News aggregation websites and apps have been a staple in the online media landscape for over a decade. Some of the most loved include Google News, Apple News, and Flipboard. But there are new players in town, each boasting their own special features. Let’s take a look at three of them and access pros, cons, and whether we think they will take-off.
Informed
Launched in November last year, Informed is a human-curated news app which pulls from some of the top publishers around the world. It claims to be a “Spotify for journalism” with its recommendations and preview snippets. It has a clean, modern design that’s intuitive to navigate. And with many different ways to browse, that’s very important. Whilst they advertise global news publishers, most stories seem to come from the major news outlets in the US and UK.
How much does Informed cost?
There is limited free access, but to use the app to its full effect you need to subscribe. It’s either £6.99 per month or £51.99 for the year. This is cheaper than many established competitors but still a hefty cost for those not used to paying for news.
Will Informed last as a news aggregator?
Overall, Informed’s USP is their human curation. But what really stands out is the brilliant app design. If they can get people to the app, there is a good chance they’ll stay.
Artifact
The news aggregator from Instagram’s co-founder, Artifact has been widely written about. It jumps of the AI bandwagon, selling a feed personalised by artificial intelligence. It also adds something new to news – gamification. You can see your streak on the homepage, as well as what level reader you are. At 10 reads you become a ‘seeker’ and unlock personalisation. At 50 reads you are a ‘scholar’, and 250 you become a ‘sage’.
How much does Artifact cost?
Currently Artifact is free. But the founders are considering advertising or revenue-sharing in the future. Fundamentally it is a series of links to the websites of news publishers, meaning their paywalls and advertising are still in place.
Will Artifact last as a news aggregator?
Perhaps. Those who use social media to find news may have a better time on Artifact, but those who want to discuss it will still need to go elsewhere. And those who want a news aggregator that helps them skip the paywalls also won’t be all that happy. But with a fun design and the proven power of a good algorithm, only time will tell.
Post News
Hurried into a public beta last November, Post is one of many trying to become the new Twitter. And part of this for them includes a dedicated news feed. It was launched with news partners USA Today, Reuters, and Democracy Docket, and the choice beyond that is limited.
How much does Post cost?
Many articles shared on Post are free to read but some take advantage of Post’s pay-per-article model. Users buy batches of points (currently 1000 points is $14) and spend those points to read articles (currently 1-3 points per article). This can work well for those who want flexibility with what they read.
Will Post last as a news aggregator?
Post’s seperation of the news feed from general discussion offers something new in the social media world. If it is able to attract more publishing partners, it may succeed. But as it is, it may have a dedicated micro-audience but fail to reach the mainstream success of Twitter.