gmail.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Thank you to all those who have written and phoned. Many of you have told staff how much they appreciated the paper. We are all very disappointed that the paper didn't manage to stand on its own feet.

The French Week team


More - http://www.french-week.com/index.php




..

[peter]

And theFrenchPaper goes pop, too.

It seems that there isn't room for more than one English language newspaper in France in the present economic climate.


Dear subscriber,

I am writing to inform you that, with great regret, ‘theFrenchPaper’ is suspending publication until further notice with immediate effect - the July 2011 edition being the final one.

Whilst the paper has built up a large and loyal readership and our sales are excellent, sadly advertising revenues in the current economic climate and the rising costs of doing business in France mean that the paper is no longer a viable proposition.

We are, however, in talks with potential buyers and hope very much - indeed are determined - that the paper will be back in publication very soon.

In the meantime, in regards to your subscription, we will refund your money by cheque over the next couple of weeks and according to the number of issues you are outstanding.

The team and myself would like to thank you for the confidence and support you have shown us as a valued subscriber and we are deeply sorry that we are unable to continue at present publishing what is a terrific paper.

If you have any queries regarding your subscription please email nicki@thefrenchpaper.com and I will try to respond as quickly as possible.


With kind regards
Nicki Wade
Publisher

[peter]

Not English language, but the Paru Vendu group of free newspapers in the area has folded with the loss of 1600+ jobs.

http://www.midilibre.fr/2011/11/01/paru ... 411017.php

[blackduff]

I think that Le Bon Coin was one of the problems with Paru Vendu. It seems that you had to pay to post a item to sell through Paru Vendu as compared with Le Bon Coin. You aren't really charged to sell most things through Le Bon Coin.

Too bad for seeing Paru Vendu leaving though.

Blackduff

[peter]

Long established Pezenas bilingual magazine Blablablah is the latest title to close :

The last (and free) special souvenir edition is here : http://blablablah.org/images/stories/ar ... 012/94.pdf

Last editorials :


English Editor -
If you are lucky in life, as I have been, you will have enjoyed many unexpected surprises. For me
Blablablah was one. I clearly remembering offering to help Êfor a whileÊ but in no time at all I became
captivated.
As the English editor I learned more about the region IÊve chosen as my new home than I would have by
living my normal life. Because of the magazine I looked into things like native trees, regional food, wild
animals, history - what an adventure that was. I met, talked to and interviewed some great people who have
amazing talents and have made a wonderful contribution to this area.
I met many of you the readers, advertisers, contributors and distributors. We laughed together, sometimes
cried together, got angry together about issues that drove us nuts and we shared valuable information that
made a difference. And I worked with an unpaid team of dedicated people who became a family to me and
always will be.
I leave Blablablah with a gift - a heart full of wonderful memories. And for those I thank you all. Thank you.
Please enjoy this final issue of Blablablah - a quirky word thatÊs used in every language in the world and
means chatting away about nothing in particular, something I hope youÊll keep doing long after weÊve gone.
Clarissa Browne

French Editor -
Voilà ! Blablablah a décidé de faire son dernier numéro !
Pourquoi ? Parce que toute histoire a une fin et celle que nous choisissons nÊa pas du tout le même goût
que celle que nous subissons ! Nous sommes heureux dÊarrêter comme nous étions heureux de
commencer il y a presque huit ans déjà ! (Le 1er août 2004).
Blablablah a eu besoin de 94 numéros pour dire ce quÊil avait à dire, il y a bien entendu, encore des
tonnes de choses à dire et à faire mais dÊautres sÊen chargeront !
Nous sommes revenus dÊun voyage en Ecosse à Findhorn au mois dÊavril (voir page 5) qui nous a permis
de redéfinir nos priorités. LÊappel de la nature (activité paysanne et plus encore !) nécessite désormais
toute notre attention et énergie. Blablablah est devenu un ÂbébéÊ trop encombrant, sa diffusion devient
trop importante, aujourdÊhui nous sommes à 15.000 copies mensuelles, nous pourrions doubler la
parution, augmenter le nombre de pages, couvrir toute la région Languedoc Roussillon, ⁄ et alors⁄???
Notre égo a définitivement eu sa dose (!), nous nous sommes tous fait plaisir ainsi que la plupart des
bénévoles qui nous suivent, seulement voilà, Blablablah, nÊest pas dans une logique marchande du
toujours plus, nÊa jamais généré de profit, nous nÊen dépendions pas pour ÂvivreÊ, et cÊest dÊailleurs peut-
être la raison de sa longévité !
Un grand Merci donc à tout ceux qui nous ont suivis, nous continuerons, différemment, à poser notre
petite pierre à lÊédifice de notre liberté collective et au développement de notre éveil personnel !
Bon mois⁄

Jean-François Marquist


Publisher -

Our final issue of Blablablah has been a difficult issue to put together. Even though the reasons for this being the last
edition are clear and full of newness, I have found it to be a time of sadness. Blablablah is the same age as our eldest son. It has been through the same problems, teething, growing pains, territory conflicts etc. And letting it go is saying goodbye to eight years of our life.

