The Independent is in talks to take control of BuzzFeed and HuffPost in the UK and Ireland, as part of a “strategic partnership” that aims to boost the fortunes of two strikingly different players in the UK media landscape. BuzzFeed UK was once looked upon with envy by legacy publishers who coveted its reach with younger audiences, but its star has faded after huge losses at its parent company. In a move of symbolic significance that reflects the shifting sands of the UK media, BuzzFeed’s UK brands HuffPost, Seasoned and Tasty will be included in the deal, but US brands Celeb, Tech, Admin and HuffPost US will not. UK-based BuzzFeed staff would be transferred to the Independent’s London offices, the Financial Times reported. “This move may allow BuzzFeed [to] cut off UK losses and focus purely on US operations, thus improving overall financial performance,” said DeGroote.

Source: Huffington Post February 15, 2024 21:22 UTC