Participatory news network NowPublic, based in Vancouver, has closed a $1.4 million round of angel financing led by Brightspark Ventures of Toronto. Other investors include current and former execs from Nokia, Register.com, Infospace, Microsoft, Alliance Atlantis and Warner Bros. Television. Founded in 2005 by Leonard Brody, Michael Meyers and Michael Tippett, NowPublic claims 15,000 reporters in 130 countries and 2 million-plus uniques a month. According to the press release, the funds will go to growing the contributer base, paying off site developers and delivering an “On Demand Reporting” system to content providers. (Via J.D. Lasica, who serves on the advisory board.)
Some more details about NowPublic is in this podcast interview with founder/CEO on BusinessWeek.