The Newsbeat app aggregates content from hundreds of newspapers and websites, voicing some 7,000 national and local stories each day through announcers and text-to-speech technology. Available free for iOS and Android devices, the format includes local weather and traffic updates in real time.
"Newsbeat offers a new way to experience the best print and online news in a personalized audio streaming format," Shashi Seth, president of Tribune Digital Ventures, said in a statement. "We've married high-quality journalism from respected reporters and publications with mobile technology to extend its reach and appeal to an audience that is often on-the-go."
Newsbeat will cull stories from hundreds of licensed news sources including the Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times and other major newspapers. Overall, some 70 percent of U.S. newspapers are on board as of the launch, according to Seth. The content partners will be paid for use of their stories, while the product will be supported by targeted audio ads inserted in the programming.
Aimed at commuters, Newsbeat can pair mobile devices with Bluetooth systems in cars for a radio-like experience. Drivers can skip or rewind stories, in some cases using voice commands, a process which helps the app learn a user's preference, shaping its content over time.
Listeners can also actively customize the program with areas of interests, sports teams, newspaper sections and favorite publications.
Generally, only the first few paragraphs will be voiced, with the full text available on the mobile device.
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