Gannett Invests in Philly-Based Mobile News Firm Spirited Media

Gannett said it bought a minority stake in Spirited Media, which runs Philadelphia-based mobile news website Billy Penn. Gannett didn’t disclose how much it paid for its stake. Gannett said its investment in Spirited Media will allow the company “to expand its mobile-first approach in the Philadelphia market and launch into new local markets.” Spirited Media “has a proven track record of producing high-quality journalism and delivering engaging experiences for local markets,” said Gannett CEO Bob Dickey in a Monday news release. Billy Penn was nominated for an Online Journalism Award for its coverage of the 2015 Amtrak train derailment in Philadelphia, which killed eight people and injured 200 others.