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Altered template type. Add: magazine, date, authors 1-1. Removed parameters. Some additions/deletions were parameter name changes. | Use this bot. Report bugs. | Suggested by Spinixster | Category:American news websites | #UCB_Category 35/319
 
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{{Short description|News and information website}}
{{italic title}}
{{italic title}}
{{Infobox Website
{{Infobox website
|name = Mother Nature Network
| name = Mother Nature Network
|logo = [[File:MNN logo 4.jpg|200px]]
| logo = MNN logo 4.jpg
| caption =
| logo_size = 200px
|url = [http://www.mnn.com/ mnn.com]
| caption =
| slogan = "Improve your world"
| industry = [[Mass media|Media]]
| url = [http://www.mnn.com/ mnn.com]
|commercial =
| commercial =
|type = News and information related to sustainability and responsible living
| type = News and information related to sustainability and responsible living
|language = [[English language|English]]
|author = Joel Babbit & [[Chuck Leavell]]
| language = [[English language|English]]
| author = [[Joel Babbit]] & [[Chuck Leavell]]
|launch date = 2009
| launch_date = 2009
|location_city = Atlanta
| location_city = Atlanta
|current status = Active
| current_status = Active
|revenue =
| revenue =
}}
}}


'''Mother Nature Network''' (mnn.com) – is the most visited for-profit website in the world for news and information related to sustainability.  Founded in 2009 by former marketing executive Joel Babbit and [[The Rolling Stones|Rolling Stones]] keyboardist [[Chuck Leavell]], it is the flagship property of Narrative Content Group, whose equity partners include [[CNN]] and [[Discovery Communications]].<ref name=":0" />
'''Mother Nature Network''' (mnn.com) was a news and information website focused on sustainability and ranked by [[Alexa Internet]] as the most visited for-profit website in the world in its environmental category.<ref name="narrative">{{cite web|url=https://narrativecontentgroup.com/2021/04/28/mother-nature-network/|title=Portfolio: Mother Nature Network|website=Narrative Content Group|date=28 April 2021 |accessdate=March 24, 2023}}</ref> It was labeled "the green CNN" by Time magazine,<ref name="time">{{cite magazine|url=https://content.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1870187,00.html|title=Introducing MNN, the New 'Green CNN'|magazine=Time|date=8 January 2009 |accessdate=March 24, 2023 |last1=Walsh |first1=Bryan }}</ref> "green machine" by the Associated Press,<ref name="ap">{{cite web|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-mother-nature-network-012109-2009jan21-story.html|title=New Mother Nature Network aims to be green machine|website=Associated Press|date=21 January 2009 |accessdate=March 24, 2023}}</ref> and "best of the breed" by Fast Company.<ref name="fast company">{{cite web|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/1150636/mother-nature-network-online-media-finally-catches-sustainability-needs|title=Mother Nature Network: Online Media Finally Catches up to Sustainability Needs|website=Fast Company|accessdate=March 24, 2023}}</ref> Founded in 2009 by former marketing executive [[Joel Babbit]] and [[The Rolling Stones|Rolling Stones]] keyboardist [[Chuck Leavell]], it was the flagship property of Narrative Content Group, whose equity partners included [[CNN]] and [[Discovery Inc.]]<ref name=":0">[http://www.similarweb.com/website/mnn.com "MNN.com Analytics"] SimilarWeb. Retrieved 2015-08-02.</ref>


MNN generated revenue via exclusive content category sponsorships versus the traditional advertising model utilized by most websites.<ref name="inc">{{cite web|url=https://www.inc.com/erik-sherman/how-mother-nature-network-broke-the-online-ad-model-for-fun-and-profit.html|title=This Company Broke the Online Ad Model for Fun and Profit|website=inc|accessdate=March 24, 2023}}</ref> Brand partners included Walmart, Mercedes-Benz, AT&T, Johnson & Johnson, Coca-Cola, UPS, Allstate, Dell, Subway, MillerCoors, Bayer, Dunkin' Brands, and many other leading corporations.<ref name="narrative">{{cite web|url=https://narrativecontentgroup.com/2021/04/28/mother-nature-network/|title=Portfolio: Mother Nature Network|website=Narrative Content Group|date=28 April 2021 |accessdate=March 24, 2023}}</ref> In February of 2020, Narrative sold Mother Nature Network and Treehugger, another of its sustainability focused websites acquired from Discovery, to digital media company Dotdash, an operating business of IAC (NASDAQ: IAC).<ref name="axios">{{cite web|url=https://www.axios.com/2020/02/04/dotdash-treehugger-mother-nature-network|title=Exclusive: Dotdash acquires another 2 publishers|website=Axios|accessdate=March 24, 2023}}</ref> The two sites were then merged and operate under the Treehugger name.<ref name="treehugger">{{cite web|url=https://www.treehugger.com/about-us-5024862#toc-our-history|title=About Us: Our History|website=Treehugger|accessdate=March 24, 2023}}</ref>
As of 2015, the MNN site had 7 million visits per month and Narrative Content properties saw more than 10 million visits per month.<ref name=":0">[http://www.similarweb.com/website/mnn.com "MNN.com Analytics"] SimilarWeb. Retrieved 2015-08-02.</ref> MNN is ranked #3 among environmental websites.<ref>[http://www.similarweb.com/category/science/environment "Top 50 sites in the world for Science > Environment"] SimilarWeb. Retrieved 2015-08=02.</ref>


