Facebook’s breaking News
The social media giant has launched its new News tab in the mobile app
FACEBOOK has flipped the switch on its new initiative to bring news with authority to its platform. A new News tab in the mobile app will take you to a stream of articles from established news providers – including the publisher of this newspaper, Reach.
There are lots of Reach titles available via the News tab, from national newspapers like the Mirror and Express, down to some of the biggest and best regional newspapers across the country.
Reach’s head of social media and engagement, Dan Russell, is looking forward to seeing how the new platform works out.
He said: “Having only just launched it is obviously very early days so we will have to see what Facebook News becomes.
“Facebook tells us that one of the priorities for the news section is to bring publishers a new audience and that appears to be the case so far – I have received stories from The Herald, London Evening Standard and BBC which I wouldn’t have seen previously.
“I am hoping for a fair showing for all titles involved in the scheme and that promises of original local reporting being promoted will come to fruition.
“What we do know is that Facebook is now paying publishers for their content and this was not happening a week ago.
“It has taken months, if not years, to get to this stage but is it going to be good for publishers? Is it going to be industry defining? We will see. Is it a step in the right direction? In my opinion yes.”
The move to add the News tab comes after criticism that Facebook was profiting off original news reporting without giving anything back. Facebook says those providing content for the new venture – and hundreds of publishers across the country are involved – will now be able to earn money from new advertising and subscription opportunities.
And information offered in the News tab should be seen as more trustworthy than the stories you might see recommended in your main timeline by friends.
You’ll find the News tab in the Facebook app for IOS and Android by touching the three lines on the right of the shortcuts bar, either at the top or the bottom of the screen – from there you’ll be able to access the News tab.
The feature is still rolling out so isn’t available to everyone just yet… if it hasn’t shown up for you yet, keep trying.