MCLEAN, Va. – Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI), the parent company of USA TODAY NETWORK comprising 109 local U.S. properties and USA TODAY, announced an investment in digital media company Digg. Using proprietary data sources and an editorial team, Digg curates the best content on the web for millions of people every month.
“Our team looks forward to working with Digg as we continue on our journey as a forward-thinking and innovative media company”
Gannett led Digg’s recent Series C investment round with an undisclosed sum to provide USA TODAY NETWORK access to Digg’s industry-leading data and to increase scale, reach new audiences, and innovate with engaging new content discovery and messaging products. This investment is part of Gannett’s commitment to expand USA TODAY NETWORK’s content distribution capabilities and improve user experience by enabling readers to easily discover award-winning journalism across multiple platforms.
The investment will allow Digg to accelerate innovation for content discovery products utilizing its powerful proprietary data, including across messaging platforms. Earlier this year Digg released its first integrations with Facebook Messenger and Slack. Digg will also have access to local content from USA TODAY NETWORK for improved personalization and geo-targeting content to its users.
“Our team looks forward to working with Digg as we continue on our journey as a forward-thinking and innovative media company,” said Bob Dickey, president and CEO of Gannett. “Digg has an engaged audience, an impressive ability to discover the best content on the web, and analyze content in real-time. Working together, we will be able to quickly develop new content discovery products and bring them to market.”
USA TODAY NETWORK, with an audience of more than 100 million unique digital visitors a month, and Digg, with a web, mobile, and social audience of 40 million monthly, will allow for greater distribution and reach among advertisers’ targeted audiences. The companies will collaborate and co-create high-quality branded content through USA TODAY NETWORK’s GET Creative studio, provide cross-channel distribution and deliver comprehensive advertising analytics to their brand partners.
“We are excited to have one of the world’s premier media companies as an investor and partner,” said Gary Liu, CEO of Digg. “Gannett’s impressive volume of great original content across the USA TODAY NETWORK will improve the discovery experience on Digg, and we are looking forward to building new products together that honor the tradition of high quality journalism.”
Additionally, USA TODAY NETWORK’s Chief Product Officer Daniel Bernard will join Digg’s board.
About Gannett
Gannett Co., Inc. is a next-generation media company committed to strengthening communities across our network. Through trusted, compelling content and unmatched local-to-national reach, Gannett touches the lives of more than 100 million people monthly. With more than 120 markets internationally, it is known for Pulitzer Prize-winning newsrooms, powerhouse brands such as USA TODAY and specialized media properties, in addition to its full suite of digital marketing services. To connect with us, visit www.gannett.com.
About Digg
Digg helps users find the best content on the internet. Digg’s homepage, curated by a team of editors armed with industry-best data and technology, has proven that there is a large, loyal, and enthusiastic audience for quality online. In addition to the homepage, Digg’s original content, tools like Digg Reader and Digg Deeper, and integrations with Facebook Messenger and Amazon Alexa have led to a growing and hyper-engaged user base of internet natives. Come discover our curious world at www.digg.com.
