US: Sun-Times Media Group launches Pluck social media services

Posted by Alisa Zykova on September 4, 2008 at 10:25 AM

Sun-Times News Group reports a deal with social media firm Pluck which will offer readers discussion forums blogs, photo and video sharing as well as other community tools on SunTimes.com, PioneerLocal.com, SuburbanChicagoNews.com, SouthtownStar.com and Post-Trib.com. The venture is meant to increase audience interactivity, according to Catherine Lanucha, the group's director of content.

"We're providing publishers with the tools to bring online conversations into their own networks, where they can best monetize it," said Dave Panos, Pluck CEO."By engaging consumers with open platforms, publishers get the added bonus of consumers creating much of the content."

Previously, the outlet used Pluck features like comments on articles, reader recommendations and related blog posts from BlogBurst, a syndication network which connects publications and media to a network of 5,500 blogs, writes MediaPost.com.

Pluck's social media features are also available on Condé Nast sites, The Guardian and USA Today.

Source: MediaPost.com