New York Observer Creates 50 Local Politics Sites

February 18, 2008 8:36 a.m. EST

New York, NY (AHN) - The New York Observer has launched plans to introduce 50 statewide political Web sites. Collected under the umbrella of Politicker.com, the sites will use bloggers to report on local political news.

One goal of the project is to attract local political advertising at a time when newspaper and television ads are waning.

Although New York Observer publisher Jared Kushner refused to be specific about funding, he is investing millions of dollars in the project, according to the New York Times.

Former Boston Globe blogger James Pindell was named managing editor of Politicker.com last month and the local politics hub has 11 states online with plans for 50 by the end of 2009.

Each site will use one editor and reporter, plus a number of bloggers. Editors' identities will remain anonymous, Observer Media Group president Robert Sommer told the newspaper's Web site. Those editors will be culled from lobbyists, lawyers and former politicians.