Latest news with #SmartNews
Axios
7 days ago
- Business
- Axios
Exclusive: SmartNews releases new subscription app called NewsArc
SmartNews, the Japanese news discovery app founded in 2012, is releasing a new subscription news discovery app, powered by artificial intelligence, executives tell Axios. Why it matters: The new app — called NewsArc — is meant to offer heavily engaged news readers a more personalized experience without putting them in echo chambers. How it works: NewsArc uses AI to filter, identify and serve news stories based on years of reading pattern data from SmartNews, chief technology officer Cory Ondrejka says. The app relies on a proprietary large language model built by SmartNews to promote stories that it thinks support better comprehension and meaningful engagement, per SmartNews' product senior vice president Jason Holtman. The app will be available to mobile and iPad users on Apple's iOS operating system and Google Android mobile users in the U.S. beginning Tuesday. Between the lines: SmartNews relies on direct relationships with more than 3,000 publishers to supply content on its free app. It pays those publishers through a revenue-share agreement to have access to that content. NewsArc will rely on content from those publishers for its app as well. Like SmartNews, it hires human editors to assist with curation, in addition to AI. Ondrejka says the company decided to build a separate app to make it easier to focus on quality recommendations. Zoom out: SmartNews, which launched in Japan in 2012, has gained a sizable audience in the U.S. since launching here six years ago. But the U.S. market "is far more polarized," Holtman says. "There is far more outrage and attention reinforcement products," where "outrage is the primary driver of attention." By the numbers: The company, which is private, does not disclose the size of its U.S. audience, but SimilarWeb estimates that it's in the top 50 news apps on Apple's iOS in the U.S. SmartNews has raised more than $400 million to fuel its expansion. Its latest public funding round in 2021 valued the company at over $2 billion post-money. The bottom line: "We actually think it's really important for people to have a shared view of the news," Holtman says. "We actually approach (curation) starting with, what do we think are the most important stories going on in the U.S.? And everybody sees the same set of them."
Japan Times
25-07-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
SmartNews planning to hire Mitsubishi UFJ and Nomura for Tokyo listing
Japanese news aggregation app operator SmartNews has hired Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities and Nomura Holdings as lead managers for its initial public offering, according to a person familiar with the matter. SmartNews, valued at $2 billion in 2021, may list in Tokyo as early as next year, the person said, asking not to be identified because the information isn't public. The Japanese firm has met global investors in cities including Hong Kong, Singapore, New York and London to gauge investors' interest, according to people with knowledge of the matter. SmartNews said in an emailed response that no decision has been made. Nomura's representative declined to comment, while Mitsubishi UFJ was not immediately available. The potential listing of SmartNews will add to the momentum of sizable global deals in Japan. JX Advanced Metals in March raised ¥439 billion ($3 billion) in the nation's biggest listing since SoftBank Corp., while lender SBI Shinsei Bank has applied to get relisted. The nation's IPO market has raised ¥551 billion so far this year, more than double the same period last year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Founded in 2012, SmartNews uses algorithms to sift through global content and provides access to news from more than 3,000 media sources. The company also has a user base in the U.S.
Japan Times
26-06-2025
- Health
- Japan Times
Almost a fifth of people in Japan may avoid news, industry survey suggests
A survey by news app operator SmartNews released Thursday showed that 18% of people in Japan consciously avoid news sometimes or often. The research was conducted between January and March by an internal think tank at SmartNews and sought responses from 4,460 people between the ages of 18 and 79. Valid responses were received from 2,117. Regarding the frequency of news avoidance, those who answered "very often" accounted for 2.9%. The share stood at 15.2% for those who chose "sometimes" and 30.8% for those who picked "occasionally." When asked why they avoid news, with multiple answers allowed, 60.8% said that news makes them feel depressed and sick. Those who do not want to consume news in which they have no interest totaled 30.3%, while 26.6% said, "There are too many stimulating and sensational headlines that shout for attention." Respondents who chose "There is too much news about crimes and other incidents" accounted for 24.6%. Respondents in their 30s who intentionally avoid news sometimes or often totaled 22.5%, the highest proportion among all age groups. Regarding news genres that respondents want to avoid, with multiple answers allowed, 46.7% of all respondents said there was no particular genre, while 21.7% chose news about celebrities, including gossip. War and other conflicts were mentioned by 18.9%. "News that is meant to be touching or news that foments anger" was cited by 18%. "The trend to avoid news is getting bigger and becoming one of the problems that potentially threaten the very existence of media organizations," said Atsuo Fujimura, a fellow at the think tank.
