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Jen Boynton headshot

Green Media Shake-Up Underway: 3BL Media Acquires Justmeans

By Jen Boynton
The green media landscape began what some might call an inevitable consolidation today with 3BL Media's acquisition of Justmeans. Both firms specialize in the distribution of CSR news and press releases. Justmeans' focus on tracking and technical analysis of reader engagement will enhance 3BL's full service offering of distribution channels (blogs, press releases, video engagement and social media strategy). In the words of 3BL's CEO Greg Schneider, "the acquisition will bring together two robust and distinct networks of people interested in CSR and sustainability and allow us to provide even greater reach and distribution to the companies and non-profits we serve." In the words of Martin Smith, Justmeans' CEO, in a letter to the Justmeans community:
While the substantial challenges around sustainability have not changed much over the past decade, it is clear that there has been a dramatic shift in strategy among large cap companies as it relates to social and environmental performance.... The only way we will solve the challenges that face a world with rapidly diminishing resources is through massive collaboration: between sectors, between companies, and between governments.
That collaboration includes mergers with likeminded organizations. The deal was signed for an undisclosed amount of cash and equity, as well as a reallocation of shares for the current shareholders of the two companies. No investors were taken on - the new company is owned entirely by employees. The new team is comprised of 17 people from both companies. Greg Schneider will remain CEO and Martin Smith will become Chairman of the Board. In his new role, he'll focus on growth, technology integration and strategy. The company headquarters will remain in Northampton, MA- a 2 hour drive from Boston. Several Justmeans' employees will be relocating. Founded in 2008, Justmeans’ early success came from having built the largest online community of sustainable business practitioners worldwide. Its focus on technology development has resulted in a platform that enables the dissemination and sharing of a variety of CSR and sustainability messages with comprehensive analytics. 3BL Media, founded in 2009 by former executive management from press release distribution company CSRwire, provides a platform and service for organizations to better reach and engage with stakeholders.
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Jen Boynton is the former Editor-in-Chief of TriplePundit. She has an MBA in Sustainable Management from the Presidio Graduate School and has helped organizations including SAP, PwC and Fair Trade USA with their sustainability communications messaging. She is based in San Diego, California. When she's not at work, she volunteers as a CASA (court appointed special advocate) for children in the foster care system. She enjoys losing fights with toddlers and eating toast scraps. She lives with her family in sunny San Diego.

Read more stories by Jen Boynton