Edwy Plenel, former newsroom head of Le Monde, launched his online news site, MediaPart, on March 16. Unlike Rue89, which was also launched by former print professional journalists, MediaPart's revenues are based on a subscription model.

Other founders include former editor-in-chief of Le Monde Laurent Mauduit, François Bonnet who headed the international desk and Gérard Desportes, former journalist at Libération.

The name, MediaPart, was chosen to suggest both its emphasis on user 'part'icipation and as a pun with 'apart', evoking an alternative to traditional media coverage.

MediaPart will be an online newspaper according to Plenel, which will publish three distinct daily editions (9am, 1pm and 7pm). It will "be based on a logic of added-value, with a large place given to readers," said Plenel.

MediaPart already counts about 25 journalists and 30 staffers.

Interestingly, Plenel opted for a paid subscription model. For MediaPart to be viable, Plenel aims for 20,000 - 25,000 subscribers by the end of the first year, and about 65,000 by the third. The monthly subscription costs between €5 (students, unemployed, etc.) and €9 (normal sub). Readers can also choose to sign up for a €15 'supportive' subscription.

Source: Le Monde (link in French)