Tech & Biz

MSNBC Founder: NowPublic at the heart of where media needs to go

by mtippett | October 12, 2007 at 11:21 am

570 views | 7 Recommendations | 7 comments

MSNBC founder and NowPublic Chairman, Merrill Brown tells PaidContent what the NewsVine deal means:

If an MSNBC is realizing that they need to go out and invest in creating, with a partner, a citizen journalist/social media strategy, that endorses what we’ve believed all along about the fact that this isn’t something off in the corner… It’s right at the heart of where journalism and media need to go.

You can listen to the whole interview right here.

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gryphon

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 11:48 on October 12th, 2007

mtippett, I like this story. It's good stuff.

I still dont understand why Ryan Nadel does not see NewsVine as a Now Public competitor.

ryan

at 11:55 on October 12th, 2007

As I said in my comment on your article about the NewsVine acquisition there are parallels between NewsVine and NowPublic indeed but our goals are different in that NewsVine is a social news networking site before a produdcer of original content while NowPublic's focus is on the production and distribution of original content beofre social news networking.

gryphon

at 13:23 on October 12th, 2007

I understand what you are saying, but I guess for someone who is not in the Now Public 'boardroom' it seems like a difference in semantics, not substance.

I know that you are trying to drive, promote and encourage 'original content' on NP, but as an observer, I see that as maybe 5% of what is on here.

Anyway, as I wrote to Kaitlin a few weeks ago, I think its the 'social news networking' that drives traffic and interest. This is why MSNBC invested in NewsVine, to drive traffic to MSNBC, and keep people there (higher time on the site=increased ad revenue, etc).

I do not think MSNBC aquired NewVine to roundout its reporting resources or content. Rather they acquired viewers and readers.

ryan

at 13:31 on October 12th, 2007

A fair comment. What we are striving for and the day to day might not always match. But fundamentally speaking what I wrote above is the difference between NewsVine and NowPublic. Our working relationship with the Associated Press speaks to that focus.

I agree with you on the reason that MSNBC was interested in NewsVine. It will be interesting to observe what happens going forward and how MSNBC handles their new asset.

Christopher Byrne

at 13:47 on October 12th, 2007

What exactly is the relationship nowPublic and the AP?

And I have to agree with an earlier comment, most of what I have seen on here is recycled stories I get elsewhere in my RSS feeds. That is why I try to write original content vs. highlighting stories.

I have more thoughts but they are better for an offline discussion.

Has Dan Gillmor been involved with NowPublic at all?