Msnbc.com acquires local news Web site

Msnbc.com has acquired EveryBlock, a Chicago-based Web site that offers news and information down to the neighborhood level in 15 cities, the two companies announced Monday.

EveryBlock, which will continue as an independent brand, allows users to type in their address, neighborhood name or ZIP code to view nearby news coverage, blog entries, civic data, photos and dozens of other types of information — all updated throughout the day.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Charlie Tillinghast, president of msnbc.com, praised EveryBlock for its data-driven approach to reporting basic public information.

“EveryBlock’s talented team has a track record of innovation in the industry, and we’re excited to add them to the msnbc.com brand family,” Tillinghast said. “They’ve broken new ground with their unique approach to collecting, organizing and presenting news down to the block level. Their impact and importance in the community space is extremely valuable and carries promise for journalism and new business models.”

“Joining with msnbc.com gives us the resources to turn EveryBlock from a cool, useful service into something much bigger,” said Adrian Holovaty, founder of EveryBlock. Holovaty and the  company's staff of five will remain based in Chicago.

In addition to Chicago, the Web site also covers Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle and Washington, D.C.

Msnbc.com previously acquired Newsvine, a social media news company, in October 2007. Msnbc.com is a joint venture of Microsoft Corp. and NBC Universal, a unit of General Electric.

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