Automattic, developer of WordPress, introduced this week a new publishing platform that focuses on small and medium-sized news sites. It is noteworthy that Newspack will have built-in blockchain tools.
The project is run in partnership with the Revenue News Hub and Spirited Media and received a $2.4 million investment from several major companies, including Google ($1.2 million, via Google News Initiative), Lenfest Institute for Journalism ($400 000) and the Fund, the John and James Knight ($250 000).
In addition, the number of investors Newspack was supported by Ethereum solutions company ConsenSys, whose contribution to the project amounted to $350 000.
According to the report of Automattic, the platform is designed to release small news sources around the world such concerns as “technology selection, development and support, hosting and security”.
The representative of the ConsenSys meanwhile, the confirmed investment in the Newspack, noting that publishers will offer access to the blockchain instruments using a product called Publisher, developed by a startup Civil Media.
Publisher from Civil will allow the publishers to archive content in a decentralized network and will be available on Newspack in a widget.
At the moment Newspack is under the pilot project. Closed beta testing will begin in July 2019. What functionality is available to users Newspack, is not specified. According to the statement of Automattic, the new platform will combine the best of editorial and business practices used in the media.
The period of development will last until the end of January 2020, after which the platform will be open to approximately 60 publications. It is also reported that at the stage of presupusa platform will be financed exclusively with Automattic and its partners. After the official launch users Newspack will pay about $1-2 thousand per month.
We will remind, earlier based in new York, startup Media Civil attempted to hold the ICO, however, unable to achieve softcap, returned the funds to investors. Then startup announced the continuation of the work on its product, made possible thanks to a $3.5 million investment by the same ConsenSys.
In addition, in October 2018 on cooperation with Civil announced the authoritative edition of Forbes.
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