[image credit:laffy4k]

Today BusinessWeek and GigaOM formed a syndication partnership.  BW will be featuring content from Om Malik’s blog network every Monday.  After hearing about this, I realized that traditional media companies need blogs like us to keep them looking cool & hip.

This hypothesis is apparent when Guardian Media, a British media company acquired paidContent for over $30 million last week.  Another example is that the Washington Post inked deals with paidContent and TechCrunch to syndicate their content.  Video blogger, Loren Feldman produces videos for CNET (now owned by CBS) on a regular basis.  And then The New York Times bought out the Freakonomics blog in August 2007.

Are traditional media companies having a hard time finding talented journalists and bloggers themselves to provide the same unique content as us?  Blogging isn’t rocket science.  I’m just blogging to make money to power my own startup ideas, pay the office rent, and learn more about the industry.  What are your thoughts?  Why does traditional media need us?

You know what keeps bloggers like me writing?  Seeing other blogging companies succeed.  Rafat Ali of paidContent writes like a madman everyday to give us the news that we like to read.  And today his efforts have payed off.  Guardian Media has acquired his company, ContentNext for over $30 million.

Through the acquisition, Guardian Media will have ownership of the following websites:
1.) paidContent.org
2.) mocoNews.net
3.) contentSutra.com
4.) paidContent.co.uk

The acquisition will be an earn-out assuming that the websites maintain certain performance. 

paidContent started in 2002 and they have offices in Santa Monica, Calif. and Manhattan.  Greycroft Partners invested an undisclosed amount in paidContent in 2006.  ContentNext is known for hosting several conferences.

ContentNext Media will operate independently under Guardian News & Media. 

“I have admired paidContent for years. Rafat and his team personify the values of editorial independence and integrity that are core to the Guardian. I’m very happy to welcome the company into the expanding Guardian Media Group,” stated Carolyn McCall, CEO of Guardian Media Group.

Related Links:
1. Official announcement on paidContent
2. AllThingsD
3. Mashable
4. TechCrunch