Metro Vancouver and Blenz team up for exclusive coverage

Vancouver — Feb 1, 2010 — Metro and Blenz announced a unique partnership today that takes citizen journalism to a new level as Vancouver prepares for the global spotlight. Starting Feb. 12, Metro-Blenz News Squad bloggers will be stationed at key Blenz Coffee locations around Vancouver.

In the heart of all the action, Metro-Blenz News Squad bloggers, photographers and videographers will record and post your stories, anecdotes and experiences. Share with us the great parties you’ve attended, the cool people you’ve met and the once-in-a-lifetime experiences you’ve had. Vancouverites and visitors from around the globe are welcome to drop by selected Blenz locations to chat with our bloggers who will be easily recognized by their Metro-Blenz News Squad ID tags. Excerpts from the best anecdotes will also run in Metro Vancouver newspaper the following publication day.

Well-known bloggers like Shane Gibson, Bonnie Sainsbury, Cybele Negris and Marilyn Anderson will post their blogs on metroblenznewssquad.com where the content will be exclusive to Metro for a full day. “We’re excited to have attracted enthusiastic participation from some of the most luminous members of the local social media scene, and each brings their own personal perspective to the project,” Blenz President George Moen said. “Also, in keeping with the new social media theme, we’re using the power of .tel technology to support and promote the project with metroblenznewssquad.tel, which is a simple portal for those interested in learning about, participating in, or simply following the Metro-Blenz News Squad blogs.” The in-paper content will start running on Feb. 15 and include blog highlights as well as a daily photo submitted by readers. Additional reader photos and video will be available online at metronews.ca/newssquad.

Maryse Lalonde, Publisher and Managing Director of Metro Vancouver, said the partnership with Blenz is exciting. “Newspapers and coffee have always gone well together and what appealed to us about this project is that it’s so unique, grassroots and original. It’s a great way for us to connect with readers.”

About Blenz The Canadian Coffee Company Ltd™

Blenz The Canadian Coffee Company Ltd is a premium retailer of handmade specialty coffees, organic teas and other innovative beverages. All Blenz Coffee’s beverages are made in-store from only the highest quality ingredients available. World class barista training and a drive to provide a superior customer experience has fuelled their steady growth. Blenz Coffee now operates a large network of franchise locations in British Columbia and abroad including Japan and the Philippines. For further information about Blenz Coffee, please contact:

George Moen
President
Blenz The Canadian Coffee Company Ltd.
(604) 682 2995
george@blenz.com, Twitter.com/BlenzCoffee

About Metro

Metro is the nation’s No. 1 free national daily newspaper brand and the first national daily to publish in both official languages. In Canada, Metro editions are published in: Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. Metro targets 18- to 49-year-olds and has a circulation that now exceeds 800,000. Metro is the largest international newspaper in the world. Metro is published in over 100 major cities in 19 countries across Europe, North & South America and Asia. Metro has a unique global reach — attracting a young, active, well-educated, metropolitan audience of over 17 million daily readers.
For further information please contact:

Maryse Lalonde
Publisher and Managing Director
Metro Vancouver
(604) 648 3211
maryse.lalonde@metronews.ca

Blenz The Canadian Coffee Company Ltd is a premium retailer of handmade specialty coffees, organic teas and other innovative beverages. All Blenz Coffee’s beverages are made in-store from only the highest quality ingredients available. World class barista training and a drive to provide a superior customer experience has fuelled their steady growth. Blenz Coffee now operates a large network of franchise locations in British Columbia and abroad including Japan and the Philippines. For further information about Blenz Coffee, please contact:

Linda Olsen
Blenz Coffee
300 535 Thurlow Street
Vancouver, BC
V6E 3L2
Canada

This release was published on openPR.