The Drum Awards for Marketing - Extended Deadline

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By John McCarthy | Opinion Editor

March 23, 2017 | 2 min read

LinkedIn, the Microsoft-owned professional social network, is looking to utilize its wealth of data on users’ occupational interests to deliver relevant trending news to users.

The company wants to compete for eyes as a news platform with the launch of Trending Storylines, a daily newsfeed providing the top stories in related fields of interest – a move which will drive content and engagement, likely able to establish more of those all-important network connections.

On the feature, LinkedIn said: “[Trending Storylines] help you discover and discuss news, ideas and diverse perspectives from the largest group of professionals, publishers and editorial voices ever assembled.”

A combination of algorithms and an editorial team (something rival Facebook does not having manning its trending section anymore) will look to build each industry’s trends.

“Trending Storylines include multiple perspectives, ranging from relevant Influencers and news publishers to people in your network, so you can quickly access diverse opinions, find new voices to follow and join the conversation.”

The stories will be tracked with hashtags, with the move no doubt coming under the microscope of Twitter, which enjoys a unique selling point of providing real-time stories and curation through its ‘Moments’.

Another feature, not quite ready, but to be rolled out in the future is the ability to follow people and topics that come to light in the trending section.

The feature is currently US-only but will roll out to key markets imminently.

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