Grimsby Telegraph appoints virtual newsreader for online edition

by Jacquie Bowser, Brand Republic 11-Jun-08, 15:20

LONDON - The Grimsby Telegraph in Lincolnshire has appointed a virtual newsreader called Kate who will report current news stories on its website.

Virtual character consultants Daden developed the talking avatar using 'chatbot' technology that converts text to speech.

Kate will report on the most-recent headlines, as well as breaking news.

Michelle Lalor, Grimsby Telegraph editor, said: "We have been running video reports every day now - and sometimes up to three or four videos a day - for more than a year, and breaking news 24-hours-a-day has been the norm for at least two years.

"We have done so much to it, we were left scratching our heads a little about what more we could do and then the idea of the newsbot was born.

"They are a great example of how differently news can be reported - it's all about novelty and fun. Of course, Kate is only virtual, but we wanted to give her a personality to make her what she effectively is - a new member of the reporting team."

Journalists at the Grimsby Telegraph upload Kate with the latest news through a web interface designed by Daden.

This lets them preview the next news bulletin before making it live, allowing them to check pronunciation and phrasing.

David Burden, Daden's managing director, said: "Grimsby Telegraph are proactive in their use of technology and were clear with what they wanted to achieve.

"As a virtual newsreader, Kate provides another way for people to interact with their online edition."

The Grimsby Telegraph is owned by regional newspaper publisher Northcliffe Media, which is a subsidiary of the Daily Mail and General Trust.