AOL users will be able to receive news alerts and other features from USA Today via instant message, according to Media Post.

Using the new service, AOL AIM users can search the paper's headlines through instant messages simply by sending one or a set of keyword in the AIM dialogue window. With the same method, they can also set up to receive news alerts.

The USA Today-AOL content-sharing deal is just the latest examples of partnerships between newspapers and online portals, “with newspapers seeking more brand exposure from news aggregators, and online portals leveraging the appeal of local news content,” Media Post reported.

The most known example is the Yahoo newspaper consortium launched in 2006, with over 600 newspaper participating, sharing content and advertising.

Last year, Gannett also acquired a stake in Text4Info, which allows mobile users to search for local businesses via SMS codes, Media Post reported.

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