Facebook is testing out a new section of its app that will make it easier for users to find local news and information.
According to TechCrunch, the social media giant is testing out Today In, a feed made up of local events, announcements and news. The feature is accessed through the bottom-right menu button in the app.
The company is starting with a small group of test markets, including New Orleans, Louisiana; Olympia, Washington; Billings, Montana; Binghamton, New York; Peoria, Illinois and Little Rock, Arkansas. Users in those areas will be able to visit the new section to see local information, including stories from local publishers or updates from local authorities.
Recode reported that users will eventually be able to follow cities where they don’t currently live, such as their childhood hometowns. The plan is for Facebook to eventually roll out the feature in other areas.
The “Today In” feature is the culmination of the Facebook Journalism Project, an initiative the company announced last year to “support journalism and news literacy” and build out local news partnerships.
Facebook’s News Partnerships team is in charge of the new feature testing, using both human curators and machine learning to populate the content in its sections.
We’re always on the lookout for opportunities to partner with innovators and disruptors.
Learn More