Guardian Launches Open-Platform API Developer Progam; Will It Make Money?
This story was written by Patrick Smith.
Guardian News & Media is opening access to its digital infrastructure by launching a series of APIs that allow developers to create apps, sites and online tools using its journalism and data. The APIs are being released for free. It's part of an effort by the company to cement its credentials with the digital-developer community, increase the reach of Guardian journalism and ultimately improve Guardian.co.uk. Digital director Emily Bell said at the launch of the Open Platform: "We are opening everything we do through APIs and handing it over to you, which I would say is a big risk, but I'm sure it will pay back multiple dividends." Guardian.co.ukpreviously Guardian Unlimitedpublished one million items between its launch in 1999 and the end of 2008, and the move means that Guardian News & Media is opening up access to all of it. The Guardian says it is the first newspaper to offer all its content, including full-text RSS feeds, for free. More details and analysis of its chances on PCUK, here.
Disclosure: paidContent:UK's parent company, ContentNext, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Guardian News & Media.
By Patrick Smith