New York Times Launches Five Alexa Skills for News and Print Integration
The New York Times introduces five new Alexa skills, including a daily flash briefing hosted by Michael Barbaro and an interactive news quiz. The publication also bridges print and digital by adding voice prompts to its Sunday paper.
The New York Times expands its audio programming by launching five new Alexa skills designed to bring its journalism to voice-enabled devices. A new daily flash briefing, hosted by Michael Barbaro of "The Daily" podcast, allows listeners to hear top news stories by asking Alexa for their flash briefing. The publication also introduces an interactive news quiz created by "The Daily's" producers that tests listeners on current events and provides additional context for the answers.
In a unique approach to the common problem of skill discovery on voice platforms, the newspaper integrates voice prompts directly into its printed Sunday edition. Readers of select sections like travel, music, and books see prompts that encourage them to ask Alexa to open specific skills for deeper storytelling. For example, the Travel section's 52 Places to Go list directs readers to a skill where they hear from the new "Traveler" writer visiting those locations.
These dedicated skills for travel, pop music, and book recommendations offer fresh content that continues well beyond the initial weekend launch. By connecting the physical newspaper to smart speakers, the publication creates a new way to engage readers and bypasses the traditional app store model that makes finding new voice features difficult. A company representative notes that this initiative represents just the beginning of their exploration into voice-driven journalism.