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Global Mail website to close less than two years after its launch Global Mail website to close less than two years after its launch
(7 months later)
Independent journalism start-up The Global Mail is being wound up less than two years after the bold experiment, funded by Wotif founder and philanthropist Graeme Wood, was set up.Independent journalism start-up The Global Mail is being wound up less than two years after the bold experiment, funded by Wotif founder and philanthropist Graeme Wood, was set up.
Staff at the digital journalism project based in Sydney – which employs 21 journalists, editors, photographers and IT staff – were sent an email on Wednesday telling them the Global Mail would cease operation next month. Staff at the digital journalism project based in Sydney – which employs 21 journalists, editors, photographers and IT staff – were sent an email on Wednesday telling them the Global Mail would cease operation next month.
The Global Mail describes itself as a “philanthropically funded, not-for-profit news and features website". It is a free site which carries no advertising.The Global Mail describes itself as a “philanthropically funded, not-for-profit news and features website". It is a free site which carries no advertising.
On its website it says: “Our mission is to deliver original, fearless, independent journalism. We strive to inform, provoke, expose – and entertain.”On its website it says: “Our mission is to deliver original, fearless, independent journalism. We strive to inform, provoke, expose – and entertain.”
But the site failed to gain the traction it needed to gain a strong foothold in the Australian media market, despite being well resourced with experienced journalists and editors.But the site failed to gain the traction it needed to gain a strong foothold in the Australian media market, despite being well resourced with experienced journalists and editors.
Focusing on long-form journalism projects and international stories, the Global Mail did not engage in daily news.Focusing on long-form journalism projects and international stories, the Global Mail did not engage in daily news.
The site suffered from internal instability, losing its founding editor Monica Attard after just three months after disagreements with staff over the site's direction and style.The site suffered from internal instability, losing its founding editor Monica Attard after just three months after disagreements with staff over the site's direction and style.
The unpopular sideways scrolling design of the website was dumped eight months after launch.The unpopular sideways scrolling design of the website was dumped eight months after launch.
In 2011 Wood pledged $15m over five years for the independent online journal with the slogan "Our only agenda is our audience".In 2011 Wood pledged $15m over five years for the independent online journal with the slogan "Our only agenda is our audience".
It launched early in 2012 with former ABC journalist Attard as its founding editor.It launched early in 2012 with former ABC journalist Attard as its founding editor.
When Attard left, Jane Nicholls, a former editor at Time Inc’s Who magazine in Australia and New York, was appointed chief executive officer.When Attard left, Jane Nicholls, a former editor at Time Inc’s Who magazine in Australia and New York, was appointed chief executive officer.
The editor of the Global Mail is Lauren Martin, an American journalist who worked at The Sydney Morning Herald before editing the US paper The Vineyard Gazette, in Martha’s Vineyard.The editor of the Global Mail is Lauren Martin, an American journalist who worked at The Sydney Morning Herald before editing the US paper The Vineyard Gazette, in Martha’s Vineyard.
Senior writers at the Global Mail include Eric Ellis, Bernard Lagan and Mike Seccombe, all former Fairfax journalists.Senior writers at the Global Mail include Eric Ellis, Bernard Lagan and Mike Seccombe, all former Fairfax journalists.
The site’s director of photography is Mike Bowers, who hosts Talking Pictures on the ABC’s Insiders program and is a former chief photographer for The Sydney Morning Herald.The site’s director of photography is Mike Bowers, who hosts Talking Pictures on the ABC’s Insiders program and is a former chief photographer for The Sydney Morning Herald.
Wood co-founded wotif.com in 2000 and is involved in a range of philanthropic projects in the arts, environment, youth development, medical science and journalism, including contributing funding for Guardian Australia.Wood co-founded wotif.com in 2000 and is involved in a range of philanthropic projects in the arts, environment, youth development, medical science and journalism, including contributing funding for Guardian Australia.
Wood has been reported as saying he believes independent quality journalism is the foundation of a healthy and civil society. “I think that was under threat in Australia," he said in an ABC interview last year.Wood has been reported as saying he believes independent quality journalism is the foundation of a healthy and civil society. “I think that was under threat in Australia," he said in an ABC interview last year.