By: E&P Staff The Sun-Times News Group (STNG) Tuesday launched STNG Online Network, an integrated network of 98 local news Web sites, including the site of its print flagship the Chicago Sun-Times, Suntimes.com.
STNG is the Chicago market cluster of dailies, community papers, niche publications and online sites that is owned by Sun-Times Media Group, until recently known as Hollinger International.
Under the new network, all 98 sites remain dedicated to their local community, but each now also offers full access and links to content from all other STNG sites.
Combined, the news sites, which serve 120 Chicagoland communities, average 3.6 million unique visitors monthly. Suntimes.com is one of the top 10 most visited U.S. newspaper sites, according to Nielsen/NetRatings.
"The launch of STNG Online marks a substantial step in our efforts to leverage, on the web, the power of our content and presence in communities across Chicago, said John D. Cruickshank, STNG COO and Sun-Times publisher.
Fred Lebolt, STNG's vice president of New Media, said the search function in local sites also access information on the same topic across the network. A visitor looking at news about a local high school football game will also be directed to information about other football information without having to execute an additional search.
Advertising is also tailed to individuals, Lebolt added.
"For national advertisers, the network will allow them to reach specific audience segments within the attractive Chicago metro area and surrounding suburbs," he said. "And for local businesses, many of which have not yet been able to effectively integrate the Internet into their advertising strategies, the network provides a clear way to directly reach consumers in their communities."
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here