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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 |
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Among the newspaper's innovations was a weekly short fiction contribution from published and previously unpublished writers.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.