Slate Magazine Launches 'Slate V'

Slate, the daily online magazine, today announced the launch of Slate V, a new online video magazine that will feature fresh video daily including original video, top picks from around the Web and selected user-generated video. (www.SlateV.com) "Slate V is not just a holding place for video on the Web—we will be producing new video daily in the unmistakable Slate voice our users have come to love,” said Andy Bowers, the new Editor of Slate V, formerly a longtime NPR correspondent and creator of Slate’s award-winning podcast and video. "Slate V will offer daily web video with the unique Slate voice: smart and topical, yet also irreverent and fun.” Slate V will cover a wide range of topics, including news and politics, culture and entertainment, and humor and animation, all through the lens of video. The entire library of videos that have appeared on Slate in the past will be archived on Slate V, and every day a new video will be added. During the first week, viewers will see a range of familiar Slate franchises: Emily Yoffe's "Dear Prudence" set to animation, a video version of The Explainer and a Shopper about stain removers that will link to a print piece in Slate. The first week will also bring the premiere of a Slate V political series, "Achilles Heel with John Dickerson," which looks at how presidential candidates are trying to overcome their biggest weaknesses. And visitors to the site will get their first taste of a Slate V original, "Bad Movies," in which host Mark Jordan Legan looks at some of the worst films ever made. User-generated video will also be an important part of Slate V, and just as Slate professionalized user-generated content in the 90’s, Slate V will professionalize selected user-generated video by selecting the best submissions and paying for exclusive rights to show it on the site. This will widely expand the pool of talent contributing to the site, and still maintain the editorial integrity of the magazine. Slate has also hired multiple Emmy winner Bill Smee as Executive Producer of Slate V. Smee most recently oversaw content at Discovery Times Channel and the current affairs documentaries across Discovery networks. He previously worked in CNN’s long form and documentary video units. "I am thrilled to have joined the Slate team on this new project,” said Smee. "Andy and I hope to create original video features that reflect the core sensibilities of Slate and take Web video up a notch.” "We couldn’t be happier to have Bill join the team. His long history in video brings a veteran’s perspective to the project,” said David Plotz, acting Editor, Slate. "Pair him with our own veteran Andy Bowers, and we have a master team to lead Slate V.” In addition, Nissan’s Infiniti signed an exclusive 10-month deal to sponsor Slate V with ads that began running in the weeks leading up to launch. "We are very excited about launching this online video magazine—Slate V allows us to dramatically expand our offerings and break new ground in online video,” said Cliff Sloan, Publisher of Slate. "We are delighted to have Infiniti as our sponsor and partner in launching Slate V. Infiniti quickly saw the value and excitement in this new video magazine, and we're very pleased to have their support.” About Slate Slate Magazine is an award-winning Web site that offers fresh angles on stories in the news and innovative entertainment coverage. Slate won the 2006 and 2005 EPpy awards for Best Internet News Service (over 1 million monthly visitors) and the 2005 EPpy award for Best Internet Entertainment Service (over 1 million monthly visitors). Slate can be found on the Web at www.slate.com and is owned by The Washington Post Company. Slate attracts over five million unique visitors each month.