Module 8: Media Switch-up - Nwsty
This week, I explored the wonderful world of Nwsty, a news app with the slogan “Read Less - Know All.” Nwsty users can read about the top world news stories in under five minutes. Its intent to keep users informed on the latest news stories without taking too much time out of their busy schedules such as marathoning Stranger Things and participating in the #IceCreamChallenge (note: people who participate in this challenge deserve a special place in h-e-double hockey sticks...who ruins ice cream?!?). In short, if you want to feel like a worldly person who is up-to-date on current events, Nwsty is the app for you!
Because Nwsty is a relatively new app, there is not much data on it in comparison to other leading apps on the market. What I do know is that its user base is in the U.S. However, I was able to download it in Belgium which means the app is not country blocked (looking at you, Travelocity, for not being a team player in the global market). According to the Google Play Store, there are over 10,000 installs.
What I like about Nwsty is that it provides the news in a concise matter. It essentially includes the headlines and a few sentences on each story. As a former news reporter, I find this tactic very powerful, because writers know that first and second paragraph in a news story are most important. Also, what I like is that the stories are not biased and coming from certain news outlets. It is neutral news reporting so no news outlets are influencing the users. However, this means that other brands are not engaging with this app.
Furthermore, as a editor, I am employing a similar tactic with The Gazette, my organization’s weekly news publication. As someone who too busy looking at cat photos, I like getting news quickly and effectively. With news apps like Nwsty, I am leaning more towards this style of providing quick news.