Eri Mizobe
August 13, 2015 | 06:21:02
PR professionals tend to be early adopters and tech savvy, which is why we like helpful apps. Much of our work requires us to stay on top of the latest trends and news, both within PR and our clients’ various industries. What’s happening in the news can offer great opportunities to piggyback and pitch stories. Here are our picks for the best apps to make sure you’re the first to know.
Flipboard: Described as a “social news magazine,” the app creates a customized digital magazine with news, from outlets such as The New York Times, Fast Company and Vanity Fair, on topics you choose to follow. You can also search for news and save stories in your magazine – and create different magazines for different topics and manage them from your dashboard. “The Daily Edition” delivers the day’s top news selected by Flipboard’s editorial staff, and local editions are available in 24 countries. With its aesthetically-pleasing design and curated touch, Flipboard makes finding and reading stories something you look forward to! Free on iOS and Android.
Overcast: Turn your mobile device into a radio that gets you up to speed on local, national and international news through your favorite podcasts. Download podcasts ahead of time to listen to offline during your commute so you’re updated by the time you dive in to work. The app offers recommendations for new news, and notifies you when new episodes for shows you subscribe to are available. Free on iOS; “Unlock Everything” for $4.99.
PR Newswire: The app version of this top PR news wire service delivers the most recent press releases, multimedia and earnings reports to your device. You can set up alerts for organizations and topics, and quickly know news about your company or brand’s competitors. Free on iOS.
Twitterific: Think of this as your ultra-customized Twitter feed. It allows you to view mentions and direct messages on your timeline, customize themes, tweet, switch between accounts easily, and share images and animated GIFs with rich media support. This cuts the amount of time you need to spend on Twitter but still lets you capture and share info effectively. Free on iOS.
Paper: This app offered by Facebook integrates with your news feed to highlight top stories from friends and topics of interest in a clean, appealing layout. Only the most important text and photos are pulled, allowing you to view your feed distraction-free. You can also share content directly from the app. It’s a great way to know what’s buzzing among your social circles. Free on iOS.
Nuzzel: If you work in PR, it’s likely you have smart friends who care about similar topics. This app alerts you to the top stories from key outlets such as CNN, NBC, Fox, The New York Times and BuzzFeed that others are sharing on Facebook and Twitter. When you find interesting articles, you can easily share via Twitter, Facebook, email or text directly through the app. Free on iOS and Android.