Slate V Becomes a Strong Force in Web Video

September 4, 2007; 03:26 AM

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Slate V, the online video magazine from the editors of Slate, has become a unique destination for online video, fortifying its position as a major player in video Web sites. Presenting at least one new original video each weekday and selecting editorial favorites from across the Web, Slate V has delivered over two million video downloads since its launch late June 2007.

Slate V was recently called a “pioneering new video site” by The Chicago Tribune. Slate’s editor Jacob Weisberg says, “Unlike other video sites, Slate V is a real magazine, with features ranging from politics and science to culture and advice. It’s topical video journalism, all infused with the smart, witty sensibility that Slate is known for.”

Whether bringing to life familiar Slate franchises such as “Dear Prudence” and “The Explainer” or producing Slate V original series like “Achilles Heel with John Dickerson” or the cheeky “Bad Movies,” each video embodies Slate’s signature style: counterintuitive, topical and irreverent.

Another unique feature of Slate V is its daily editorial roundup of the best videos on the Web. Slate V editors comb other video sites to select the most compelling, unusual clips for their “Did You See This” presentation.

Slate V embraces the innovation and mobility of the Web. Users can comment on Slate V through a “discuss” link attached to each video which leads them to “The Fray” reader feedback forum on Slate.com. Each Slate V video can be e-mailed to a friend or embedded on a blog or Web site. In addition to going directly to www.SlateV.com, users can access the site through its daily newsletter, an iTunes feed or RSS feed.

Videos that have generated buzz among the blogosphere include “Ad report card: The 12 Master Formats” where Slate’s ad critic Seth Stevenson uses today’s best ads to provide a crash course in the twelve types of ad formats (www.SlateV.com/bestads). Other noteworthy videos include John Dickerson’s analysis of the major weaknesses of presidential candidates (www.SlateV.com/AchillesHeel); a review of the worse films ever made (www.SlateV.com/cinematiccrap); and an animated Magnum photo gallery of male Taliban members in effeminate poses (www.SlateV.com/talibanphotos).

Coming soon, Slate V will showcase some of the finest documentaries and non-fiction shorts from around the world.

Slate V also plans to hold user-generated contests. Viewers will be asked to produce and submit their own videos about a given topic, and the winners will be featured on the site.

Nissan’s Infiniti is Slate V’s exclusive sponsor through at least the first quarter of 2008.

The successful launch of Slate V will be celebrated in Los Angeles on September 5, 2007.

About Slate

Slate Magazine is an award-winning Web site that offers fresh angles on stories in the news and innovative entertainment coverage. Slate recently launched Slate V, a video magazine produced in Slate’s signature witty and irreverent style (www.SlateV.com). Slate attracts over five million unique visitors each month and can be found on the Web at www.slate.com.

Slate is one of five online properties produced by Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive, the online publishing subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE:WPO).