Eyewitness News (EWN) has launched a mobile app, designed to cater to its increasing mobile audience. “A lot of work goes on behind the scenes to ensure EWN is at the forefront of innovative content delivery and the app is the latest offering to come from this,” said Allan Kent, Primedia Broadcasting’s head of digital.
“We have seen an explosion in audience numbers on our mobile site, which places consistently in the top 15 mobi-sites in the country and EWN was the only radio group to win a Bookmark Award in 2012.”
The app, developed in collaboration with Prezence, offers an intuitive navigation experience mimicking traditional news browsing with loads of horizontal swiping and tapping in tow. News consumers who want to keep up-to-date while on the go, will find a range of categories, audio content from EWN’s radio brands, a video channel, sport, business and weather.
“We did not want to create just another content consuming app, but to push the boundaries of creating something truly unique that also capitalises on tried and tested mobile user experiences that are currently out there,” says CEO of Prezence, Prakash Patel.
EWN is known for breaking the news as it happens, and for content that is in touch, in tune and independent. With this app, users will have all of this, literally at their fingertips.
Edridge, an IT professional who tested the app as part of EWN’s usability testing sessions said it is “much better than most of the apps.” Edridge liked that you can swipe through the stories. “Also the fact that EWN are normally the first ones there; it’s better to hear it from the source,” he said.
At the core of the EWN brand is credible journalism and breaking news and these pillars remain critical, regardless of the platform through which the news is delivered.
“Our team of award-winning journalists strive to bring immediate, relevant content to the consumer whether they be radio listeners or online users,” said EWN editor-in-chief Katy Katopodis.
“We are delighted to add two new awards to the list as Gia Nicolaides and Graeme Raubenheimer have been named the regional winners for radio news in the 2013 Vodacom Journalist of the Year Awards. Both of their stories – the Marikana massacre from Gia and the Anni Dewani murder trial from Greame – included rich digital elements which offered the online or mobile user something different to the bulletin they would have heard on air.”
The app is available free for download from iPhone, Android and BlackBerry app stores
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