WAN-IFRA, in collaboration with a group of international partners, has announced the launch of its latest tool, NewsArcade. This innovative gaming tool aims to bridge the gap between the news media and Generation Z by combining gaming insights with news values to rebuild trust in news and promote media literacy. To introduce this tool to the global market, WAN-IFRA is offering newsrooms a free, six-month trial run.
The NewsArcade Authoring Tool is a web-based content management system designed to transform traditional news stories into interactive and gamified experiences. It provides journalists and editors with the opportunity to repurpose existing content and engage with younger audiences in a more dynamic way.
To aid newsrooms in utilizing this tool, the partners have also developed a comprehensive online training course specifically tailored for media professionals. The course is divided into “nano modules,” consisting of short 4-minute video tutorials that offer a quick and efficient way for newsroom staff to learn how to gamify news stories and seamlessly integrate NewsArcade into their daily tasks.
The game is based on a set of News Values, which challenge players to cover a story from an editor’s perspective while incorporating one of the seven values. This allows users to experience the editorial decision-making process and make choices on angles, quotes, headlines, and images to meet the editor’s challenge.
To showcase the capabilities of the tool, the consortium has prepared a variety of example stories, which can be accessed here. Users can engage with articles on topics such as disinformation and AI, the UK elections, and news avoidance, and challenge themselves to write their own version of the story from an analytical and constructive perspective.
For newsrooms interested in taking advantage of this innovative tool, applications can be submitted by emailing newsarcade@in-two.com. The six-month free trial offers an excellent opportunity for pioneering newsrooms to revolutionize their storytelling and audience engagement techniques with the help of NewsArcade.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.