{{Infobox website | name = Sidewire | logo = | logo_size = | logo_alt = | logo_caption = | screenshot = | collapsible = | collapsetext = | background = | screenshot_size = | screenshot_alt = | caption = | url = {{URL|http://sidewire.com/}}<br />{{URL|https://sidewire.io/}} | commercial = Yes | type = Social media, News aggregator | registration = Required for curators; optional for readers | language = English | num_users = | content_license = | programming_language = | owners = Andy Bromberg, Tucker Bounds | author = | editor = | launch_date = September 2015 | revenue = | alexa = | ip = | current_status = Ceased operation {{End date|2017|06|23}} | footnotes = }}
'''Sidewire''' was a political news analysis platform and social network available via the web ('''sidewire.io''') and as an iOS application. It was founded in 2012 by Andy Bromberg and Tucker Bounds, a former spokesperson for the 2008 presidential campaign of John McCain and former Facebook executive.<ref name=recodewagner>{{cite news|last1=Wagner|first1=Kurt|title=Washington Is All Over the New App Sidewire: Twitter for Politics|url=http://recode.net/2015/09/18/washington-is-all-over-the-new-app-sidewire-twitter-for-politics/|accessdate=4 October 2015|publisher=re/code|date=18 September 2015}}</ref>
The platform was officially launched in September 2015, timed for the 2016 election cycle. Originally billed as "Twitter for politics," Sidewire distinguished itself by limiting those who could post original content to a vetted group of "newsmakers"—including journalists, campaign managers, and elected officials—while allowing the general public to follow the discussions.<ref name=nieman>{{cite news|last1=Wang|first1=Shan|title=Sidewire is civil, thoughtful, and either exactly right or exactly wrong for this political moment|url=https://www.niemanlab.org/2017/03/sidewire-is-civil-thoughtful-and-either-exactly-right-or-exactly-wrong-for-this-political-moment/|accessdate=20 February 2026|publisher=Nieman Lab|date=6 March 2017}}</ref>
Despite attracting high-profile contributors from outlets like ''The New York Times'' and ''The Washington Post'', Sidewire struggled to monetize or build a sustainable user base beyond political insiders. By June 2017, the company had exhausted its $4.85 million in seed funding and ceased all operations.<ref name=recodewagner/><ref>{{cite news|last1=Dwyer|first1=Joe|title=AT&T brings COWs to balloon race; Ford's smartwatch apps: TechFlash 7 things|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/blog/biznext/2015/09/at-t-brings-cows-to-balloon-race-ford-s-watch-apps-techflash-7-things.html|accessdate=4 October 2015|publisher=St. Louis Business Journal|date=18 September 2015}}</ref>
==History==
Sidewire was founded in 2012 by Andy Bromberg and Tucker Bounds.<ref name=TechCrunchMagee>{{cite news|last1=Magee|first1=Christine|title=Sidewire Is Your Hotline To Political Insight|url=https://techcrunch.com/2015/09/16/sidewire-is-your-hotline-to-political-insight/|accessdate=4 October 2015|publisher=TechCrunch|date=16 September 2015}}</ref> It was started with $4.85 million in seed funding from Spark Capital, with participation from Goldcrest Capital.<ref name=TechCrunchMagee/> The platform was launched in September 2015 as an app in the iOS marketplace. In June 2017, having burned through their funding and unable to secure further investment, Sidewire ceased operations.<ref name=recodewagner/>
==Platform==
Sideline was curated by political journalists, analysts, candidates, campaign managers, and elected officials.<ref name=TechCrunchMagee/> Curators were responsible for uploading links to news and then providing a 250 character summary. The information was then pushed to the Sideline platform and also Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.<ref name=TechCrunchMagee/> Initial curators included analysts and journalists from ''The Wall Street Journal'', ''The New York Times'', ''The Washington Post'', ''ABC News'', and ''NBC News''.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Paybarah|first1=Azi|title=POLITICO New York Playbook: GOVS' tunnel plan -- GE cutting NY jobs -- BLOODY THURSDAY at the News?|url=https://www.politico.com/tipsheets/new-york-playbook/2015/09/politico-new-york-playbook-govs-tunnel-plan-ge-cutting-ny-jobs-bloody-thursday-at-the-news-210222|access-date=4 October 2015|publisher=Politico|date=16 September 2015}}</ref>
==Former contributors== {{Expand section|date=October 2023}} A partial list of former contributors to the platform
* Daniel Pfeiffer<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bolton|first1=Alexander|title=Brock to Dems: Brace for $1 billion deluge from Koch brothers|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/255822-brock-to-dems-brace-from-1-billion-deluge-from-koch-brothers/|access-date=6 October 2015|work=The Hill|date=3 October 2015}}</ref> * Lindsey Graham<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rappeport |first=Alan |date=2015-11-09 |title=Lindsey Graham to Make His Voice Heard During Debate, on Social Media |url=https://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/11/09/lindsey-graham-to-make-his-voice-heard-during-debate-on-social-media/ |access-date=2023-10-10 |website=First Draft |language=en}}</ref> * Jonathan Allen<ref>{{Cite web |last=Allen |first=Jonathan |date=2016-01-29 |title=Politics Needs a Stitch |url=https://medium.com/@jonathanallendc/politics-needs-a-stitch-4f6e19aa56ac |access-date=2023-10-10 |website=Medium |language=en}}</ref>
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
== External links == * [http://sidewire.com/ Official website]
Category:American news websites Category:American companies established in 2012
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