What would a newspaper look like if it was invented today? That's the question that Bonnier have asked themselves and it's a good one. Because the answer is quite possibly not much like the current crop of digital news apps. Almost a year ago, Bonnier collaborated with BERG for a pre-iPad re-imagining of the digital magazine. What I liked about it was that it didn't make the mistake of trying to impose inappropriate analogue features onto a screen based digital experience.
Similarly, there's also a lot to like about News+. Like the fact that they have advocated a 'third way' that differs from both the traditional newspaper and the web, but combines editorial curation with plenty of opportunities for social curation, interaction and conversation. Publishers have seemed very keen to develop apps which look great, but are relatively closed systems that box content in and speak of a desire to control. It's almost like they're already forgetting the digital lessons that have long been so painful to learn.
News+ concept live from Bonnier from Bonnier on Vimeo.
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