Could the News be more Social?

The sad demise of NewsHub and the amount of digital media money heading offshore via Social platforms have me thinking a little. The idea that news consumption is shifting is hardly new news, and in many ways, the current situation is a result of some well-signposted warnings. But it did have me wondering whether News organisations have done enough to shift their content strategies to digital.

TVNZ News, Sports & Weather App. 2009.

Back in 2009, I was part of the team that designed and launched TVNZ’s first News, Sports and Weather Mobile App. Building a new digital experience on a new platform was exciting, but it was hard at the time to grasp what a huge shift this was going to be, particularly from a content perspective.

What strikes me is how little News apps have changed since then, from both a content and a UX perspective. Short-form content now fuels digital experiences with swipeable interactions that encourage deep and lengthy engagement.

If you compare your favourite Social app with your favourite News app, they hardly compare, yet they are both competing for your attention. And with the scale of the media dollars heading offshore via Social, there is obviously only one winner.

So how can News organizations provide a more immersive experience? Should they adopt a more diverse range of content, including short-form video, and long and short-form copy? Ironically, they are already making strides in this direction with their always-on media presence on Social platforms.

Or is it too late? I hope not, we need our News organisations to stand up and stand out.