The Independent has today announced the launch of a new digital service to provide trusted, independent, verified news for time-poor audiences, enabled by its own unique set of AI editorial tools.
Bulletin, which is being revealed today at the World Forum’s AI World Summit in Berlin, provides “News for Seriously Busy People”, addressing the growing need for reliable information in a world where many news consumers are increasingly busy, while also facing an increasingly busy news agenda.
Bulletin offers readers informative, high-quality journalism in a consumer-friendly format, allowing readers to quickly and easily get to the truth of stories that matter. It will be available at bulletin.news from 31 March.
The project has been led by journalists at The Independent, the news brand trusted and known the world over, working in partnership with AI experts at Google Cloud to integrate Gemini, Google’s advanced family of Al models, alongside the publisher’s own in-house data and development teams. All output is reviewed and checked by journalists before being published to ensure the highest levels of quality and trust are maintained. Other features will follow as the tool kit is continually developed.
A series of new editorial roles have been created to oversee the new offer, which is part of The Independent’s continued commitment to innovation and quality journalism that has seen editorial investment double in the past five years, along with the doubling of revenue and profit.
Since becoming the world’s first major newspaper to go fully digital, in 2016, The Independent has continued to prioritise truly independent journalism, powered by innovation. The Independent’s newsroom, now bigger than at any time since going fully digital, is led by one of the most experienced and respected Fleet Street editors-in-chief, Geordie Greig.
Geordie Greig, Editor-in-Chief at The Independent, says: “The Independent always likes to be ahead of the game. As the first fully digital news brand in the UK, we lead again by now helping to pioneer what is a fact of life in 21st century information, the use of AI in journalism.
“We do this with Bulletin, AI with human editorial supervision to allow us to cut to the chase with essential news briefing. We embrace the opportunity to find a way to provide what our readers want: authoritative, quick, brief, engaging journalism as a supplement to what we also provide.
“It will have focus and act as a brilliant shorthand to our agenda-shaping journalism.”
Christian Broughton, CEO and former editor of The Independent, says: “We believe journalists should be the people to work out the best uses of AI in newsrooms. Our journalists wanted to ensure they are always in control of the process, so they worked through the workflows and tech implementation themselves, and they wanted to serve our audience’s desire for trusted, essential briefings.
“That need has become more acute, whether from long working hours, busy family life, or all kinds of other reasons. Bulletin, as a concept, was first discussed a decade ago, and now it is possible by working with technology.
“Whenever readers want to go deeper, they can click through to The Independent’s in-depth news, podcasts, newsletters and documentaries. Because we are efficient, we also have more time to go deeper into key subjects and to do more of what only our human team can do best.”
John Paton, Chairman of Independent Media, says: “Bulletin represents another bold innovation by The Independent. While many media organisations shy away from the power of AI, The Independent is harnessing it for the benefit of our customers.”
Bulletin will launch with a commercial relationship with WeAre8, the world’s only sustainable social media app.
The social partnership will see Bulletin and The Independent produce exclusive content for WeAre8’s 1.6 million active monthly users from launch, supporting the social media platform’s mission as a home for trusted, meaningful conversation. It represents the first news brand partnership for WeAre8.
Zoe Kalar, Founder and CEO, WeAre8, says: “WeAre8 and The Independent are transforming social news with the launch of Bulletin. In a world where the stories that matter are getting lost to algorithms, journalists are being trolled, people are scared to ask questions, and misinformation thrives – we are radically reinventing and reimagining news on social media.
“WeAre8 eliminates the negative of social media. Through WeAre8’s healthy algorithms that enable people to see everyone they follow, an AI engine that eliminates abuse, links out from every post back to the publisher websites, and shared economics, we transform the news experience as we know it. Through Bulletin and WeAre8, people will see the daily snapshot of what is happening, but they are no longer passive bystanders. Together we enter a new world where news is truly social and our voices matter, where people can discuss the tough things without fear, elevate journalism, unlock economic flow back to people in need and empower people’s voices to fast-track much needed change in the world.”
