MSNBC to Acquire a Chattier News Site

News Type: Event — Seeded on Mon Oct 8, 2007 11:34 AM EDT

Article Source: The New York Times

world-news, vine, viners, msnbc-to-acquire-a-chattier-news-site, newspaper-analysis, trans-atlantic-relations, user-comments-new

Seeded by ShaunV

Newsvine looks nothing like the usual news Web site. On a given day, the site can hold dozens of user comments about a British newspaper analysis of trans-Atlantic relations; a first-person essay by an American soldier titled "What My Life in Iraq Is Like" and a link to a new music video by Avril Lavigne.

Published to:

ShaunV's Column, All of Newsvine
Groups: MetaVine, Open Mic, Open Minded, Psych, Soc, Philos, Science And Technology
Regions: New York

What's this?

Who's leading the conversation?

This visualization below allows you to see the impact that each user has on the current conversation. The top row contains the group of users who have had the most impact, the 2nd row the group of users who have had the 2nd most impact (et cetera). Users with similar impact are grouped together, and the average score of the group is shown to the left of the group. The author of the article is also shown on the left, in their corresponding group. Each user's score is based on the number of comments the user has made plus the number of votes their comments have received. The scores are calculated relative one another, so while their absolute value is not particularly important, their relative difference does indicate a larger difference in impact on the conversation.

5.0

{"commentId":1082229,"authorDomain":"SVForbes"}

ShaunV

The deal represents the first acquisition in the 11-year history of MSNBC.com and one of the first times that a leading news Web site has purchased a social news source. The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

{"commentId":1082229,"threadId":"159333","contentId":"1010650","authorDomain":"SVForbes"}

5 votes

#1 - Mon Oct 8, 2007 11:35 AM EDT

{"commentId":1082431,"authorDomain":"hamid"}

hamid.nyc

Newsvine attracts about one million unique users a month while MSNBC.com averages 29 million in the same time frame. But Newsvine does something MSNBC.com does not: it emphasizes user-generated content and creates an annotated version of the news.

I didn't know we had that much of an audience, I'm still conflicted about how this extra 29 million will be assimilated and what effect it will have on us regulars. Will we fade into Newsvine/MSNBC.com obscurity?

{"commentId":1082431,"threadId":"159333","contentId":"1010650","authorDomain":"hamid"}

6 votes

#2 - Mon Oct 8, 2007 12:32 PM EDT

{"commentId":1082453,"authorDomain":"raatkiraani"}

Raat ki Raani

This of much of that additional 29 million as more page hits, Hamid. Thus more add revenue for the regulars. That's the way I see it. And as some of them come over and register on Newsvine, it means potentially a sharper intake of newbies over a shorter timeframe. So more growth. The transition will not be without some hitches, that's for sure. But in the long run, this is welcome news for us all.

{"commentId":1082453,"threadId":"159333","contentId":"1010650","authorDomain":"raatkiraani"}

6 votes

#2.1 - Mon Oct 8, 2007 12:40 PM EDT

{"commentId":1082484,"authorDomain":"hamid"}

hamid.nyc

Raat,

That's actually what I'm hoping for. When Newsvine added Google Analytics I was shocked at how many hits I was getting that weren't reflected in the votes and comments, I thought Wow, I really am getting noticed. Once this all begins, I'll be checking analytics to monitor the changes...

{"commentId":1082484,"threadId":"159333","contentId":"1010650","authorDomain":"hamid"}

6 votes

#2.2 - Mon Oct 8, 2007 12:48 PM EDT

{"commentId":1082555,"authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}

Pamela Drew

Ah, not so fast with the page hit counts. Every time you compete for readers you're also competing with content providers and so it is a blend of diluted importance as we become smaller fish in a larger pond.

{"commentId":1082555,"threadId":"159333","contentId":"1010650","authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}

6 votes

#2.3 - Mon Oct 8, 2007 1:05 PM EDT

{"commentId":1082744,"authorDomain":"SVForbes"}

ShaunV

I am not surprised that they have such a large audience, Hamid. I have noticed for awhile, though, that people seemed unaware of how large the audience is.

{"commentId":1082744,"threadId":"159333","contentId":"1010650","authorDomain":"SVForbes"}

4 votes

#2.4 - Mon Oct 8, 2007 2:13 PM EDT

{"commentId":1082586,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) ButkiRestored

I can't believe the New York Times missed the Real Story here, the one revealed by the Weakly World News, about the sale(s)

{"commentId":1082586,"threadId":"159333","contentId":"1010650","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

2 votes

#3 - Mon Oct 8, 2007 1:17 PM EDT

{"commentId":1082596,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) ButkiDeleted

{"commentId":1082665,"authorDomain":"laughman"}

Laughman

please delete that post above as it takes you to the wrong link.

