BuzzFeed chief executive Jonah Peretti has confirmed the publisher is planning an IPO but has not yet suggested a date for when it will go public.
Speaking at Code, a conference organised by tech news title Re/code, Peretti said BuzzFeed is focused on diversifying across platforms and channels in preparation for becoming a public company.
According to The Guardian, Peretti said: We’re very focused on building out internationally; were very focused on building out across multiple different platforms; were very focused on building out our video business.
BuzzFeed has successfully built its native advertising business, but came under fire earlier this year over allegations it deleted posts on its website in an effort to avoid upsetting advertisers including Unilevers Dove and Hasbro.
Although editor-in-chief Ben Smith at first denied the articles had been removed on the back of advertiser pressure, BuzzFeed carried out an internal review which confirmed three instances where editors deleted posts after complaints from brands.
Separately, BuzzFeed has joined The New York Times and National Geographic in signing up to Facebook’s new Instant Article tool, allowing them to post directly on the social network.
Nine titles have signed up to the scheme, including the BBC, NBC News, The Atlantic, Spiegel, Bild and The Guardian.
