“In the digital world, one can easily feel overwhelmed by the amount of information. News Digest gives the time-starved user a chance to complete the news by simply sharing only the most important stories of the day.” —juror Jon Jackson
“News sites are universally a mess, which is what makes this app so good. A hyper-simple user interface enables me to skim news stories without needing to think about the interface for even a moment.” —juror Eric Karjaluoto
Overview: Yahoo News Digest delivers a definitive summary of all the need-to-know news to users twice a day, sifting through redundant information so consumers don’t have to. The app uses Alike technology to identify chatter and articles on the web, an algorithm to measure the significance of a story, multidocument summarization, sentence-level analysis and a quotes-extraction tool that is exclusive to Yahoo. Add comprehensive clustering and de-duping, a touch of Summly’s algorithmic technology and a bit of curation from the editorial team to select important articles, and you have a remedy for information overload.
• The app has a rating of 4.5 stars in both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store, and it won the 2014 Apple Design Award.
• Forty percent of those who download become daily users.
• Readers spend an average of two minutes on each digest, and 34 percent read the entire digest.
Comments by Yahoo News Digest:
What was the most challenging aspect of this project? "The primary challenge was to completely transform information and knowledge into a daily habit. We blended the intellectualism of old-fashioned journalism with new platforms and storytelling devices, then presented it in an effortless and visual experience for readers on the go.”
Describe any special interactive features. “The fun factor of Yahoo News Digest is getting to the factoid or quote that rewards you for reading all ten stories. Users can also track progress and see how much they have read. These elements of enjoyment and completion help make News Digest a daily habit.”
What was the thinking behind the navigation structure?“The team’s priority was to create a simplified, effortless and comprehensive experience centered on news and information. Every element of the app adds a layer of understanding and sophistication to a nuanced story. Swipe gestures and visual cues illustrate the simplicity and effortlessness of the experience.”
