Narcity Media
{{short description|Canadian online media company}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Narcity Media Inc.
| logo = NarcityMedia-TransparentRed.png
| type = Private
| former_names = MTL Blog Inc. (2013–2015)
| founders = Charles Lapointe
Joshua McRae
| foundation = {{start date and age|2013}}{{cite web|url=https://www.narcitymedia.com/about|title=About Narcity Media|publisher=Narcity Media|website=www.narcitymedia.com|access-date=17 August 2021|year=2021}} in Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| industry = Media
Advertising
Computer software
Technology
| services = Online services
| key_people = Charles Lapointe (CEO)
| location_city = Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| homepage = {{url|https://www.narcitymedia.com/}}
}}
Narcity Media Inc. is a Canadian online media company that owns and operates Narcity and MTL Blog. The company was founded in Montreal, Quebec in 2013 as MTL Blog Inc., and converted into Narcity in 2016 when it expanded into the rest of Canada. Narcity Media is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario and maintains an office in Montreal. The company focuses on creating content for millennials and Gen Z’s in both Canada and the United States.
History
In 2013, the company was created as MTL Blog Inc. and focused on creating content for millennials in Montreal.{{Cite web|title=Step 1 of 3: Select documents - Obtain copies of corporate documents - Online Filing Centre - Corporations Canada - Corporations - Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada|url=https://www.ic.gc.ca/app/scr/cc/ext/cps/dcmnts?corpId=8683905|access-date=2022-02-25|website=www.ic.gc.ca}}{{Cite web |title=NARCITY MEDIA INC. - 1169598506 - Quebec |url=https://b2bhint.com/en/company/ca-qc/narcity-media-inc--1169598506 |access-date=2022-03-10 |website=b2bhint.com |language=en}}
In 2014, the company started offering sponsored content to its clients rather than just display advertising. This generated some controversy with some users pointing out editorials that were labeled as sponsored.{{cite news |date=August 2014 |title=MTL Blog Caught With Hidden Sponsored Content |publisher=Stop MTLBlog |url=http://stopmtlblog.to/mtl-blog-caught-with-hidden-sponsored-content/ |accessdate=8 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170720005406/http://stopmtlblog.to/mtl-blog-caught-with-hidden-sponsored-content/ |archive-date=20 July 2017 |url-status=dead}} In 2015, MTL Blog Inc. was renamed to Narcity Media Inc. and the agency division was created to cater to both brands.{{cite web|title=MTL Blog Inc.|url=https://www.ic.gc.ca/app/scr/cc/CorporationsCanada/fdrlCrpDtls.html?corpId=8683905&V_TOKEN=1491673456556&crpNm=mtl%20blog%20inc&crpNmbr=&bsNmbr=|website=Federal Corporation Information - 868390-5|accessdate=8 April 2017}}
In 2016, the company expanded to Vancouver and across the rest of Canada.{{cite news|last1=Jacques|first1=Gabrielle|url=http://www.infopresse.com/article/2016/4/6/narcity-media-se-lance-a-la-conquete-de-l-ouest|accessdate=8 April 2017|work=Infopresse|publisher=Infopresse|date=6 April 2016|language=French|title=Narcity Média à la conquête de l’ouest}} It also partnered with Telefilm Canada in October 2016{{cite news|last1=Reid|first1=Regan|title=Telefilm targets milllennials with social campaign|url=http://playbackonline.ca/2016/10/21/telefilm-targets-milllennials-with-social-campaign/|accessdate=8 April 2017|work=Playback Online|publisher=Playback Online|date=21 October 2016}} to distribute a video series featuring Canadian celebrities such as Charlotte Cardin and Kardinal Offishall.{{Citation needed|date=April 2017}}
In 2016, the company launched an "Anti-Ad Blocking" feature on all of its websites, forcing users to either whitelist the website or login through Facebook.{{cite magazine|last1=Bilton|first1=Ricardo|title=The Canadian approach to fighting ad blockers: trade ads for user data|url=http://digiday.com/media/narcity-media-ad-blocking/|accessdate=8 April 2017|magazine=Digiday|publisher=Digiday|date=22 January 2016}}
In 2019, Narcity Media expanded its offerings to the United States, creating Narcity USA, where content is being published in many states, including Georgia, Florida and Texas.{{cite web|url=https://www.narcitymedia.com/news/narcity-makes-its-official-launch-into-the-united-states|title=Narcity Makes Its Official Launch Into The United States|date=26 October 2019|website=www.narcitymedia.com}}
In 2020, Narcity partnered with Interac to distribute a video series featuring small businesses across Canada. This campaign was selected as a finalist at the Digiday Content Marketing Award in the category of ‘Best Use of Native Advertising/ Sponsored Content’.{{cite web|url=https://digiday.com/awards/barkley-amc-networks-and-major-league-baseball-are-digiday-content-marketing-awards-finalists/|title=Barkley, AMC Networks and Major League Baseball are Digiday Content Marketing Awards finalists|date=23 March 2021|website=www.digiday.com|publisher=Digiday Awards}}
In 2021, the company inked its biggest sponsored content deal to date with Mazda, for a cross-country campaign.{{cite web|url=https://www.narcity.com/seeking-nature|title=Seeking Nature|website=www.narcitymedia.com}}
Technology
Formerly powered by an internal CMS called Lilium CMS. As of April 2021, the company merged to the RebelMouse CMS.
References
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
External links
- {{official website|https://www.narcitymedia.com}}
{{Canadian journalism}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Narcity Media}}
Category:2015 establishments in Quebec
Category:Canadian companies established in 2015
Category:Companies based in Montreal