Local directory site Placeblogger.com has a curious mission – its sole purpose is to push users to other sites, namely hyperlocal blogs.  The blog/aggregator was launched New Year’s Day by Lisa Williams, whose H20town.info blog chronicles her town of Waterford, Mass. Aware of others around the country engaging in similar citizen journalism, Williams told me she wanted to set up an aggregator that would gather other local news blogs in one place. Williams says Placeblogger could benefit marketers by providing research on target audiences and as a research tool for planning campaigns with a geographical focus and the blogs by linking homegrown media brands looking for sponsorship deals. The site is backed by the grassroots media advocate Center for Citizen Media, which provided access to and funding for a designer—Andrew De Vigal, who’s gone on to become Multimedia Editor of the New York Times. Dan Gillmor, the executive director of CCM, is on Placeblogger’s board.
The site started with 700 local blogs listed and added another 300 by the middle of day two. Placeblogger has no advertisers currently, but Williams says she has been receiving inquiries from marketers.
Initially warm to the idea, MarketWatch’s Frank Barnako, ultimately, isn’t that impressed. He cites the lack of reviews; some “blogs” are actually alternative newspapers; too many dead links.