Axel Springer and Snap launch global partnership to develop new formats of engaging news

Axel Springer and Snap Inc. have agreed on a global partnership to shape and strengthen the future of independent digital journalism around the world. Together, both companies will establish new models of reporting and invest in building augmented reality news experiences for Snapchat’s global community of over 600 million monthly users. 

As part of the partnership, Axel Springer’s portfolio of newsrooms will deliver news content for Snapchat’s Discover. In addition to BILD and Insider, which are already active on Snapchat, WELT’s newsroom in Germany, POLITICO’s newsroom in the United States, and UPDAY’s newsrooms (which recently added local news to their offering) in Germany, Spain and Italy will produce Shows for Discover. BILD and Insider in Germany and the US will also contribute entertainment and lifestyle content to Spotlight. 

Another core element of the partnership is an augmented reality (AR) collaboration operation with the FreeTech – Axel Springer Academy of Journalism and Technology, the interdisciplinary think-and-do tank for the future of journalism. With Snap’s support, FreeTech will teach journalists the fundamentals of AR and empower the next generation of journalists as they experiment with AR storytelling across Snapchat.  

In an effort to create more engaging news on Snapchat, both companies are partnering to launch their first joint journalist development programme. Emerging journalists will be selected and quality assured by Axel Springer’s newsrooms, and Axel Springer’s experienced editors – in partnership with Snap – will provide a cohort of journalists with learnings and tips about how to report and create engaging news using Snap’s Camera, while showcasing their personalities. The reporters will distribute content directly to their personal Story and across Snapchat, and their newsroom affiliation will be visible on their creators’ profiles. 

Peter Würtenberger, Executive Vice President of Axel Springer, said: “I couldn’t be more excited about our global content and tech partnership with Snap. Together, we will build new formats of engaging news targeting young generation audiences with a more direct, more relatable, and personalized approach that spotlights the many great journalistic talents at Axel Springer.”  

Ben Schwerin, Senior Vice President Content and Partnerships at Snap Inc., added: “Snap has always felt a deep responsibility to provide our community with credible news from trusted and clear sources. We’re thrilled to partner with Axel Springer to deliver more diverse and local news content using innovative storytelling formats and the power of augmented reality.”

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