The New York Times has just entered the location-based content distribution game via Foursquare, which is fast becoming the vehicle for experiencing editorial content when and where it matters most.

Much like the major media companies before it, the publishing powerhouse has found a distribution partner in the mobile application and is finding a way to apply the location craze to its Vancouver Olympic Games coverage.

Starting today, Foursquare users can tap into the Times on Foursquare for recommendations on restaurants, attractions, shopping and nightlife — as reported by the Times’ travel and entertainment writers — in Vancouver, Whistler, and Squamish. And it wouldn’t be Foursquare without a badge to boot, so Foursquarers in those areas should keep their eyes peeled for suggested venues should they want to earn The New York Times Olympic badge.

The New York Times should be commended for its avant-garde approach to serving up relevant and contextual editorial content to Olympic Games attendees, though the idea is one we’re starting to see quite frequently now courtesy of Foursquare.

What’s especially interesting is that while the game elements of Foursquare are tightly integrated into each media partner’s experience, the true value is in the editorial content that Foursquare can distribute by user location. This means that while Google Buzz (for mobile)  and Yelp can attempt to tackle check-ins and add a layer that serves as the voice of the people, Foursquare has managed to add the voices of trusted and high-profile resources to the mix. The game has truly evolved into a travel guide with an editorial lens that competitors simply can’t match at this point.

Tags: foursquare, media, new york times, social media, winter olympics

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