Editing Automatic Media (section)

==Foundation==
Automatic Media was created in July 2000 as a joint venture between [[Suck.com|Suck]] and [[Feed Magazine|Feed]], two [[online magazine]]s,<ref name=wingfield>{{Cite news|last=Wingfield |first=Nick |title=Pioneering Webzines join forces |work=ZD Net |accessdate=2014-11-21 |date=2000-07-09 |url=http://zdnet.com.com/2100-11-522048.html |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040816163711/http://zdnet.com.com/2100-11-522048.html |archivedate=August 16, 2004 }}</ref> after the publications had raised $4 million in [[venture capital financing]] from [[Lycos]] Ventures LP. Automatic Media's first acquisition was [[Alt.culture]], an online encyclopedia of alternative culture focused primarily on internet fads. Automatic Media allowed its member sites to use a shared advertising sales force, technologies, and administrative resources. The sites maintained distinctive brand names and editorial voices, but engaged in heavy cross-linking and advertising for their partner sites. In January 2001, Automatic Media announced its first original venture, [[Plastic.com]]. Plastic sought to minimize operational costs by running entirely on user-contributed stories. Its staff initially consisted of four people.