Media Insider: Microsoft Debuts Tailored News Feed, Twitter Launches Communities, Gannett Offers Digital Sports Experience
Welcome to Media Insider, PR Newswire’s roundup of media news stories from the week.
TECHCRUNCH | SARAH PEREZ
Microsoft launches a personalized news service, Microsoft Start
Microsoft introduced Microsoft Start, a personalized news reading experience. The Microsoft Start feed will display a collection of news from a variety of publishers. Users will be able to tailor their news by using the “Personalize” tool, searching for categories and interests or by reacting to an article with thumbs up or thumbs down. Microsoft Start will be available as a website through Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge and as a mobile app for iOS or Android.
Substack introduces three new features to support writer collaborations.
WASHINGTON POST
The Washington Post launches “The 7,” a new dynamic, daily news briefing
The Washington Post launched “The 7,” a short daily briefing that gives readers the most important and interesting news. “The 7” will be published each weekday at 7 a.m. ET starting Sept. 7 in both text and audio formats. The new feature will be available on the Post’s website, app, social platforms and will include a dedicated newsletter.
Read Next: BuzzFeed revenue jumps 51% ahead of public listing.
MEDIA POST | RAY SCHULTZ
‘USA Today’ Launches Digital Sports Experience In Local Markets
Gannett unveiled USA Today Sports+, a premium digital subscription product for sports fans. Sports+ will allow subscribers to curate their local sports experience, while enjoying podcasts and live NFL scoreboards and gaming data. Former ESPN NFL reporter Josina Anderson joins Alicia DelGallo and Roxanna Scott to lead the all-female Sports+ team. The new product is being offered in Arizona, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Indiana, Michigan, Tennessee and Wisconsin. Sports+ will cost $4.99 a month or $2.99 a month if you sign up for the whole year.
Related: For many sports journalists, the pandemic expanded the beat beyond competition-focused coverage.
THE VERGE | ALEX HEATH AND JAY PETERS
Twitter takes on Facebook Groups with invite-only Communities
Twitter announced the launch of Communities, a feature rival to Facebook Groups and Reddit. Twitter invited a handful of users to create the initial batch of Communities, which include #AstroTwitter, #DogTwitter, #SkincareTwitter and #SoleFood. Each Community will have its own Twitter-approved moderator who will set rules and invite or remove people. Once people join a Community, they can tweet directly to other members and like or reply to tweets sent by other members. Twitter says the goal of Communities is to make it “easier for people to form, discover, and participate in conversations that are more targeted to the relevant communities or geographies they’re interested in.”
More from Twitter: Twitter tests four new emoji Tweet reactions.
MEDIAPOST | RAY SCHULTZ
2 Vogue European Editions Have New Editors-In-Chief
Conde Nast appointed Eugenie Trochu as editor of Vogue Paris and Francesca Ragazzi as head of Vogue Italia. Trochu, formerly fashion editor of Vogue.fr, replaces Emmanuelle Alt and Ragazzi, formerly fashion market director at Vogue Italia, replaces Emanuele Farneti. Both women report to Anna Wintour, Vogue’s global editorial director and Condé Nast chief content officer and Vogue European editorial director Edward Enninful. The appointments align with Conde Nast’s pursuit to cut costs by building a unified global brand.
ICYMI: Fran Unsworth, BBC’s director of news and current affairs, announces exit.
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Erin Wade is a Senior Customer Content Specialist with PR Newswire. She is also an animal lover and aspiring world traveler. Tune into her insights as a social curator at @TotalCSR.
