The Guardian today launched its US website with an exclusive interview with presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
The site, Guardianamerica.com, has been designed for the Guardian's growing US audience, which now accounts for nearly a third of Guardian Unlimited's readership.
In the latest audited ABCe figures for August, Guardian Unlimited had 15.9 million unique users, of which the company estimates 5.1 million came from the US.
Guardian America has an editorial team of eight based in Washington and is edited by US journalist and author Michael Tomasky.
The site will draw on the resources of the Guardian's UK and international journalism, tailoring the presentation of stories to a US audience.
Over time the site will introduce reader services such as holidays and dating, and will eventually include opportunities for recruitment advertising.
"The Guardian's already huge US audience shows that they must be doing something right," Tomasky said.
"What we'll try to do is to bring those American readers the best and most relevant of what London produces every day and combine it with political and cultural coverage of the states that is more geared toward a US audience's interests but staying faithful to the Guardian sensibility."
Alan Rusbridger, the Guardian's editor, said: "There is clearly a demand in the US for the Guardian perspective on global news and comment.
"Under the editorship of the talented political commentator and journalist Michael Tomasky, Guardian America will enable us to meet that need, providing a discerning US audience with quality multimedia journalism, and the very best comment and analysis."
Emily Bell, the Guardian News & Media director of digital content, said: "At a time when many media organisations are cutting back, we are making a significant investment in our journalism, creating a new type of multimedia content which showcases the best Guardian journalism and story-telling in all its forms.
"We hope to make the most of this offering during the American primaries and beyond."
In Tomasky's interview with Ms Clinton today, she criticises George Bush's policies on terrorism and reveals she intends to relinquish some of the executive powers exercised by President Bush and his deputy, Dick Cheney.
