Flipboard Expands Local News Coverage to 1,000+ Cities

Flipboard Significantly Expands Local News Coverage

Flipboard, a prominent news aggregator, is experiencing substantial growth in its local news offerings. Product Lead Brian Gottesman has characterized this expansion as a “quantum leap,” increasing the number of followable topics – representing cities, towns, and communities – from 60 to over 1,000.

Initiative Launched Last Year

For several years, Flipboard has enabled users to track news from major metropolitan areas like New York. However, a more comprehensive initiative focused on local news was initiated at the start of the previous year. The company is now consolidating news reports from locations throughout the United States and Canada.

This expansion encompasses all 210 Designated Market Areas as defined by Nielsen.

Addressing the Decline of Local Journalism

The growth in local news coverage arrives at a time when many local newspapers are facing financial difficulties and closures, resulting in the creation of “news deserts.” However, Flipboard’s data quality analyst, Marty Rose, emphasizes that their local news sections are not solely dependent on traditional newspapers.

Instead, they aggregate content from a diverse range of sources, including travel blogs, publications catering to varied demographics, television stations, and regional or national publications that feature local interest stories.

Potential to Recreate Local News Sources

“Our aggregation capabilities have the potential to establish a local news source in communities where one is currently absent,” Gottesman stated.

Location-Based Topic Suggestions

Flipboard is now linking these local topics to GPS coordinates. Users will be prompted to share their location with the application. Gottesman clarified that user privacy is prioritized, with Flipboard utilizing only “coarse precision” location data and not storing it persistently.

Following location sharing, users will receive a curated list of nearby cities and relevant local topics to follow. This feature will facilitate staying informed about local political developments, COVID-19 updates, weather conditions, and dining options.

Importance of Community Information

“Providing this information is crucial for our users,” Gottesman explained. “They require awareness of natural disasters in their vicinity and access to information regarding vaccine availability within their community. Local information is increasingly vital.”

Elevating Local Coverage

Rose also noted that Flipboard can “elevate” the reach of local news organizations by featuring their coverage in broader, non-local sections when the content holds relevance for a wider audience, through building relationships with these organizations.

Navigating Publisher Subscription Models

When questioned about the impact of publisher subscription models and paywalls on the visibility of stories within these local topics, Rose acknowledged their existence. He stated, “Some local publications employ paywalls, and we respect their decision. We present headlines, and if a user encounters a paywall upon clicking through, it’s regrettable, but beyond our control.”

He further pointed out that local television news is generally accessible without paywalls, and a growing number of local blogs and digital publications are adopting donation or membership-based funding models. “We are hopeful that these sources will remain active and that we can further promote their content.”

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