Shiny Media Co-Founder Norris Leaves To Form Online Video Startup
Ashley Norris, co-founder of Shiny Media - probably the UK’s best attempt so far at creating a blog-centric consumer media company - is leaving the outfit to pursue other interests.
“I decided to leave several months ago largely because I had my own startup idea which didn’t really fit with Shiny,” Norris told me. “I had also been involved with the company in its various guises for five years – four of which at the helm – so that seemed long enough. I have other things on the go. I am working on a startup in the online video arena, am doing some consultancy – mainly for (sister PR agency) Shiny Red – and have spare time to work with some other startups. I am still a significant shareholder in the company and on the board.”
Started in 2004 by Norris and two fellow technology journalism freelancers, Shiny is best known for its Shiny Shiny (girly gadgets), Tech Digest (technology) and Shoewawa (footwear) blogs; it sold half the company for $4.5 million last year to new VC Brightstation. Norris told me he later relinquished the CEO role to become strategy director.
MessyMedia, a similar startup, closed last month citing lack of advertisers and writing talent. Norris told me Shiny is “in rude health”, claiming four million monthly readers. But he says a “lack of a content-friendly VC ecosystem, fierce opposition from existing media and the huge online presence of the BBC” make it hard for independent UK content startups to gain traction.
(Photo: Library House)
Related StoriesPosted In: Industry Moves, Entertainment, Media & Publishing, ashley norris, shiny media
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Comments (5)
Aug 4, 2008 4:25 PM
So he is basically throwing in the towel on Shiny—if this were a stock market, short-Shiny?
Aug 5, 2008 5:33 AM
We shoudl give them some credit - but I see your point.
They’ve done well as an indy publisher so far because the big publishers are so far behind on the web. If Shiny had tried to take on the big boys at their own game - ie in the print arena - they may not have done so well. And once the big publishers catch up on the web, will Shiny face even tougher competition? It could be that Shiny has laid enough foundations in its niche areas that it can fight off any competition from the bigger players.
I’m assuming Brightstation piled in because they saw the potential for the big publishers to buy Shiny Media’s blogs, just like the Guardian did with paidContent.
Aug 5, 2008 11:35 AM
Unfair to blame VCs who stumped up £4.3m, or the BBC when your readers think your content sucks, at least according to Google Trends which shows the above blogs loosing readers this year.
Aug 10, 2008 11:07 AM
So, basically all are conspiring against him, VCs, BBC, etc…Could it not be bad management, bad content, or simple lack of drive? So many publishers continue to do well with almost no investment let alone $4.5M. For once (instead of blaming the market for their problems) I would like to see a founder step-up and say “I blew it, my direction was wrong and now we are in trouble and I need to step aside…”
May 27, 2009 2:34 AM
I hope this mean is going to have a great future.