Best News Mobile Application, Best Newspaper Mobile Application

In order to combat the decline many traditional publications have faced since the advent of new media, we built an iPad news app for longtime client U-T San Diego. To continue the transformation of San Diego’s largest news source from black-and-white newspaper to full-blown digital, the app aimed to place the U-T on an upward trajectory in terms of subscriptions, readership rates, and revenue. A secondary goal was to better connect with younger and/or more tech-oriented readers while introducing the existing, slightly older demographic to a new and convenient way to read and interact with regional, national, and international news.

The app features an intuitive, user-friendly interface to allow for streamlined news consumption. Breaking news and updates are easy to find, with special interest topics categorized in simple one-touch navigation. App users can personalize article and navigation layout according to their browsing preferences, while multimedia galleries allow for custom sizing and comments with just a swipe. Users are also able to “favorite” articles and share their top stories with friends on social media channels without exiting the app.

Beyond news, the app offers hyper-local, real-time updates on traffic, weather, and surf conditions. A true testament to U-T San Diego’s consistent progression toward digital integration, the app gained over 32,000 downloads in its first five months and landed a number-one spot in the iTunes App Store.

Contributors:

Creative Director:	Clint Walden
Designer:	Daryl Daley
Account Manager:	Rachael Martin
Account Manager:	Rachael Wilson
Developer:	Chris Kihneman

MINDGRUVE

Location: United States

About the Agency:

Mindgruve is a full service digital marketing and technology company that specializes in integrated media campaigns for some of America's top brands. Our strategy, creative, technology and marketing teams work collaboratively to deliver highly effective campaigns across all channels, platforms and devices.