According to a press release, JIG Media has announced the appointment of Todd Betzold as the Managing Editor of NYCPolitics.com, marking a significant step in the company’s ongoing expansion across New York City’s digital media landscape.
NYCPolitics.com is a digital publication dedicated to comprehensive political coverage in the city. It features in-depth articles, exclusive interviews, political news, a calendar of key events, and legislative updates. The platform recently launched the NYC Legal Spotlight, a section designed to introduce New Yorkers to judicial candidates, attorneys, and elected officials responsible for important legislation. Additionally, JIG Media plans to expand NYCPolitics.com’s offerings with a podcast featuring exclusive interviews with political figures and influencers shaping the city’s future.
Betzold joins JIG Media with extensive experience as both an entertainment and political journalist. Most recently he contributed to EntertainmentNow, covering reality TV and pop culture, with a particular focus on shows like Survivor, Dancing with the Stars, The Voice, and American Idol. Over his 15-year freelance career, he has written for major outlets including MSN (US), MSN Australia, MSN UK, Inquisitr, Screen Rant, Radar Online, OK! Magazine, EntertainmentNow, NewsBreak, and Reality Wanted. Betzold earned his degree in Journalism and Broadcasting from Central Michigan University.
Vernon Jones, CEO of JIG Media, emphasized the significance of Betzold’s appointment for the company’s mission and growth. “Bringing Todd on board is a major step forward for us,” said Jones. “His diverse experience across entertainment and political journalism aligns perfectly with our vision for NYCPolitics.com. We’re committed to delivering political coverage that’s not only accurate and insightful, but also engaging for readers. Todd’s leadership will help ensure NYCPolitics.com becomes an essential source of political news and conversation in New York City.”
“I’m thrilled to join JIG Media and lead NYCPolitics.com at such a pivotal time for digital journalism in New York City,” said Todd Betzold. “My background in both entertainment and political journalism has shown me how powerful engaging, well-crafted stories can be in connecting with audiences. I’m excited to bring that experience to NYCPolitics.com and help deliver political coverage that informs, inspires, and empowers New Yorkers.”
JIG Media operates 15 digital media publications that collectively reach an audience of 2.5 million New Yorkers. As part of its growth strategy, the company plans to bring on Managing Editors for several other outlets in its portfolio, including NYC Sports Network, Healthy NYC, NYC Education News, NYC Business Daily, and others.
Central to JIG Media’s operations is NYC Newswire, the company’s digital media distribution hub. Editors across JIG Media’s network rely on NYC Newswire as a key resource for gathering news and efficiently distributing content tailored to their audiences. The platform serves as a critical engine for quickly delivering hyper-local and niche coverage throughout New York City, to targeted audiences.
“This is the first phase of a massive expansion to grow our digital footprint across New York City,” said Jones. “We’ve recently launched proprietary smart AI technology that makes operating our digital publications dramatically more efficient. This technology is allowing us to accelerate the rollout of new platforms much faster than ever before.”
As part of this expansion, JIG Media is offering Managing Editors an equity position in the publications they lead, along with a share of the revenue generated.
“In a media landscape marked by widespread layoffs across both traditional and digital outlets, we’re offering top editors an opportunity to become part owners and revenue partners in the digital publication they manage,” added Jones. “We believe JIG Media can become one of the most important digital media networks in New York City, and we want the talented journalists who help build it to share in that success.”
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