Japan Times
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
Survey finds nearly 70% of people in Japan trust mass media
Nearly 70% of people in Japan trust mass media such as television, newspaper and radio to report news accurately, a survey by news distribution app operator SmartNews showed Tuesday. A combined 68.7% were very or moderately trustful of mass media, little changed from 68.2% in the previous 2023 poll, according to the latest survey. Meanwhile, 6.7% said they do not trust mass media at all. The postal survey was conducted by the company's in-house think tank between January and March this year, covering 4,460 people between the ages of 18 and 79. Valid responses were provided by 2,117 people. The survey also showed that 46.5% picked television as their most frequently used source of information on elections and politics. Internet news sites or apps were selected by 17.8%, exceeding traditional forms of newspapers and magazines, chosen by 16.0%. Social media was selected by 10.9%. "It appears that a majority of people do not necessarily link trust in mass media as a whole to criticism about mass media over Fuji Television Network's handling of an alleged sexual assault by a former TV star, as well as over some gubernatorial elections," said Doshisha University professor Kenichi Ikeda, who analyzed the survey results.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pixalate's April 2025 APAC Top 100 Google Play Store and Apple App Store Mobile Bundle IDs: ‘FR Legends' No. 1 on Google Play Store in China, ‘TeraBox' Leads in India on Apple App Store and Google Pla
Pixalate According to Pixalate's research, the 'imo' Bundle ID (336435697) in Singapore led on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store; in Japan, the Bundle ID (579581125) for 'SmartNews: News That Matters' on the Apple App Store ranked No. 1 and Google Play Store ( London, May 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pixalate , a leading global platform for ad fraud protection, privacy, and compliance analytics, today released the April 2025 Top 100 APAC Mobile App Bundle IDs Rankings for Open Programmatic Mobile Advertising on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. The reports highlight the top mobile app Bundle IDs in key APAC ad economies of China , Japan , India and Singapore . In addition to China , Japan , India and Singapore , Pixalate released Bundle ID rankings for the United Kingdom , Spain , France , the Netherlands , Germany , Mexico , Brazil , the U.S. , Canada . Pixalate's data science team analyzed global programmatic advertising activity across over 20 billion impressions on Apple App Store and Google Play Store app traffic in April 2025 to compile the research in this series. The rankings are based on open programmatic advertising volume measured by Pixalate. The Bundle IDs are ranked after invalid traffic (IVT) is removed. Top APAC Mobile App Bundle IDs (April 2025) Singapore - Apple App Store Bundle ID App Name Developer Name 336435697 imo-International Calls & Chat 1617391485 Block Blast！ ARETIS LIMITED 319881193 Grindr - Gay Dating & Chat Grindr LLC Singapore - Google Play Store Bundle ID App Name Developer Name imo-International Calls & Chat TeraBox: Cloud Storage Space Flextech Inc. imo HD - Video Calls and Chats Japan - Apple App Store Bundle ID App Name Developer Name 579581125 SmartNews: News That Matters SmartNews, Inc. 1502193377 トリマ-移動・歩数がポイントに！お小遣い稼ぎの歩数計アプリ GeoTechnologies, Inc. 1496354836 Woodoku - Wood Block Puzzles Tripledot Studios Limited Japan - Google Play Store Bundle ID App Name Developer Name SmartNews: News That Matters SmartNews, Inc. TownWiFi byGMO GMOタウンWiFi Vita Mahjong Vita Studio. China - Google Play Store Bundle ID App Name Developer Name FR Legends TWIN TURBO GAMES Craftsman: Building Craft StarGame12 Ball Sort Puzzle - Color Game Guru Puzzle Game India - Apple App Store Bundle ID App Name Developer Name 1509453185 TeraBox: Cloud Storage Space FLEXTECH INC. 336435697 imo-International Calls & Chat 993090598 Ludo King GAMETION GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES PTE LIMITED India - Google Play Store Bundle ID App Name Developer Name TeraBox: Cloud Storage Space Flextech Inc. Truecaller: Caller ID Blocker Truecaller PhonePe UPI, Payment, Recharge PhonePe Download the Global Top 100 Mobile App Bundle IDs (April 2025)
