PULITZER Prize-winning American publisher Insider Inc. is setting up a technology and product hub in Northern Ireland which will create 50 jobs in the next two years, with new hires working hybridly in roles including data engineering, project management and IT support.
The announcement was confirmed by the publisher's co-founder and chief executive Henry Blodget to coincide with a visit to its New York headquarters by Stormont economy minister Gordon Lyons.
Insider Inc. - which won its first Pulitzer in May for a powerful illustrated report by Fahmida Azim, Anthony Del Col, and Josh Adams entitled “How I escaped a Chinese internment camp” - provides mainstream news covering areas such as finance, business news and lifestyle.
It employs more than 1,000 people and has nine global editions in six languages, including its flagship website www.insider.com.
Insider Inc. has developed its own media studio and has grown to become one of the world’s leading social-video producers with more than one billion monthly views across its platforms.
Its new technology and product hub will help Insider Inc. to achieve its growth plans with a software engineering team that will design, develop and support key technology applications used by millions of people across the world.
Mr Blodget said: “We’re delighted to expand our relationship with our good friends in Northern Ireland. Our team there will be focused on improving our data products, subscription services, content syndication and testing automation processes – all of which are so important to our business.
“We know that the excellent and hard-working talent pool in Northern Ireland will play an integral role in our ongoing effort to get better each day at what we do.”
Minister Lyons, who met senior executives from the company during his visit to the States, said: “This was a highly mobile project with a number of locations in the running.
“As part of Invest NI’s engagement with the company to help win this project, I first met the senior team in March, and I'm delighted to be back to make this announcement.
“Invest NI has done a great job helping to secure this project, the new jobs and over £2 million investment in our local economy through annual salaries.”
Mel Chittock, interim head of Invest NI, said: “The Northern Ireland technology and product hub will become an integral part of Insider Inc.’s global tech team.
“With varying skill levels across software development, data engineering, IT support and project management, there are a wide range of opportunities available which will retain and attract talent.
“The company is also offering hybrid working, which will open up roles and help attract people from across Northern Ireland.”
