collegeOTR Named 'Best Alternative Media Outlet' by U.S. News & World Report

NEW YORK, Feb. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- theU.com is happy to announce that a member of its collegeOTR "On The Record" blog network (http://www.collegeOTR.com) was named "Best Alternative Media Outlet" this week by U.S. News & World Report, confirming the site's status as home to the best college blogs in the nation.

Nominated by U.S. News editors only five months after launching, "University of Michigan OTR" (http://www.michiganOTR.com) handily beat out eight other blogs, including those from Harvard, UC-Berkeley and Columbia University, to claim the title. Another OTR blog, "University of Wisconsin- Madison OTR" (http://www.wiscOTR.com) was also nominated for the prestigious award.

"This is an enormous honor, especially for such a young property," said Doug Imbruce, Founder & CEO of collegeOTR and parent company theU.com. "I am incredibly proud of Paul Tassi and Adam Horowitz, OTR's University of Michigan bloggers, as well as the 200 additional bloggers who work with collegeOTR on a daily basis."

Specializing in news reported by currently enrolled students, collegeOTR boasts over 30 campus-specific "OTR" (On-The-Record) blogs that act as alternative news sources to traditional campus publications. Bloggers are invited to report on a variety of timely issues, allowing students, professors, parents, alumni and other visitors to follow breaking news and gossip on each campus.

"The blogs at collegeOTR provide students and campus communities with coverage of breaking news packaged in a highly engaging and entertaining format," Imbruce said. "Already our bloggers have broken major stories and attracted tremendous traffic as well as become primary sources for other leading media organizations."

Imbruce also announced this week Stephanie Burton will step into the role of Editor-In-Chief of collegeOTR to manage and generate content for the site. A graduate of Syracuse University, Burton joins the team after spending almost two years at HBO.

"CollegeOTR is home to the best college bloggers in the country," Burton said. "I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to work with such talented writers."

College students interested in acting as campus editors or bloggers for their school are encouraged to apply by visiting http://www.collegeOTR.com/apply.

About theU.com and collegeOTR

As leading college and college-bound destinations, http://www.theU.com and http://www.collegeOTR.com connect higher education and consumer-oriented brands with the student audience. Past and current advertising clients include: DELL; The CW television network; The University of Phoenix; Citicards; Astrive (First Marblehead) Student Loans; The Princeton Review; AOL; Barnes & Noble's http://www.Sparknotes.com; and many more.

    CONTACT: Michael Barra
    P: 212-509-5218 x. 215
    E: michael@theU.com