In The News
Fisher Interactive Announces New Partnership with Independent Neighborhood News Sites and Hyperlocal News Sites
September 15, 2011SEATTLE, September 8, 2011 – Fisher Interactive Network in conjunction with two outstanding neighborhood news sites, the Rainer Valley Post and the Beacon Hill Blog announce an exciting new partnership to provide in-depth and high quality news coverage for Southeast Seattle.
Southeast Seattle has long been overlooked and underserved by local news organizations. The area encompasses the most diverse zip code in the United States. Those who call the area home are also some of the city’s residents who exhibit immense pride in the neighborhoods.
“I’m thrilled to join forces with KOMO,” said Amber Campbell, founder and editor of the Rainier Valley Post. “Together, we will provide Southeast Seattle with the comprehensive coverage neighbors need to stay informed and engaged.”
Campbell will continue to publish her successful neighborhood news site while drawing from the full resources of Fisher Interactive Network to enrich her coverage and maximize benefits for her audience. At the same time Campbell will publish original news stories, events, photographs and more directly to Rainier Valley KOMO and Columbia City KOMO websites.
Wendi Dunlap, founder and editor of the Beacon Hill Blog, helped pioneer the world of community news with a neighborhood email list service over a decade before today’s local news sites became popular. As part of this partnership, Dunlap will continue operating her robust and independent neighborhood news site while publishing original stories, pictures, and event news to Beacon Hill KOMO and Georgetown KOMO. The Beacon Hill Blog too will enrich its own coverage by drawing from the news resources of Fisher Interactive Network
“KOMO and the Beacon Hill Blog each have strengths that the other does not,” said Dunlap. “KOMO has a large news-gathering organization, while the Beacon Hill Blog has someone who lives in the neighborhood and knows the community.”
This new partnership not only offers better a richer experience for neighbors in Southeast Seattle, but it allows that section of the city a way to share its stories with a much larger audience.
“Amber, Wendi and I are most excited about giving neighbors in Southeast Seattle a louder voice in the rest of the city and even across Western Washington,” said Fisher Interactive Executive Producer Travis Mayfield. “Issues raised on the Rainier Valley Post, The Beacon Hill Blog, Rainier Valley KOMO, Columbia City KOMO, Beacon Hill KOMO and Georgetown KOMO may have direct exposure on KOMO 4 News, KOMO Newsradio and KOMOnews.com on a routine basis.”
This neighborhood news collaboration enriches the relationship between the audience, the advertisers and our partners in the fast changing landscape of local and hyperlocal digital news. It represents significant investment in the depth and quality of neighborhood news coverage. This partnership means there will now be a network of six neighborhood news sites working with together with a legacy multi-platform newsroom covering Southeast Seattle.
“Amber and Wendi are top notch journalists and fierce advocates for their communities,” said Jenny Kuglin Director of Interactive Content and Social Media at Fisher Interactive. “This partnership allows us all to cover Southeast Seattle like never before and that’s something that should make everyone proud.”
About Fisher Interactive’s Neighborhood Sites
The KOMO News Network includes 55 neighborhood news websites across Western Washington. In addition to full-time neighborhood news staffers, the network’s coverage is enhanced by a growing number of Neighborhood News Partners, Neighborhood Journalists and the full resources of the KOMO Newsroom.
About Fisher Interactive Network
The Fisher Interactive Network was created in 2006 to bring all of Fisher’s online assets together as an integrated platform. Fisher Interactive’s group of award-winning news websites are powered by dedicated online producers and reporters as well as the full newsroom resources of Fisher’s broadcast stations. Since August 2009, Fisher Interactive has launched over 120 hyperlocal neighborhood web sites in five markets, earning the company the Innovator of the Year award at the Borrell Local Online Advertising Conference. The hyperlocal product is syndicated by media companies across the country. Fisher Interactive has several websites dedicated to lifestyle and entertainment content, including SeattlePulp.com and PortlandPulp.com. We have dedicated staff that create content related to food and restaurants, arts and entertainment, jobs and careers, home design and real estate, and music. Our mobile sites are daily habits for users in all of our primary markets, and can be accessed by Mobile Web browsers, in Mobile Optimized format and as native iPhone, iPad or Android Apps.
The content created by our interactive journalists has been honored with awards from numerous organizations, including the Associated Press, Radio and Television News Directors Association, National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and The Society of Professional Journalists.
Contact: Alyson Soma Force, asomaforce@fisherinteractive.com, 206.404.4063
Neighborhood News Partner sites:
Http://www.Rainiervalleypost.com
http://beaconhill.seattle.wa.us
http://Rainiervalley.komonews.com
http://Columbiacity.komonews.com
