NewsCred helps users create custom online newspapers

Posted by Savita Sauvin on January 20, 2010 at 4:21 PM

NewsCred launched in 2008 aiming to use algorithms combined with users' votes to rank news sources by credibility. That didn't work out, and the site is now manoeuvring in another direction, this time offering users a platform to build professionally-looking customised online newspaper sites in just minutes, TechCrunch reported last week.

Users can pick topics they are interested in or choose from a list of categories provided. The stories are then drawn from popular news sites and blogs, aggregated and listed in their appropriate sections.

The news customisation space is already very competitive, and at the top are online giants like Google. Other more "directly competitive" sites include Meehive, according to TechCrunch.

However, NewsCred has something its competitors don't - a unique feature that allows users to put their spin on the news with an "Editorial" section, in which customised news streams are placed next to a blogging element where users can write their own content. The customised newspaper can be shared via Twitter or e-mailed directly from the site, The Next Web reported.

NewsCred also has plans for future developments, planning to offer a premium version called NewsCred Pro, according to TechCrunch. The Pro version will allow users to host their newspapers on a personal domain, run their own advertising, eliminate NewsCred branding, further customise the layout and newspaper template.

Whether NewsCred plans to share revenue with original content creators from online advertising or if NewsCred has made any sharing agreements with news outlets was not mentioned.