Following the deadly terrorist attack on French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo’s offices, where gunmen killed 12 people including key staff, Google is donating €250,000 (roughly $300,000) to support the publication, according to a report from The Guardian. Using these funds, the Paris-based journal will publish a million copies of its next edition on January 14th, compared to a normal printing run of around 50,000. To make the run possible, the French government also donated almost €1 million ($1.2 million), while French newspapers pledged €250,000 ($296,000). Google’s Press Innovation Fund added another €250,000 and the Guardian Media Group contributed £100,000 ($150,000). The paper is also asking the public to subscribe at a reduced rate or make a donation.
A number of Hebdo’s distribution partners have also agreed to work without charge. One of the magazine’s writers described the situation on French television: “It’s very hard. We are all suffering, with grief, with fear, but we will do it anyway because stupidity will not win.”
