Network18 launches news website -- Firstpost.com

The media company is experimenting with a new 'web exclusive' news property and claims that it will generate and publish exclusive content on Firstpost.com.

Web18, the digital arm of Network 18, has launched an online news website called Firstpost.com. The site will publish news and topical content related to current affairs, politics, business, economy, world, Bollywood, and sports. It will also feature blogs written by experts.

It is important to note that the group also owns a news website called IBNlive.com. A spokesperson from Web18 tells afaqs! about how Firstpost.com is different from its existing news website, "Firstpost.com is not meant to be a replication or extension of any offline news property/brand of the group. In fact, the site is specially developed for web journalism. It will have a dedicated and separate editorial team."

"Firstpost.com is made up of writers and editors across India and the world. It will publish exclusive content," Durga Raghunath, vice-president, products, Web18, tells afaqs! in an e-mail response.

Raghunath further adds, "The objective is to create a 'web first' product that focusses on opinion, views and rich context around news. Firstpost.com will take the web user from the point news breaks, to greater understanding through multiple views quickly. User engagement will be a huge focus and user contribution will be equally important."

The site will be targetted towards users who are interested in news, views and debates. Essentially, this audience currently consists of exclusive internet users, and integrators who consume news through various media -- newspaper, television and the internet.

Currently the site has no advertisements. The spokesperson has indicated that the site will be monetised, and it will most probably, happen through advertisements only. However, he declined to reveal any further detail on the same.