The hyperlocal online journalism movement continues to gain momentum as mainstream news outlets jump on the trend. The latest entrant is The Seattle Times, which today announced partnerships with the West Seattle Blog, Next Door Media (publisher of MyBallard.com, PhinneyWood and other sites); The Rainier Valley Post and Capitol Hill Seattle.

The Seattle Times' move comes just a few days after Fisher Communications -- publisher of KOMO-TV and KOMO Radio -- launched 43 hyperlocal neighborhood news sites in the Seattle area. It also follows Msnbc.com's purchase of EveryBlock, a Web site that offers neighborhood news in 15 cities including Seattle.

Earlier this year, the Seattle P-I shifted to an online only format and aggressively started recruiting bloggers and reporters to cover local issues in neighborhoods. 

The Times partnership with the local blogs -- funded through a grant from the Knight Foundation -- includes four goals, according to the press release.

1.) Enhancing communication between the respective Web sites and The Seattle Times, and discovering ways to share news tips and collaborate on future news gathering.

2.)  Linking to and promoting stories on partner sites when it may help fill coverage holes.

3.) Exploring tools that could enhance advertising opportunities across the partner sites.

4.)  Learning about how such partnerships can benefit the respective sites.

Neighborhood news blogs have attracted followings in recent years in Seattle, in part because of their ability to tap people who live in the communities who offer news tips and foster discussion.

In a blog post about the partnership, the editors of MyBallard thanked readers, contributors and advertisers.

"My Ballard is powered by the neighorhood, not us," they wrote. "The vast majority of stories originate from our readers, and now some of the best stories will be linked from Seattle’s largest news site. We’re very pleased that the Times has chosen to work together with organic, neighborhood-grown news sites instead of creating competing efforts designed to draw advertising dollars away from the neighborhood."

Tracy Record of the West Seattle Blog offered a similar message, noting that the partnership will highlight the best work from the news site while also being able to tap into resources at The Times.