Almost exactly two years after John Battelle stepped aside as the CEO of Federated Media Publishing — the San Francisco-based digital media firm that helps companies market their brands through Websites, blogs and social networking applications — he is returning to the post, the company announced moments ago.

Right now, at the Web 2.0 Summit in San Francisco, two local companies, Automattic – which powers the popular blog platform WordPress — and the digital media and ad network Federated Media, are taking the wraps off a major partnership. Their big news: That the more than 24 million blogging sites to use WordPress (including [...]

Federated Media Publishing, a San Francsico and New York-based digital media and online advertising company, has acquired startup Big Tent. Financial terms of the deal were not released. BigTent provides a platform for parents, schools and other community groups to connect online. Federated Media is backed by investors including Oak Investment Partners, Panorama Capital, Omidyar Network, and the New York Times Co..

Federated Media Publishing, a Sausalito, Calif.-based operator of an advertising network for online publishers, has acquired semantic search company TextDigger. No financial terms were disclosed.

Federated Media is backed by firms like Oak Investment Partners and Omidyar Network. TextDigger had raised VC funding from Intel Capital, True Ventures and CBS Interactive.

Federated Media Publishing has raised between $40 million in $50 million in Series C funding at a $200 million pre-money valuation, peHUB has learned. Oak Investment Partners led the round, with return backers like Omidyar Network also participating. An official announcement is expected to come early this week [Update: Here it is: FM_Release.pdf] FM Publishing is [...]