WASHINGTON DC: Politico, the specialist US news organisation, has announced plans to expand its political intelligence service into Canada, which is becoming an increasingly important market for US news brands.
Pro Politico Canada is planned to launch in September, the company announced in a blog post last week, adding that the new cross-border news outlet will offer a range of services on top of its Washington-based original reporting and newsletter.
These will include conference call briefings, interviews with key players in both countries, coverage of legislative developments in state capitals and invitations to Politico live events.
“The offering will include a tailored report that will serve Canadians who need daily intelligence about what is happening each day in Washington and the state capital – and what it means for Canada,” the statement read.
Alex Panetta, the former Washington correspondent for news agency Canadian Press, will take charge of the Canadian operation, although he and his team will work out of Politico’s US headquarters.
“Politico aspires to be the dominant source of politics and policy news and information, and that means expanding our presence in capitals of consequence around the globe,” said Robert Allbritton, publisher of Politico.
He did not refer to the recent spat between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the G7 summit in Montreal, but said the new service is aimed at professionals with a “stake in the Canada-US relationship”.
Speaking also to the Financial Times, Allbritton explained that there is a need for a service catering for professionals whose fortunes are linked to the $674bn worth of trade between the two countries.
“I don’t think the [US-Canada] relationship has been at a greater inflection point at any point in the past 50 years,” he said.
Politico already operates in Europe and, more recently, in Asia and its move into Canada follows in the footsteps of other US news groups, such as The New York Times.
For Ken Doctor, an analyst at Newsonomics, “it’s simple math”. He said: “Canada is really a big, cold California. Well educated, affluent, English-speaking, a natural market [for US news].”
Pro Politico Canada is planned to launch in September, the company announced in a blog post last week, adding that the new cross-border news outlet will offer a range of services on top of its Washington-based original reporting and newsletter.
These will include conference call briefings, interviews with key players in both countries, coverage of legislative developments in state capitals and invitations to Politico live events.
“The offering will include a tailored report that will serve Canadians who need daily intelligence about what is happening each day in Washington and the state capital – and what it means for Canada,” the statement read.
Alex Panetta, the former Washington correspondent for news agency Canadian Press, will take charge of the Canadian operation, although he and his team will work out of Politico’s US headquarters.
“Politico aspires to be the dominant source of politics and policy news and information, and that means expanding our presence in capitals of consequence around the globe,” said Robert Allbritton, publisher of Politico.
He did not refer to the recent spat between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the G7 summit in Montreal, but said the new service is aimed at professionals with a “stake in the Canada-US relationship”.
Speaking also to the Financial Times, Allbritton explained that there is a need for a service catering for professionals whose fortunes are linked to the $674bn worth of trade between the two countries.
“I don’t think the [US-Canada] relationship has been at a greater inflection point at any point in the past 50 years,” he said.
Politico already operates in Europe and, more recently, in Asia and its move into Canada follows in the footsteps of other US news groups, such as The New York Times.
For Ken Doctor, an analyst at Newsonomics, “it’s simple math”. He said: “Canada is really a big, cold California. Well educated, affluent, English-speaking, a natural market [for US news].”
Sourced from Politico, Financial Times; additional content by WARC staff
