MCLEAN, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) today announced a strategic content partnership with Independent Media, an innovative digital media company that launched The Outline in 2016. Together, TEGNA and The Outline will collaborate on mobile-first storytelling and investigative content across platforms, building on each company’s strengths and offering consumers fact-based journalism of consequence.
The Outline uses its proprietary and integrated content and technology platform to publish thoughtful, modern stories — from long-form to interactives to audio and video — geared towards smart, young audiences. The Outline tells compelling and highly-visual stories covering three main topics: power, culture and the future. Since launching in December 2016, The Outline has gained a loyal and growing audience of millions and boasts industry-leading engagement on its platform.
As part of the partnership, TEGNA and The Outline will work together to co-create original content and investigations that will appear across TEGNA’s digital channels as well as on The Outline’s digital platform. This collaboration will expand TEGNA’s digital footprint and help to amplify its existing content. TEGNA has launched several new storytelling initiatives, like VERIFY, and original investigations, such as “Selling Girls.” In addition, TEGNA and Independent Media plan to work together to create new content brands and test new digital advertising concepts.
“We continue to strategically partner with promising, emerging, digital-first companies that align with our innovative approach to content transformation,” said Adam Ostrow, chief digital officer, TEGNA. “We are excited to work with The Outline on joint investigations and extend TEGNA’s impactful content to new digital audiences. Independent Media’s cutting-edge storytelling tools and integrated ad platform will also create new opportunities to better serve our audiences and advertisers.”
“TEGNA is not your traditional broadcaster. Their forward-thinking, thoughtful approach to journalism matches our ethos as a company. We’re excited about telling important, digital-first stories with them that make a difference,” said Joshua Topolsky, CEO and founder, Independent Media. “TEGNA has incredible investigative journalists all over the U.S., and we can’t wait to work alongside their teams.”
About TEGNA
TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) is an innovative media company that serves the greater good of our communities. With 47 television stations and two radio stations in 39 markets, TEGNA delivers relevant content and information to consumers across platforms. It is the largest owner of top 4 affiliates in the top 25 markets, reaching approximately one-third of all television households nationwide. Each month, TEGNA reaches 50 million adults on-air and approximately 35 million across its digital platforms. TEGNA has been consistently honored with the industry’s top awards, including Edward R. Murrow, George Polk, Alfred I. DuPont and Emmy Awards. TEGNA delivers results for advertisers through unparalleled and innovative solutions including OTT local advertising network Premion, centralized marketing resource Hatch, and G/O Digital, a one-stop shop for local businesses to connect with consumers through digital marketing. Across platforms, TEGNA tells empowering stories, conducts impactful investigations and delivers innovative marketing solutions. For more information, visit www.TEGNA.com.
About Independent Media and The Outline
Independent Media is a digital publishing and technology company launched by Joshua Topolsky (the co-founder of Vox Media and Bloomberg’s former Digital Content Chief). The Outline is the company’s first brand and focuses on the intersection of power, culture, and the future, telling stories with uncompromising honesty, striking design, and cutting-edge technology. Independent Media was founded in 2016 in New York City with venture backing from RRE, Boat Rocker, Advancit, and NextView.
