Media Contact:
Lindsey Loving
Manager, Communications
lindsey@newsmediaalliance.org
571.366.1009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
News Media Alliance Announces 2017 Accelerator Pitch Winners
Winning Startups Will Present at mediaXchange 2017 in New Orleans
February 16, 2017
Arlington, VA—The News Media Alliance today announced the four winning media startups that will participate in the fourth annual Accelerator Pitch Program at mediaXchange 2017, which will take place April 30 – May 3, 2017 in New Orleans. The program showcases new businesses that provide solutions for print and digital news media. The winners will have the opportunity to pitch their innovative solutions to approximately 1,000 top news media and advertising executives attending the conference.
“Our winners this year represent the best in creativity and innovation happening in the news media industry right now. Through their products and services, news media companies can more effectively diversify and adapt to the changing and increasingly competitive communications and media landscape,” said Michael MaLoon, Alliance VP, Innovation. “We look forward to showcasing the winners at mediaXchange and to involving the Alliance membership in the selection of one first place Accelerator Pitch winner.”
Past Accelerator Pitch program winners have received interest from leading publishers and industry executives following their participation in the program, elevating their business to a new level.
The winners will be featured on the News Media Alliance Facebook page and voting will take place ahead of mediaXchange. The winner with the most Likes will be the first place winner of Accelerator Pitch 2017.
This year’s entries were judged by an Alliance committee based on usefulness to news media companies, innovation and creativity. The following four companies were selected as the 2017 winners:
Hearken – Hearken helps news organizations listen to their audiences by engaging the public as a story develops from pitch through publication. Using Hearken’s consulting and software services, our partners get deep audience engagement that lead to original, high-performing content, along with valuable data and insights.
Recruitology – Recruitology is a “SaaS” recruitment technology platform used by media companies and publishers to offer a complete one-stop recruitment solution to their employers. Recruitology’s goal is to enable media companies and publishers to be the top advertising choice for local employers and to help them grow market share and recruitment advertising revenue.
Relay Media – Relay Media is leveraging a new web publishing standard (Accelerated Mobile Pages) to build a highly efficient, infinitely scalable platform for distributing quality news and content across the open web. The platform addresses publishers’ need for extended reach and revenue beyond their owned properties, and advertiser demand for high-performance, brand-safe inventory.
Wallit – Wallit is the most flexible subscription management solution for publishers of all sizes looking to sell their content through a variety of unique subscription purchase options. Built with the user experience and marketer in mind, Wallit allows you to seamlessly and easily segment/change niche content – all without having to engage your IT.
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About mediaXchange 2017:
The annual News Media Alliance mediaXchange 2017 will take place April 30 – May 3, 2017, at the New Orleans Marriott in the French Quarter. The conference is designed to inspire and provide valuable ideas to help news media professionals grow audience and revenue for their print and digital products. The theme of the conference is “The Futures of News” – the many ways news media are positioned to excel through technology and innovation, as well as providing high-quality journalism and engaging with local communities. For more information visit www.newsmediaalliance.org/events/mediaXchange
About News Media Alliance:
The News Media Alliance is a nonprofit organization representing nearly 2,000 news organizations and their multiplatform businesses in the United States and Canada. Alliance members include print, digital and mobile publishers of original news content. Headquartered near Washington, D.C., in Arlington, Va., the association focuses on ensuring the future of news media through communication, research, advocacy and innovation. Information about the News Media Alliance (formerly NAA) can be found at www.newsmediaalliance.org/.
Lindsey is Director, Communications at the News/Media Alliance. Prior to joining the Alliance, she led communications for a food and nutrition nonprofit in Washington, D.C. for over eight years.