==Content==
==Content==
As opposed to the technical and academic approach of most sites focused on sustainability, MNN is designed for a mainstream audience -- with content that is easy-to-understand, non-political, and engaging. It covers a wide range of topics beyond traditional "green" issues – including family, pets, travel, health, home, and food. <ref name=usatoday>"[http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/columnist/2012/12/23/michael-wolff-mother-nature/1785199/ Has Mother Nature found key to Web success?]," ''USA Today'' (2012-12-24)</ref><ref name=ajcmnn>"[http://www.ajc.com/search/content/business/stories/2008/07/21/mother_earth_online.html Mother Nature becomes a dot-com]," ''The Atlanta Journal-Constitution'' (2008-07-20)</ref>
It covered a wide range of topics beyond traditional "green" issues – including family, pets, travel, health, home, and food.<ref name=usatoday>"[https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/columnist/2012/12/23/michael-wolff-mother-nature/1785199/ Has Mother Nature found key to Web success?]," ''USA Today'' (2012-12-24)</ref><ref name=ajcmnn>"[http://www.ajc.com/search/content/business/stories/2008/07/21/mother_earth_online.html Mother Nature becomes a dot-com]," ''The Atlanta Journal-Constitution'' (2008-07-20)</ref>

==Board of directors==
==Board of directors and advisors==
* Joel Babbit, CEO of MNN, Narrative Content Group
* Joel Babbit, CEO of Narrative Content Group and Mother Nature Network
* Thomas Bell Jr., Chairman of Mesa Capital Partners (former Chairman and CEO of [[Young & Rubicam]] and Chairman of [[U.S. Chamber of Commerce]])
* Thomas Bell Jr., Chairman of Mesa Capital Partners (former Chairman and CEO of [[Young & Rubicam]] and Chairman of [[U.S. Chamber of Commerce]])
* Gerald Benjamin, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Atlanta Equity
* Gerald Benjamin, Co-founder and Managing Partner of Atlanta Equity (former Vice Chairman of GreenSky)
* [[A.D. "Pete" Correll]], Co-Founder and Chairman of Atlanta Equity (former Chairman and CEO of Georgia-Pacific Corporation)
* [[A.D. "Pete" Correll]], Co-founder and Chairman of Atlanta Equity (former Chairman and CEO of Georgia-Pacific Corporation)
* Doug Hertz, CEO of United Distributors Inc. and Partner in the [[Atlanta Falcons]]
* Doug Hertz, CEO of United Distributors Inc. and Partner in the [[Atlanta Falcons]]
* Chuck Leavell, Keyboardist for the Rolling Stones
* Chuck Leavell, Keyboardist for the Rolling Stones
* James D. Robinson III, Co-founder and General Partner of RRE Ventures, LLC (former Chairman and CEO of American Express)
* Fred Seegal, Vice Chairman of Peter J. Solomon Company (former President of Wasserstein Perella)
==Business model==
MNN sells no traditional advertising, following instead a content marketing, sponsorship oriented model<ref name="usatoday" />.  Sponsors include:
* [[Aflac]]
* [[AT&T]]
* [[The Coca-Cola Company]]
* [[CSX Transportation]]
* [[Dunkin' Brands]]
* [[Georgia Aquarium]]
* [[Georgia-Pacific]]
* [[Johnson & Johnson]]
* [[Mercedes-Benz]]
* [[National Automotive Parts Association|NAPA]]
* [[S. C. Johnson & Son]]
* [[Southern Company]]
* [[UL (safety organization)|UL]]


