• by Ray Schultz , Columnist, October 2, 2024

The New York Times has redesigned its app in an effort to help people “more easily discover, read, watch and listen to Times journalism,” says Alex Hardiman, chief product officer for the Times. 

This doesn’t necessarily improve the news product, but it does make it more accessible. 

The redesign transforms the app from a single feed to an expanded engagement tool that delivers breaking news, beat reporting, multipart investigations and cultural, health and lifestyle coverage.  

In addition, the enhanced app makes it easier for readers to discover other Times products, such as The Athletic, Games, Cooking, Wirecutter and Audio. 

How does it work?  

The Today department is the first thing readers see when they open the app, “the center of gravity that offers urgent stories,” the Times says. 

When they swipe to the right, they are presented with Election 2024, and they can also enjoy Lifestyle, Great Reads and Opinion. 

And swiping to the left allows readers to access Games, Cooking and The Athletic.  

Why is the Times bothering when it is adding digital subscribers and generating revenue from them? Does it need to be doing this?

“The New York Times app is a crucial part of our audiences’ daily and weekly routines, and serves as a massive entry point to TheTimes,” Hardiman says. “This remarkable endeavor reflects our continued ambition to get our journalism and products to audiences in more creative, accessible and direct ways.”