Bloomberg exploring a politics site

Bloomberg L.P. has talked to the prominent political journalists John Heilemann and Mark Halperin about launching a new politics offering, reports Joe Pompeo of Capital New York.

Pompeo writes, “Justin B. Smith, who was named C.E.O. of Bloomberg Media Group last fall after a long stint at Atlantic Media, recently concluded a review of the company’s consumer media division and has said that he wants to build out ‘a portfolio of new digital assets’ that attracts audiences beyond the subscribers who pay hefty fees for Bloomberg’s financial information and news-service terminals.

“Sources said that independent channels focused on politics and business are two such initiatives, and that Bloomberg Business is one of the names being considered for the latter product.

“As for the former, it’s unclear whether Heilemann, who presently writes for New York magazine, or Halperin, who works at Time, are interested in pursuing a potential politics play at Bloomberg. But sources said that the possibility has become a topic of conversation in Bloomberg’s Washington offices.”

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