Our readers in Devon can now keep up-to-date with all the latest news from their trusted local titles on popular messaging platform WhatsApp.
Our titles in the county, including the Mid-Devon Advertiser and South Hams Gazette series, have launched WhatsApp communities where readers can receive breaking news, live updates and the day’s most important stories sent straight to their phone, desktop, or tablet.
News publishers like Tindle are able to use WhatsApp communities to broadcast news and announcements to members. Posts shared in communities appear directly in users’ main chat feeds alongside messages from other users.
Group Editorial Director Emily Woolfe said: “We are delighted to ensure readers stay connected with their local news by joining our WhatsApp communities.
“Building on our longstanding reputations for trusted local information, we can connect with audiences on the widely-used messaging platform to not just deliver news but to foster the sense of community around the stories that matter most.
“As a trusted local publisher we respect our readers’ time and attention, so they will only hear from us when there is genuinely important news happening in our area.
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“Users can be reassured that we will not flood their notifications with unnecessary messages or share news from outside their area.
“Privacy matters to us, so only our editorial teams can send messages to the community and membership details remain completely private as no other members can see who has joined.”
The WhatsApp launch is the latest innovation by our news publishing business, which uses the latest technology to reach readers, gather new content and offer digital marketing opportunities.
Earlier this summer, a call went out for local influencers and content creators to share their passions with wider audiences on our network of trusted local news sites.
As a community publisher we offered creators of all types, from bloggers and vloggers to photographers, TikTokers and Instagram users, a platform to elevate their content to new heights.
Businesses can sponsor the weather reports on our websites through an innovative AI-driven marketing programme available across our network of respected regional news websites, which sees technology used to compile automated weather reports from high-quality sources, published daily between 5am and 6am on each website.