OLinux: Could you tell us about your carreer, professional abilities, etc.?

Cédric Godart I've been a radio presenter and journalist for 3 years since I left the University (I graduated in translation). I'm 25 years old and I live in Brussels, Capital of Europe. My computer skills wouldn't sound very exciting. I've actually been very interested in the Linux and Open Source movement for three years. Honestly I use two different OS on my home computer, ie Linux and MacOS X.

OLinux: What were the main reasons that brought about the extinction of Linux today French Version?

Cédric Godart: Advertising revenues have been very low since the beginning of the year. Internet.com will now only focus on profitable sites. International editions of their Linux and Open Source sites are no longer profitable. The decision was expected but it came as a surprise since LinuxToday Fr was only 9 months old.

OLinux: How many people were involved on the website? How do they react to the extinction?

Cédric Godart: I was the only "journalist" to work on LinuxToday French. A daily press review and about 5 articles a week were my main "mission" on the site. A student helped me with the press review when I was on vacation. Technical issues were in the hands of Scott COURTNEY and Paul FERRIS (the "father" of LinuxToday), both working for the Linux & Open Source Channel of internet.com, in the USA.

OLinux: What were the most significant differences between the english version and the french version of 1 today?

Cédric Godart: While the English edition only focused on a press review, adding features from time to time, the French edition offered a press review and daily articles. These articles were also posted on the popular France.Internet.Com, that supported us since Version 2, launched in January.

OLinux: Could you expect that French Linux Today wiould be successful so quickly?

Cédric Godart: I was actually very surprised to see how successful the site became in a couple of months only. Companies and Linux users soon became addicted. To me, the French audience was really in need of some kind of professional (-looking) news site about Linux and Open Source. The success of the English edition also helped us reach a wider audience : indeed, the "LinuxToday" brand is a reference. It may be the reason why the popular Linux Mandrake French site decided to display our news on their homepage.

OLinux: Did internet.com influence in your productivity and in your editorial board?

Cédric Godart: Never! Kevin REICHARD (Executive Editor, Internet Technology and Linux/Open Source Channels) trusted me.

OLinux: Despite you have received a bunch of e-mails concerning the disapperance of fr.linuxtoday.com, did you believe for a moment that internet.com could change their mind?

Cédric Godart: No, not really. I expected them to "transfer" Linux and Open Source properties to their official French site, france.internet.com. But times are bad for those international editions, as well. If Yahoo keeps telling that the advertising model will undoubtedly prove profitable in the future it's still not.