The News Hub to allow PRs to publish content directly

Online content platform The News Hub is to allow brands to publish “unedited” articles alongside editorial stories, in a service which it claims will “bypass the complicated relationship between PR and journalists”.

The News Hub, which launched 18 months ago, is an “impartial” online content platform with contributors around the world, which aims to “make independent, inquisitive, publicly-minded journalism sustainable”.

Its sponsored content business service, a new business model for the organisation, will allow brands to directly publish content alongside editorial posts.

On its site, featured topics range from politics, business, environment and tech to celebrities, lifestyle, arts and culture and music. As part of its aim to make digital journalism sustainable, each month the top 10% most read contributors receive a fee from The News Hub for their writing.

The News Hub said the new model would offer PRs total control because it was not a publisher. It claims to be an “impartial platform” which provides a space for journalists and bloggers to publish news and opinion that is now extending its offer to brands and PRs. All paid-for content will be labelled as “sponsored”.

William Stolerman, founder of The News Hub, said: “With The News Hub, PRs no longer need to fight for journalists’ attention, which takes up valuable time that could be much better spent creating great content for their clients.

“Currently, brands can choose between putting budget behind expensive sponsored content campaigns, or risky PR investments. We combine the best of both models: de-risking PR through controlled coverage which is offered at a much more affordable entry point than typical sponsored content models.”

Earlier this month, free business newspaper City A.M. announced that it was planning to allow companies to publish their own content on its website in return for a monthly fee.