ABOUT US
EDITORIAL STATEMENT
An independent, free press, The Florentine (TF) is the longest-running English-language publication in Florence, printed in 10,000 copies every two weeks, and consulted online by over a quarter of a million readers each year.
Established in April 2005, our target audience is the large English-speaking community that lives in Florence and Italy. Recognizing that this community needed a stronger voice, TF's readership extends beyond city walls, striving to address this community needs. Our readers are also our writers. Long before citizen journalism, and thanks to a constant dialogue with our readers, TF was born as a grassroots publication, published for and written by its readers. Dialogue with out readership is even more open thanks to social media, where we actively welcome comments and contributions from our audience.
Readership
Our readers fall into a range of categories. TF is distributed in the city of Florence, where it is enjoyed by English-speaking expatriates, foreign students, tourists, and internationally-oriented Italians. Subscriptions are sent worldwide, reaching readers in other cities in Italy, the United States, UK, Australia and more. Finally, TF's print editions are available online and out website is read by Italy-lovers worldwide who wish to stay up-to-date on news and stay connected to Italy. As such, TF is not a 'local paper,' but a publication about Florence, Tuscany and Italy, in English, that speaks to a worldwide public.
Topics
TF has four main sections: Florence, Tuscany and Italy news; feature articles on current issues, people, culture, the arts, travel, food + wine and more; events listings and articles; and classifieds. This balance between news, events and feature articles makes TF a news magazine, with a longer shelf-life than a simple newspaper but more current and frequently published than a magazine. TF is the only publication of its type and frequency in Italy.
Policy
TF is a free, independent press, thus it does not receive subsidies or institutional support. This permits us complete freedom of expression. Our approach to news is factual and politically neutral. Operational and printing costs are partially diffused by advertising income and supplemented by English-language services such as English-to-Italian translations and ad hoc content production in the English language.
THE FLORENTINE STAFF
We are a team made up of both Italy- and foreign-born and Italian and English-speakers. The management and advertising areas are run by Italians, who also contribute to the overall look and editorial policy of the magazine, while mother-tongue English editorial staff directly produce content for both TF and its clients, and coordinate a network of external contributors. Our 250 contributors range in age from 14 to 70 years, and live both in and beyond Florence and Tuscany.
Editorial Staff
Managing editor: Brenda Dionisi
Responsible for all the news and everything that goes into the paper, Canadian-born with Italian origins, Brenda has a Masters degree in Textual Competence in Publishing and the Media from the University of Siena for Foreigners. While managing day-to-day business at TF, she also freelances as journalist and editor for a range of scientific and English-language news outlets. She recently began working in broadcasting with TF.
Events editor, staff writer, social media manager: Alexandra M. Korey
Curator of the events listings and writer of articles about arts and culture, Alexandra has a PhD in art history from the University of Chicago. She has been in Florence since 1999, during which time she has studied, taught study abroad, and worked in social media for the Region of Tuscany. (Read more about Alexandra.)
Cultural editor: Jane Fortune
Author and philanthropist, Jane is an important element of the TF community. She has published two books with The Florentine Press and is recognized for her important contribution to the restoration of works by women artists. (Read full bio.)
Editor-at-large: Alexandra Lawrence
Managing editor of TF from 2007-2009, Lawrence decided to pursue motherhood and teaching, while still being part of the TF team. She regularly contributes to TF, with the successful column Florentinisms. She has a Masters in Italian Literature.
Copy editor: Ellen Wert
Ellen has the essential job of making sure typos and bad grammar don’t make their way onto the pages of TF. Her PhD in English makes her the perfect person for this job. She lives and works between Florence and Philadelphia.
Columnists: James Douglas, Linda Falcone, Deirdre Pirro, Francesco Stefanelli
Management Staff
Art Director and Graphic Design: Leonardo Cardini
Advertising: Giacomo Badiani
Management partners: Marco Badiani (Director), Giovanni Giusti (Vice-Director), Leonardo Cardini
THE FLORENTINE GROUP
The Florentine news magazine is part of a larger communications group, The Florentine Group, and is produced by the creative company Flod srl.
- Flod: Creative agency in Florence for graphics, illustration, layout, stand design, web services, social media marketing. Clients include: Camera di Commercio di Prato, Regione Toscana, Meyer hospital, Museo del Tessuto di Prato, Publiacqua, BP Studio, Gastronomia Toscana, Borgo de’ Medici, Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio, Lorenzo de’ Medici Institute, BettaKnit, Claudio Nardi Architect (with Agile Logica), Studio Giorgieri Architects, Mama’s Bakery.
- The Florentine group services: translation and English language editorial services for clients including: Fondazione Sistema Toscana (intoscana.it), Comune di Firenze, Gruppo Editoriale (Firenze magazine), Lorenzo de’ Medici.
- The Florentine Press small publisher for Florence and Tuscany inspired writing, founded in 2006, with eight books in the catalogue.
THE FLORENTINE GROUP HISTORY
The following is a timeline of relevant events and acknowledgements in the history of TF:
April 2005: TF is established on an idea by Nita and Tony Tucker, U.S.-born expats who had lived in other cities around the world and were surprised not to find a newspaper in English in Florence. They partner with the Italian firm, B’Gruppo Srl, to make, print and distribute TF. When the Tuckers move away two years later, the rest of the team remains intact and continues to publish TF.
December 2005 & 2006: Special issue 'Ponte Vecchio Golf Challenge' in Italian and English; produced as a supplement upon request of the organizers of this important international golf event that is played on the Arno River.
May 2006: Founded The Florentine Press and published the first book Italians Dance and I’m a Wallflower by Linda Falcone, now in its third edition with over 6000 copies. The catalogue now counts eight books that are available on the e-commerce website www.theflorentinepress.com.
November 2006: Special issue for the 40th anniversary of the 1966 Florence flood. With the institutional patronage of the Tuscan Region, the Province of Florence, the City of Florence, the Toscana-USA Association, and the Mediateca Toscana. The 32-page supplement features a welcome letter from U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy.
2007-9: TF receives provincial funding for two years to support 'The Florentine in the classroom' project, consisting of the production and distribution of content in English classrooms in Florence high-schools.
2007-now: The Florentine is awarded contract to do all translations for turismo.intoscana.it, under the direction of Fondazione Sistema Toscana
2008-2010: The ‘TF Social Network’ anticipated social trends by organizing in-person events that in total brought together about a thousand people.
November 2009: Special issue for the 90th anniversary of the British Institute of Florence, a 32-page supplement made upon commission.
April 2009: TF celebrates its 100th issue.
2009: Upon request of the City of Florence, TF partners with the City of Florence to produce the English-language website detailing the city’s services for foreign visitors and residents. The text and organization of this first site was updated and amplified in 2011.
September 2010: Graphic overhaul of TF, introducing a new logo and a streamlined, more contemporary style.
April 2011: The Florentine is among two dozen local cultural associations invited to organize events at the newly reopened Le Murate complex by the City of Florence’s culture superintendent, Giuliano da Empoli.
September 2011: Mayor Matteo Renzi asks TF for a space in which he can communicate directly with English speakers on the pages of TF. The column “Write the Mayor” is launched.
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