Topix Nabs 6 Content Partners To Become Local Info Hub

Topix, the local news community that allows readers to submit and edit stories, has secured deals with six content providers as it moves to establish itself as a one-stop-shop for local information.

Topix will now use Eventful as an events database, and will offer current TV and movie listings through Zap2It. InfoUSA will supply business directories, and the site will begin using LiveDeal for pet classifieds. Topix will be using Apartments.com to flesh out their apartment listings, and will use Informa Research Services to provide mortgage rate information.

The company originally launched Topix.net (now Topix.com) in 2004 as an automated aggregator of local news. In 2007 the site relaunched to allow users to add and modify news stories.

Topix is clearly moving towards becoming a central hub for localized information rather than simply a news site. While the new features are logical extensions to what they’ve offered in the past, Topix may be trying to differentiate itself from Google News, which introduced local news earlier this year and has a much higher readership.