Media Contact:
Lindsey Loving
Manager, Communications
571.366.1009
lindsey@newsmediaalliance.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Subatomic Digital, Viafoura Win Grand Prize in
News Media Alliance New(s) Ideas Contest
March 18, 2019
Arlington, VA – The News Media Alliance announced today the grand prize winners of its New(s) Ideas contest, Subatomic Digital and Viafoura. Subatomic Digital produces custom gifts and keepsake items, such as books, puzzles and framed prints, providing an alternative revenue stream for publishers that utilizes their existing digital newspaper archives. Viafoura’s Conversations product, using innovative AI-powered moderation technology, streamlines and automates online commenting and real-time engagement with publishers’ digital stories, improving the reader experience and contributing to increased engagement.
The New(s) Ideas contest, launched in March 2018, called on media startups and businesses with solutions for news media to submit their New(s) Idea – or, new idea for news media – to enter the contest. To be eligible for the grand prize (a webinar with Alliance members, complimentary Associate membership in the Alliance and a dedicated email promotion to members), entrants had to present their idea in a visually engaging and interactive way – preferably utilizing a video, interactive slide format, compelling product pitch in the vein of TEDx, product demo, etc. – and demonstrate its innovative qualities and application to news media organizations for growing audience, revenue and/or engagement.
Alliance members and staff selected the grand prize winners from eight featured “monthly winners” from 2018 that had been highlighted on the Alliance blog and social media channels. Alliance members and staff voted for their favorite New(s) Idea, resulting in a tie between Subatomic Digital (featured in August) and Viafoura Conversations (featured in September).
“What’s great about the New(s) Ideas program is that it’s a win-win for news media organizations and vendors – we’re able to discover and share new solutions with our members to help them grow their businesses, and the vendors get excellent exposure and visibility with their target customers, who comprise our membership,” stated Alliance Vice President, Innovation and Communications, Michael MaLoon. “We thank all of the winners for their innovative ideas and congratulate Subatomic Digital and Viafoura for being voted the favorite ideas by news publishers. We hope this program helps connect our members with helpful solutions on the revenue and engagement fronts.”
The 2018 winners represented a spectrum of products and services designed to help news organizations looking for new ways to grow revenue, drive subscriptions, engage their audiences and streamline production. Submissions included ideas for both print and digital news publishers and came from all over the world.
“We’re thrilled and grateful for being selected and look forward to working with News Media Alliance members to create and grow new revenue streams that will delight their readership,” said Alex Lintott, CEO at Subatomic Digital.
Viafoura founder and CEO Jesse Moeinifar stated, “Viafoura is proud to have been chosen as one of the winners of the New(s) Ideas contest. We are excited to spread the word about our Audience Engagement Suite and thank the News Media Alliance members for their vote and continued support.”
The New(s) Ideas webinar (exclusively for Alliance members) will take place on Thursday, April 25 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern. For more information and to register for the webinar, Alliance members can click here.
For more information about the Alliance New(s) Ideas contest, visit https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/newsideas/.
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The News Media Alliance is a nonprofit organization representing more than 2,000 news organizations and their multiplatform businesses in the United States and globally. 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.
Members of the News/Media Alliance staff have contributed to this post.