I wouldn't say that :)

{"commentId":1082665,"threadId":"159333","contentId":"1010650","authorDomain":"laughman"}

1 vote

#3.2 - Mon Oct 8, 2007 1:47 PM EDT

{"commentId":1082702,"authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}

Pamela Drew

I do think it's in poor taste scott, especially when we're looking at lots of potential first time visitors and we struggle with keeping that stuff to a minimum anyway.

I'd like to see you delete the link and the post but the link would do, the post, whatever floats your boat but to link it here isn't even especially relevant or funny, IMHO sweetie pie, it's beneath you and a few others too.

{"commentId":1082702,"threadId":"159333","contentId":"1010650","authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}

5 votes

#3.3 - Mon Oct 8, 2007 2:01 PM EDT

{"commentId":1082732,"authorDomain":"SVForbes"}

ShaunV

I can't delete it Scott without deleting the entire thread. I tried and restored the thread.

{"commentId":1082732,"threadId":"159333","contentId":"1010650","authorDomain":"SVForbes"}

3 votes

#3.4 - Mon Oct 8, 2007 2:08 PM EDT

{"commentId":1082736,"authorDomain":"SVForbes"}

ShaunV

I am a tad annoyed about the links, Scott. They do seem in poor taste and only meant to hijack this thread.

But, I like you so I am only slight angry.

{"commentId":1082736,"threadId":"159333","contentId":"1010650","authorDomain":"SVForbes"}

4 votes

#3.5 - Mon Oct 8, 2007 2:10 PM EDT

{"commentId":1082787,"authorDomain":"SVForbes"}

ShaunV

Slight should read "slightly."

{"commentId":1082787,"threadId":"159333","contentId":"1010650","authorDomain":"SVForbes"}

2 votes

#3.6 - Mon Oct 8, 2007 2:29 PM EDT

{"commentId":1082985,"authorDomain":"wharrison55"}

Bill Harrison

One can never go wrong with a larger readership. Ask the New York Times, heh heh.

{"commentId":1082985,"threadId":"159333","contentId":"1010650","authorDomain":"wharrison55"}

1 vote

#4 - Mon Oct 8, 2007 3:37 PM EDT

{"commentId":1083500,"authorDomain":"SVForbes"}

ShaunV

I am happy for the Newsvine Founders. This is a business venture and this acquisition is an admirable accomplishment.

Whatever will be will be.

{"commentId":1083500,"threadId":"159333","contentId":"1010650","authorDomain":"SVForbes"}

5 votes

#4.1 - Mon Oct 8, 2007 6:55 PM EDT

{"commentId":1083696,"authorDomain":"newbroom"}

newbroom

Mr. Tillinghast said. "We see Newsvine as an excellent source of stories for MSNBC.com."

I'd say we have a challenge before us as viners....we can help bring credibility to blogged news and opinion, and also help to raise the bar for those in the more traditional media...henceforth known as the MTM...we should be able to expose the foibles and fallacies of profit driven drivel and steer the audience to meaningful, relevant considerations.

{"commentId":1083696,"threadId":"159333","contentId":"1010650","authorDomain":"newbroom"}

3 votes

#5 - Mon Oct 8, 2007 8:53 PM EDT

{"commentId":1083730,"authorDomain":"celestina"}

Celestina

That's pretty much exactly where my thoughts were going. For a long time, the MTM has done its best to ignore or denigrate Citizen Journalism. Looks like it is beginning to be realized that those tactics simply won't work. But that doesn't mean we can sit back and revel in the recognition being thrown at us, because it won't work that way. If anything, we have to work harder now, so that there is no question which was MTM has to treat us. We have no become more than a novelty act, we have to become a necessity.

{"commentId":1083730,"threadId":"159333","contentId":"1010650","authorDomain":"celestina"}

4 votes

#5.1 - Mon Oct 8, 2007 9:09 PM EDT

{"canLink":false,"threadId":"159333","isPrivate":false}

MSNBC to Acquire a Chattier News Site	The New York Times	Sun Oct 7	13
MSNBC to Acquire Newsvine......Now what?	The New York Times	Sun Oct 7	7
MSNBC to acquire a chattier news site	CNET News.com	Sun Oct 7	10

SHAUNV

Backyard

MSNBC to Acquire a Chattier News Site

Published to:

FUN STUFF:

COMPANY STUFF:

LEGAL STUFF: