News Corp. to unveil digital newspaper for mobile devices

Media kingpin News Corp. is planning to introduce a new national digital newspaper distributed exclusively via mobile handsets and connected devices including Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPad. The Los Angeles Times reports the initiative will compete directly with national publications like USA Today and The New York Times, with content targeting a more general readership via short, snack-sized articles intended to be read on the go. The unnamed publication would operate under the supervision of the News Corp.-owned New York Post, under the helm of its managing editor, Jesse Angelo-- although the digital newspaper will draw on the reporting efforts of multiple News Corp. media properties, a source says plans call for a dedicated staff including several dozen reporters and editors, although a budget has not been determined. News Corp. has not set a launch date, but sources indicate the paper will roll out by the end of 2010.

News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch hinted at the digital newspaper during the company's Aug. 4 earnings call. "We'll have young people reading newspapers," Murdoch said. "It's a real game changer in the presentation of news."

In mid-June, News Corp. announced an agreement with Hearst Corporation to acquire Skiff, a digital content platform optimized to deliver premium journalism efforts across smartphones, tablets, netbooks and ereader devices. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. According to News Corp., the Skiff platform is optimized for translating newspaper and magazine content to portable device screens, retaining signature design elements and allowing publications to maintain their brand identity.

For more on News Corp.'s digital newspaper plans:
- read this Los Angeles Times article

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