A few hours ago, Reuters blogger, Felix Salmon, recorded an exclusive interview in which it was revealed that CNN will buy social media website, Mashable, for more than $200 million dollars. The announcement is due to be confirmed as early as tomorrow, according to Salmon.

The purported acquisition would be further proof that the blogosphere needs to be taken more seriously by the corporate media giants.

These larger media giants have begun acquiring other digital culture, technology and social media websites – including TechCrunch, bought by AOL in 2010 – over the last few years in the hope that they will be able to attract wider audiences to their overall brand offerings.

Mashable has an average of 20 million unique monthly readers, and this purchase would further bolster the image of savvy and professional blogs.

Salmon got the interwebs buzzing with the announcement he made at the South by Southwest annual music, film, and technology conference and festival currently underway in Austin, Texas.

A ‘little bird’ apparently informed Salmon of the deal, but he didn’t have any proof that it would actually happen.

Salmon boldly, and quite confidently we might add, drops the line: “I’m sure everyone is going to be really happy,” near the end of his short video, otherwise known as a “vlog”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajowmrii9RQ

So if it’s true, it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise that it was CNN making the move – Pete Cashmore, founder and CEO of Mashable, has been writing columns for CNN since 2009.

Neither side has responded to the rumour.

[Sources: Memeburn, Mashable, Reuters]