• by Tameka Kee , August 13, 2007

Gannett Co. has rolled out a free local news-focused mobile service. The Virginia-based media outlet has developed mobile news sites that correspond to some 84 daily newspapers and 19 broadcast station Web sites, as well as one for its national paper USA Today.

In addition to local news and information, the sites link to national news coverage available via the USA Today mobile site, and the content will be supported by local, regional and national display ads.

Users with handsets and data plans that allow for Internet browsing can access the sites for free by entering an 'm' before an existing Gannett site's URL (such as http://m.tennessean.com), via links from the home pages of all Gannet newspaper and broadcast Web sites, or by texting a unique daily short code to 59523. The short codes are being promoted through Gannett's print, online and broadcast news presentations.

"Local news and information is more in demand than ever by consumers across the country. Making it easily available by mobile device takes Gannett's local information expertise and puts it in consumers' hands," said Jack Williams, president of Gannett Digital. "Advertisers who appreciate the value of trusted brands, local content and audiences will be able to reach out to those consumers throughout the day."