New iPad app with journalistic articles: Tone - New Reporter

Netherlands Since July 4th is a new journalism initiative richer: the iPad app Tone. Every week an edition with eleven articles on politics, economics and media, written by a fixed group of journalists. The first issue is currently free to read, subsequent editions will cost € 1.79. You can also buy individual items.

One of the participating journalists Hans Laroes, the former editor of NOS News. On DNR he recently wrote why he does it:

“I participate as a Tone experiment. In my view, the Dutch journalism in the past decade, far too little experimenting with new forms and expressions. “

addition Laroes Tone has a number of other well-known authors such as Petra Stienen, Frenk van der Linden, Joska Fischer and Naomi Klein. But also lesser known journalists make their appearance, such as Hans Klis, Gerben van der Marel and Jan-Albert Hootsen.

Who

an edition of Tone opens, will see articles, a list is merely indicated by title and author, plus a picture of the author. Without frills so.

eReaders.nl discusses Wiebe de Jager Tone app. It is to him that the layout is quite sober:

“The format of the articles is kept very simple, with wide white margins around. That in itself is enjoyable, the lack of distractions makes for a quiet reading experience. “

The simplicity is reflected in the lack of graphical elements such as pull-quotes, streamers or frames, pictures or images. Despite the quiet reading experience, De Jager magazine this bit dull eyes:

“You sometimes feel like you to speak to a text-only site in 1995 is watching.”

One criticism is the landscape orientation of the app:

“It is a pity that the app is only usable in landscape. Personally, I prefer to keep my iPad in portrait mode while reading and I would like to determine at what stage the app I use. “

Is it a success? That will in this app depend entirely on the content of the articles, thinks Hunter. “The question is whether you, the reader gets enough items handed personally interest you, and whether the articles unique enough every week to pay for it. Almost two euro”

Read the full review of Tone on eReaders.nl.

Tone is currently only available for the iPad. In the autumn will also follow an Android version.