Daily Hive

Daily Hive, formerly known as Vancity Buzz, is a Canadian online newspaper based in Vancouver, British Columbia.[1] It began digital publishing in 2008 and became Western Canada's largest online-only publication by 2016.[2]

Daily Hive
FormerlyVancity Buzz
FoundersKarm Sumal and Manny Bahia
HeadquartersVancouver, British Columbia
Areas served
Calgary, Montreal, Toronto, Edmonton, Vancouver, Seattle, Portland
BrandsDaily Hive, Dished, Urbanized, Grow, Colony Digital, ID Agency, Mapped
Number of employees
62 (2020)
Websitedailyhive.com
Daily Hive Vancouver offices
Daily Hive's head office in downtown Vancouver

In September 2022, ZoomerMedia announced a deal to acquire Daily Hive for $16.4 million.[3]

History

The site began its publishing in 2008 under the name Vancity Buzz and was founded by Manny Bahia and Karm Sumal. The name was changed to Daily Hive in 2016 when the company expanded nationally.[4]

Concurrently with its rebranding as Daily Hive, the publication expanded to Toronto and Montreal.[5]

In November 2017, Daily Hive deleted many of their posts on their official Instagram account as a form of viral marketing, inspired by Taylor Swift's similar publicity stunt earlier in the year. They then posted images of the word "Nude". This stunt caused growth in their social media presence and gained them more followers than before.[6]

ID Agency

In 2018, Daily Hive launched ID Agency, an in-house influencer marketing agency operating out of their Vancouver office.

Acquisitions

In 2018, Daily Hive acquired Colony Digital, a full-service creative agency based in Vancouver.

In February 2019, Daily Hive acquired Torontoist, a long-running web publication that formerly offered similar coverage of Toronto.[7] Originally established in 2004 as part of the Gothamist network of city-specific news websites,[8] Torontoist was a property of St. Joseph Media from 2011 until its acquisition by Daily Hive.[9] It no longer publishes original content as a separate entity from Daily Hive.

Expansion into the United States

In 2019, Daily Hive made their first international expansion into the US market, opening channels in both Seattle and Portland.[10]

Criticisms and controversies

Prior to its 2016 rebranding as Daily Hive, the Vancity Buzz site was the subject of numerous criticisms and controversies. Notable accusations included unethical journalism practices, plagiarism,[11] and fearmongering.[12]

In 2016, former Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson accused Vancity Buzz of starting a media frenzy when the site published photos of three British tourists that were described as suspicious and "Middle Eastern" in an internal Vancouver Police bulletin.[13][12] Robertson later apologized to the three on behalf of the city.

In 2018, former Vancity Buzz contributor Bartosz Bos sued the organization, alleging that he was owed more than $18,000 in back pay for work done in 2013 that was never compensated.[11] Vancity Buzz co-founder Manny Bahia was ordered by court to pay Bos $1,000 for "coming unprepared for trial" at a 2020 hearing during the suit.[14]

Brands
  • DH News – News
  • Dished – Food
  • Urbanized – Real estate, architecture, urban Design, transportation, and urban issues
  • Venture – Technology and business
  • Offside – Sports
  • Listed – Events
  • Mapped – Travel
  • Colony Digital – Digital marketing agency
  • ID Agency – Influencer agency

See also

References
  1. "Vancity Buzz spreads wings and rebrands; Regional web publication now 'Daily Hive'". National Post, June 1, 2016.
  2. Powell, Chris (June 1, 2016). "Vancity Buzz launches in Toronto and Montreal". Marketing. Archived from the original on 2017-08-19. Retrieved August 19, 2017.
  3. Josh Rubin, "ZoomerMedia goes after the younger generation with deal to buy Daily Hive publisher for $16.4 million". Toronto Star, September 14, 2022.
  4. Jackson, Emily (June 1, 2016). "Western Canada's Vancity Buzz expands nationally, rebrands to Daily Hive". Financial Post. Archived from the original on 2017-08-19. Retrieved August 19, 2017.
  5. "Vancity Buzz announces expansion plans to Toronto, Montreal". BC Business. June 1, 2016. Archived from the original on 2017-08-19. Retrieved August 19, 2017.
  6. "The Daily Hive's unconventional new Instagram ads". Media in Canada, December 1, 2017.
  7. "Torontoist flies to the Daily Hive". Media in Canada, February 7, 2019.
  8. "Torontoist website gets reprieve". The Globe and Mail, December 4, 2008.
  9. "Torontoist bought by magazine company". The Globe and Mail. March 14, 2011.
  10. Hive, Daily (2019-11-22). "Canadian Digital Media Group Daily Hive Expands into the United States". GlobeNewswire News Room. Retrieved 2020-05-27.
  11. "Vancity Buzz wants to be better". Canadaland. October 7, 2015. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
  12. "Mohammed Sharaz reveals why his group took photos that aroused Vancouver suspicions". CBC News. January 15, 2016. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
  13. "U.K. tourists feared public attacks after Vancouver mall photos leaked". CTV News. January 16, 2016.
  14. Greer, Darryl (January 31, 2020). "Daily Hive Dinged $1,000 For "Coming Unprepared" For Trial". Canadaland. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
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