Communities can enjoy exclusive content, podcasts and videos, as well as push notifications on local breaking stories, says Archant.
The rollout is primarily enabled by the Google News Initiative which has partnered with Archant to support experimentation in the local news space. The new services follow the launch of Archant’s Norwich City football app ‘The Pink Un+’ in December.
Jeremy Clifford, Editor-in-Chief, Archant said of the two new launches: “These are the first news apps to go live as part of our rollout plans for 2022. The Comet has just undergone a refresh in its design and now it has an industry-leading app to complement its print product. The Hunts Post was relaunched in a similar style last year and now it too, has a sophisticated app.”
“This is an important stage in the development of both titles as we start to introduce the concept of readers paying to access our journalism in our free as well as our paid-for titles.”
Georgia Barrow, the newly-appointed Editor of The Comet, said: “I'm so happy to be a part of this exciting time for The Comet with the launch of our new app. The Comet team has always strived to provide the best content for our readers and we're now more equipped to go about it in a much more modern way.”
“Huge thanks to all of the people working behind the scenes to make the app look so fresh and sleek. I believe it will be a welcome change by our loyal readers.”
Debbie Davies, Editor of The Hunts Post, said: “The Hunts Post has been at the heart of its community in Huntingdonshire for more than 125 years and the launch of our App marks another important milestone in our history.”
“It provides us with an exciting opportunity to produce news on a very different platform and also to add to our individual reporter skill sets as well as cementing our reputation as a multi-media company.”
“The App looks amazing and I am very proud of the efforts of all those involved, not only in its concept and delivery, but also all those who worked on the marketing process this week to make sure people understand our thought processes and could sign up easily."
Subscribers pay less than a pound a month for access, with the first month free.
Both titles’ websites remain free to access.
Further launches are set in the coming months, say the publishers.
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