Huffington Post plans international edition

The Huffington Post is planning to create an international version of its news aggregation and blogging website this year in partnership with the publisher of Le Monde.

The venture, which will publish articles in French and be known as Le Huffington Post, will see the US site join forces with Le Monde Group and Les Nouvelles Editions Indépendantes, the holding company of Matthieu Pigasse, one of a trio of French businessmen who hold a majority stake in Le Monde.

LNEI also controls Les Inrockuptibles group, which produces a cultural magazine while Le Monde Group also publishes several weekly magazines.

LNEI and Le Monde Group will provide original content and be shareholders alongside the Huffington Post media group in the new site.

“The partnership will combine The Huffington Post’s powerful platform with local expertise and a strong French editorial network,” the US group said on Monday, adding that it was recruiting an editorial team “in preparation for its launch before the end of the year”.

The move continues the strategy of HuffPo, which was acquired by AOL for $315m (£195m) in February, to launch international spin-offs. It opened up sites in the UK and Canada this summer.