• March 25, 2009

The Gather social network on Wednesday announced several new corporate brands using its tools and platform to create their own social networks.

Atkins Nutritionals, Inc. has just joined Gather as a strategic partner launching a customized Gather group with content and tips for healthy living. Atkins "leaders" will are expected to use the group to answer questions and engage in conversations about weight loss and healthy eating.

American Public Media, meanwhile, is using Gather Groups for its Public Insight Journalism network -- a community of some 40,000 citizen journalists sharing personal perspectives on national and local news.

Launched in February, Gather's free groups service helps individuals and brands create social networks, with template designs for brands, bloggers, families, and special interest groups. Gather Groups templates can be customized with photos, posts, discussion spaces, videos, widgets, and graphics.

Other entities that have used Gather to create their own networks, include Café Media, BzzAgent, The Victory Fund -- a group dedicated to raising political contributions for gay and lesbian candidates.

Gather is a privately held, privately funded company headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. Investors include Allen & Company, The American Public Media Group, Hearst, The McGraw-Hill Companies, and Southern California Public Radio.--Gavin O'Malley