Broadcaster and journalist Vincent Browne has said his new current affairs magazine will "disturb the cosy consensus in Irish society" through quality investigative reporting.
Speaking at the launch of Village, a weekly due to be published from October 2nd, Mr Browne said the magazine would have a broad appeal, but its main focus would be on breaking major investigative news stories. It will also focus on the arts, reviews, international news, along with an eclectic focus on areas traditionally considered of minority interest, such as nature, history and space exploration.
The magazine has secured syndication rights from the New York Review of Books and the books section of The New York Times. He said he hoped the publication, which would be tabloid in size, would sell around 20,000 copies each week.
Mr Browne, who will be editor and chief executive, is financing the publication through a combination of borrowings and his own cash. It will cost in the region of €50,000 per week to run.
"One of the lessons I have learned in 27 years of publishing is that investigative journalism sells magazines and newspapers; the kind of reporting which disturbs the cosy consensus in Irish society, and holds institutions and corporations to account. That will become a by-word for Village," Mr Browne said.
The editorial staff include former Irish Times journalists Suzanne Breen and Maev-Ann Wren. Sara Burke, a former development officer with the Institute of Public Health, is to become managing editor.
A number of non-executive board members have also been appointed including Barbara Nugent, former chief executive of the Sunday Business Post. The magazine advertising sales director is Sorcha Cunningham, formerly of the Sunday Tribune.
