MySpace launches news service

by Leigh Gower, Revolution UK 19-Apr-07, 14:40

LONDON - MySpace is beta testing a news service guided by user ratings in a bid to attract further ad revenue to the News Corp-owned social networking site.

MySpace News will combine elements of Google News, which collates stories thematically, and Digg.com, which ranks stories submitted by readers based on their popularity. Divided into 25 topics and 300 sub-sections, it will showcase articles from across the web, and cover everything from politics to sport and entertainment.

Stories that are recommended by users will gain a more prominent position on the page, with only registered MySpace members able to vote. It is hoped that by bringing news into a social environment where readers can influence what becomes the top story, they will be inclined to stay on the site for longer periods of time.

"Many advertisers have expressed interest in the service, which allows them to target the MySpace community in a more direct way," said Brian Norgard, co-founder of Newroo, the company responsible for the technology behind the service, which was bought by News Corp's Fox Interactive Media last year.

News Corp said the service will scan more news sources than Google News, but that organisations can opt out of having their news feed shown if they wish. It comes after Google settled a copyright suit with Agence France-Presse, which complained over the use of its content in Google News without permission.