The decision to end the wonderful adventure of BBB was a quick one. After a family holiday in Scotland at the Findhorn
foundation, we came back home full of new experiences and a new awareness. Sliding back into our pre-Findhorn life was
not evident. And so BBB became the first major change in our life that marks the beginning of a year booming with
changes.

I'm not a writer and this is my first article. I had to reach out to all of those who enabled us to make BBB what it is today.
All those unnamed distributors who remained in the sidelines and who used their own money and time to distribute BBB.
How can we thank them enough? I dare not list them out for fear of forgetting someone. Thank you.

And to our readers who loved us, hated us, adored us or couldn't be bothered with us. Your feedback encouraged us
each month to continue the dialogue that is so needed in this area.

May we all hear our inner voice.

Nikki Marquist

The change in direction is attributed to new insights gained here : http://www.findhorn.org

[peter]

Final cover :

[peter]

Rising like a Phoenix ...


NEW ENGLISH LANGUAGE Mag for l'Herault announced

Following the closure of the much loved Blablablah magazine there has been a great deal of speculation about the future for an English Language magazine for English Speaking residents and visitors to l’Herault in the real South of France.

Rather than allow a vacuum for speculation and rumour the Publisher of the New Magazine – The Herault Times – issued this statement today

“We believe Blablablah has created an unique niche for Anglophones in l’Herault over the last 8 years – an important communication vehicle which is much loved and respected” said Publisher Kevin Brennan.

“We do not think uncertainty in the market place helps readers or advertisers - this void must be filled and the purpose of this release is to state that we intend to have the new paper published for the 12th of June”

“The Herault Times will be a monthly, full colour 32 page magazine, in English (there are estimated to be over 30,000 English speakers in the departement and 3.5 million Anglophones visit the region every year) and will cover Local News, Events, Restaurants, Wines, Places to stay and all the buzz and feel of this departement which makes it so special to residents and visitors alike.”

“We are recruiting a professional team to produce a quality paper which is so clearly needed in l’Herault”

“Meanwhile we are pleased to report huge support from sponsors and substantial advertisers which will ensure the free paper will be available next month.”

News from WoW : http://www.heraultwhatson.info

[graham34]

One of the things I like(d) about Blablablah was the dual language approach, including a few articles covered in both French and English. It gave it a feel that it was more into the community than an English only publication can ever be - the English ones always read like outsiders looking in (bit like this Forum of course).

I presume The Herault Times will be English only, perhaps one reason why the Blablablah brand won't be continuing.

[gurubarry]

Wish the new project all the Best, difficult times to launch an Foreign Language journal in France I imagine .

[peter]

Without a buoyant property sector to advertise, it seems they struggle in recessionary times. Over the last few years we've seen quite a few come and go :

The French News
Le66
Le11 (twice)
Le34
Med Living
Accents SW
The French Paper
French Week
Blablablah

After a slow start, only The Connexion, Languedoc Sun and PO-Life seem to survive.

There are probably more in other areas ?

[writerman]

But who's doing this? WoW? Underemployed professionals are curious...

[peter]

Kevin Brennan worked on the BBB website in the early days, and I remember more recently he was the contact name for PECC (Pezenas English Cinema Club).

Otherwise not sure. Google is a minefields because of an Australian actor and a UK MP of the same name.

[graham34]

I understand the ending of Blablablah wasn't particularly for financial reasons - as it says in the mag the founders have decided on a change in lifestyle. The planning of this has been about two weeks so there are long term advertisers that The Herault Times will hope to contact and pick up.

writerman - I would describe WoW as a time consuming retirement hobby that generates a few perks. Not unlike running TLP I would imagine.

[peter]

Latest Herault Times info ...

http://www.theheraulttimes.com

[peter]

Just to say that BlaBlaBlah had a last minute reincarnation and continues under the name bbb-midi with the same url as previously : http://www.blablablah.org

The latest edition can be read online here : http://www.blablablah.org/images/storie ... 3_Lite.pdf