==Nonprofit partners==
==Nonprofit partners==
MNN has worked with a wide range of [[nonprofit organizations]], including:
MNN worked with a wide range of [[nonprofit organizations]], including:

* [[American Farmland Trust]]
* [[American Farmland Trust]]
* Captain Planet Foundation
* Captain Planet Foundation
* [[Nature Conservancy]]
* [[Nature Conservancy]]
* [[National Wildlife Federation]]
* [[National Wildlife Federation]]
* [[Newman's Own]] Foundation
* [[UCLA]] Institute of the Environment and Sustainability
* [[UCLA]] Institute of the Environment and Sustainability
* [[White House Correspondents' Association]]


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:Internet properties established in 2009]]
[[Category:Internet properties established in 2009]]
[[Category:American news websites]]
[[Category:American news websites]]
[[Category:Environmental news websites]]
[[Category:American environmental websites]]
[[Category:Websites about environment]]
[[Category:Mass media companies established in 2009]]
[[Category:Environmental websites]]
[[Category:Media companies established in 2009]]

Latest revision as of 01:01, 25 April 2024

Mother Nature Network
Type of site
News and information related to sustainability and responsible living
Available inEnglish
Headquarters
Atlanta
Created byJoel Babbit & Chuck Leavell
IndustryMedia
URLmnn.com
Launched2009
Current statusActive

Mother Nature Network (mnn.com) was a news and information website focused on sustainability and ranked by Alexa Internet as the most visited for-profit website in the world in its environmental category.[1] It was labeled "the green CNN" by Time magazine,[2] "green machine" by the Associated Press,[3] and "best of the breed" by Fast Company.[4] Founded in 2009 by former marketing executive Joel Babbit and Rolling Stones keyboardist Chuck Leavell, it was the flagship property of Narrative Content Group, whose equity partners included CNN and Discovery Inc.[5]

MNN generated revenue via exclusive content category sponsorships versus the traditional advertising model utilized by most websites.[6] Brand partners included Walmart, Mercedes-Benz, AT&T, Johnson & Johnson, Coca-Cola, UPS, Allstate, Dell, Subway, MillerCoors, Bayer, Dunkin' Brands, and many other leading corporations.[1] In February of 2020, Narrative sold Mother Nature Network and Treehugger, another of its sustainability focused websites acquired from Discovery, to digital media company Dotdash, an operating business of IAC (NASDAQ: IAC).[7] The two sites were then merged and operate under the Treehugger name.[8]

Content

[edit]

It covered a wide range of topics beyond traditional "green" issues – including family, pets, travel, health, home, and food.[9][10]

Board of directors and advisors

[edit]
  • Joel Babbit, CEO of Narrative Content Group and Mother Nature Network
  • Thomas Bell Jr., Chairman of Mesa Capital Partners (former Chairman and CEO of Young & Rubicam and Chairman of U.S. Chamber of Commerce)
  • Gerald Benjamin, Co-founder and Managing Partner of Atlanta Equity (former Vice Chairman of GreenSky)
  • A.D. "Pete" Correll, Co-founder and Chairman of Atlanta Equity (former Chairman and CEO of Georgia-Pacific Corporation)
  • Doug Hertz, CEO of United Distributors Inc. and Partner in the Atlanta Falcons
  • Chuck Leavell, Keyboardist for the Rolling Stones
  • James D. Robinson III, Co-founder and General Partner of RRE Ventures, LLC (former Chairman and CEO of American Express)
  • Fred Seegal, Vice Chairman of Peter J. Solomon Company (former President of Wasserstein Perella)

Nonprofit partners

[edit]

MNN worked with a wide range of nonprofit organizations, including:

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Portfolio: Mother Nature Network". Narrative Content Group. 28 April 2021. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  2. ^ Walsh, Bryan (8 January 2009). "Introducing MNN, the New 'Green CNN'". Time. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  3. ^ "New Mother Nature Network aims to be green machine". Associated Press. 21 January 2009. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  4. ^ "Mother Nature Network: Online Media Finally Catches up to Sustainability Needs". Fast Company. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  5. ^ "MNN.com Analytics" SimilarWeb. Retrieved 2015-08-02.
  6. ^ "This Company Broke the Online Ad Model for Fun and Profit". inc. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  7. ^ "Exclusive: Dotdash acquires another 2 publishers". Axios. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  8. ^ "About Us: Our History". Treehugger. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  9. ^ "Has Mother Nature found key to Web success?," USA Today (2012-12-24)
  10. ^ "Mother Nature becomes a dot-com," The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (2008-07-20)
[edit]
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