About The Local Italy
The Local’s goal is to give you all the news and essential information you need about Italy. Whether you are a foreign resident, a frequent visitor, someone with family in Italy or are planning a move to the country, our aim is to provide what you need.
Because The Local is staffed by people who have set up lives abroad, we have a keen understanding of the challenges our readers face and we work closely with our members in Italy to bring you the stories and practical tips that really matter.
The Local was founded in 2004 and we now have a team of dedicated journalists on the ground in nine countries. In 2018 we launched membership and in 2021 we were thrilled to reach a milestone of 50,000 paying members. This support means everything to us and makes us more determined than ever to continue investing in our award-winning independent journalism.
Meet The Local Team

James Savage
CEO & PublisherJames moved to Sweden from the UK at the start of the millennium and was a co-founder of The Local in 2004.

Ben McPartland
Managing EditorBen comes from the UK and became the first editor of The Local France in 2013. He now heads the editorial team from Paris.

Emma Löfgren
Deputy Managing Editor & Editor, The Local SwedenEmma returned to her native Sweden and joined The Local in 2015 after an eight-year stint in Scotland.

Clare Speak
Editor, The Local ItalyOriginally from Manchester, England, Clare lived and worked in several European countries including Spain and the Czech Republic before moving to Italy. She joined The Local in 2018.

Karli Drinkwater
Journalist, The Local ItalyKarli is a British journalist and producer. She reported to the international press from the frontline of Italy's Covid-19 pandemic and continues to cover the latest news and features on life in Italy and Europe.

Elaine Allaby
Journalist, The Local ItalyOriginally from the UK, Elaine has lived in Rome, Italy for the last several years. She started writing for The Local's Italy edition in 2018.