Draft:BlogTO
Submission declined on 13 July 2025 by Gheus (talk).
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| Submission declined on 11 July 2025 by Itzcuauhtli11 (talk). Your draft shows signs of having been generated by a large language model, such as ChatGPT. Their outputs usually have multiple issues that prevent them from meeting our guidelines on writing articles. These include:
This draft's references do not show that the subject qualifies for a Wikipedia article. In summary, the draft needs multiple published sources that are: Declined by Itzcuauhtli11 3 days ago.
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| Submission declined on 11 July 2025 by CNMall41 (talk). This submission is not adequately supported by reliable sources. Reliable sources are required so that information can be verified. If you need help with referencing, please see Referencing for beginners and Citing sources. Declined by CNMall41 4 days ago. | |
| Submission declined on 10 July 2025 by GoldRomean (talk). This submission appears to read more like an advertisement than an entry in an encyclopedia. Encyclopedia articles need to be written from a neutral point of view, and should refer to a range of independent, reliable, published sources, not just to materials produced by the creator of the subject being discussed. This is important so that the article can meet Wikipedia's verifiability policy and the notability of the subject can be established. If you still feel that this subject is worthy of inclusion in Wikipedia, please rewrite your submission to comply with these policies. Declined by GoldRomean 5 days ago. | |
Comment: "Effect of the Online News Act" and "Key competitors" doesn't belong in the article. — Itzcuauhtli11 (talk) 19:17, 11 July 2025 (UTC)
- Comment: Press releases, LinkedIn, and YouTube are not reliable. CNMall41 (talk) 05:47, 11 July 2025 (UTC)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Digital Media |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Founder | Tim Shore |
| Headquarters | , Canada |
| Parent | ZoomerMedia Limited |
| Website | https://www.blogto.com/ |
blogTO is a Canadian digital media company based in Toronto, Ontario. Founded in 2004, the company is a source for local news, culture, and lifestyle content focused on the Greater Toronto Area. Initially established as a website, it has since evolved into a multi-platform digital publisher with a large social media following.
History
[edit]blogTO was founded by Tim Shore in December 2004. [1][2]. In interviews, Shore stated that he founded the site to fill what he perceived as a gap in Toronto's digital media landscape.[3] He described the existing online scene as being dominated by "internet 1.0 sites like Toronto.com," which he believed were not engaging a younger audience.[3]
blogTO initially published content about local news, restaurants, events and niche cultural happenings. [3] The site allowed for user-generated content, such as photo submissions, and developed a growing readership. Over time, the company expanded its team of writers and editors to broaden its coverage to include topics such as real estate, and travel. It also added podcasts and video-based content.
blogTO's growth coincided with the decline of Toronto's print alt-weekly newspapers. It competed directly with publications like NOW Magazine, Eye Weekly, and The Grid. Eye Weekly was published by the Toronto Star from 1991 until 2011, when it was closed and replaced by The Grid. The Grid itself ceased publication in 2014.[4] NOW Magazine ended its regular print edition in 2022 and has since operated primarily online with a reduced output. [5]
Evolution and Expansion to Social Video
[edit]The mid-to-late 2010s saw a strategic shift at blogTO as the company adapted to changes in media consumption brought on by the rise of social media. The company began producing short-form video content for platforms like Instagram and TikTok.[6] These videos, often featuring fast-paced editing and trending audio, showcased restaurants, local events, and locations around Toronto. This type of content frequently received hundreds of thousands of views, expanding the publisher's reach.[7]
The shift to social video also impacted the company's business model, with paid partnerships becoming a significant source of revenue. [6]
Sale to ZoomerMedia
[edit]In January 2022, it was announced that blogTO's parent company, Freshdaily Inc., had been acquired by ZoomerMedia for $15 million.[8] Founded by Moses Znaimer, ZoomerMedia's properties, such as Zoomer Magazine and VisionTV, have traditionally focuses on a 45-and-older demographic. The acquisition of blogTO, with its younger audience, represented a strategic diversification for ZoomerMedia. [9]
In a statement, Znaimer said the purchase of blogTO, along with its subsequent acquisition of Daily Hive, would allow the company to offer advertisers access to a wider range of demographics. [10] In an interview following the sale, Shore stated that the partnership was a "great fit" due to Znaimer's interest in local media. [8]
On March 14, 2025, it was reported that Tim Shore was no longer employed at ZoomerMedia.[11]
Negative impact from the Online News Act
[edit]The passage of Canada's Online News Act (Bill C-18) in 2023 affected digital news publishers. The legislation requires large digital intermediaries, primarily Google and Meta, to negotiate compensation with Canadian news organizations for using their content.[12]
In response, Google entered into an agreement with the Canadian government to provide $100 million in annual funding to be distributed among news publishers.[13] Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, opted instead to block all news content for its Canadian users. [14] This action has had a notable impact on publishers like blogTO that had used these platforms to reach and monetize their audience. The company's Facebook and Instagram accounts remain blocked for users in Canada.
References
[edit]- ^ "blogTO". www.blogto.com. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
- ^ Mudhar, Raju (2025-03-26). "BlogTO founder parts ways with Toronto media site after more than 20 years". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
- ^ a b c "eye - Attack of the pro-blogs - 03.17.05". www.eye.net. Archived from the original on 2005-03-19. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
- ^ July 02, Russ Martin; 2014. "Torstar's The Grid shuts down". Retrieved 2025-07-11.
{{cite web}}:|last2=has numeric name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "NOW Magazine just took another big step toward the end of an era". www.blogto.com. Retrieved 2025-07-11.
- ^ a b April 14, Stephanie Marcus; 2022. "Why BlogTO is focused on social to grow its revenue". Media of Canada. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
{{cite web}}:|last2=has numeric name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "TikTok - blogTO". www.tiktok.com. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
- ^ a b CANADALAND (2022-03-21). "This is what a $15 million website in Toronto looks like". CANADALAND. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
- ^ January 24, Josh Kolm; 2022. "ZoomerMedia acquires BlogTO parent Freshdaily". Media of Canada. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
{{cite web}}:|last2=has numeric name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Reporter, Josh Rubin Business (2022-09-14). "ZoomerMedia goes after the younger generation with deal to buy Daily Hive publisher for $16.4 million". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2025-07-11.
{{cite web}}:|first=has generic name (help) - ^ Ferreira, Beatriz (2025-03-25). "blogTO founder fired after creating the Toronto-based digital media brand 20 years ago". NOW Toronto. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
- ^ "Navigating the complexities of Canada's Online News Act, Bill C-18 | NATIONAL". www.national.ca. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
- ^ Press, Mickey Djuric The Canadian (2024-06-07). "Google signs deal with organization to distribute $100M to Canadian news companies". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2025-07-11.
- ^ "Meta's news ban in Canada remains as Online News Act goes into effect". 2023-12-19. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
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