Tag: journalism startups

Last week the Newspaper Association of America announced the 8 startups that will pitch at the associations annual conference in Denver. This is the first time such a pitch contest has been held, signalling that newspapers may have finally realized that journalism is changing.

Companies submitted their applications in December, and a committee narrowed them down based on innovation, creativity, and usefulness to the newspaper companies.

“We were blown away by the overwhelming response to our Accelerator Pitch program and are thrilled to announce these participating companies,” NAA President and CEO Caroline Little said in a statement. “The companies will showcase exciting new ideas as we continue to transform the entire newspaper industry. This program is a unique opportunity for these startup companies, and everyone in attendance at NAA mediaXchange will be able to see the future of our industry on display.”

The 8 companies chosen will pitch industry officials at the annual conference, held in Denver on March 16-19.

1. Cinemacraft – “As the newspaper industry gets more and more into the video content business, particularly with the increase of mobile video consumption, Cinemacraft helps publishers gives their users a top-notch and immersive video viewing experience.”
2.  City Portals, LLC – “City Portals, LCC provides a partnership approach to newspapers for building a substantial growing business in both online and mobile. Our relationship includes a complete and cloud-based platform as well as a full suite of services for quickly creating a market-dominant digital media business.
3. Ebyline – “Ebyline provides publishers with a virtual newsroom environment that challenges the concept of a physical newsroom altogether. In short, our business is about improving content economics.”
4. Guarantee Digital – “Guarantee Digital provides while label Digital Agency services to a growing list of media partners in over 30 markets in the United States. We give our partners the ability to offer the essential web, social and mobile marketing and services local merchants need to reach today’s connected consumer.”
5. MediaWorks – “MediaWorks brings Big Data to publisher media. The goal is to bring the power of data driven solutions to a publisher’s advertising offerings, which ultimately translates to stronger advertiser ROI.”
6. saambaa – “saambaa is revolutionizing how local publishers deploy and monetize mobile apps. Our technology makes it easy for publishers to transfer their entertainment content into a branded, native mobile entertainment app for iPhone or Android.”
7. Simpli.fi – “Our In.Finity Programmatic marketing platform is the first platform purpose-built for unstructured data. The fundamental differentiating capabilities around unstructured data empower Simpl.fi to serve the unique needs of the local media company and their advertisers.”
8. SocialNewsDesk – “SocialNewsDesk is the only social media management tool designed specifically with the needs of a newsroom in mind. SocialNewsDesk enables the newspaper company to manage its entire social strategy from a single web-based application.”