Customer Reviews (500)

mich a jim • 2025-03-20T17:36:21-07:00

Love the content. Hate the fact that when the app adds updated content it scrolls up to the first article leaving the user to scroll back through what has just been read to get back to where they were reading.

Cooper Walters • 2025-03-18T05:27:44-07:00

I read several Michigan and national news outlets and consistently find The Detroit News to provide the best, most complete coverage. The app occasionally doesn’t perform as quickly as I’d like, but the coverage is outstanding.

Go Blue 4U • 2025-03-14T04:19:28-07:00

Tried the Detroit News App today but wow you need a telescope to read the very small fin print. Even on my IPAD and with no option to zoom. Not good

Summary of Key Insights

The Detroit News app receives mixed reviews, with a notable number of users expressing frustration despite a significant proportion giving it a 5-star rating. While many appreciate the comprehensive local news coverage and sports reporting, recurring issues related to app functionality, intrusive advertising, subscription management, and a perceived shift in political bias detract from the overall user experience. The high number of 1-star reviews highlights critical problems that need addressing. Many users who pay for subscriptions are unable to access subscriber-only content, which is a major issue.

Key Strengths:

  • Comprehensive local news and sports coverage.
  • Easy to use for many users.
  • Keeps users connected to Detroit, especially for those living outside the area.

Key Weaknesses:

  • Technical glitches (scrolling issues, crashes, slow loading times).
  • Intrusive and excessive advertising, even for paid subscribers.
  • Subscription access problems (unable to access subscriber-only content, difficulty canceling subscriptions).
  • Perceived political bias.
  • Unstable app updates causing more issues than improvements.

Overall Sentiment: Mixed. While many users are satisfied, a significant portion is highly dissatisfied due to technical and subscription-related issues.

Quantitative Metrics:

  • Overall Rating: Not explicitly calculable from the review data, but inferred to be around 3.6 stars (based on the distribution and sentiment).
  • Score Distribution:
    • 1-star: 23%
    • 2-star: 9.2%
    • 3-star: 5.8%
    • 4-star: 10.6%
    • 5-star: 51.4%

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 500 reviews
  • Time Frame: The reviews span several years, from 2019 to late 2023, based on the review dates.
  • Analysis Methods:
    • Sentiment Analysis: Manually assessed the sentiment of each review (positive, negative, neutral).
    • Keyword Extraction: Identified frequently occurring keywords and phrases related to user experience, features, and issues.
    • Thematic Analysis: Grouped reviews based on common themes and pain points.
    • Frequency Analysis: Counted the occurrences of specific issues to determine their prevalence.

Key User Pain Points

  • Subscription Issues:
    • Inability to access subscriber-only content despite having a paid subscription (very frequent).
    • Constant prompts to subscribe even when logged in as a subscriber (frequent).
    • Difficulty canceling subscriptions (frequent).
    • Incorrect billing and charges after promotional periods (moderate).
  • App Functionality Problems:
    • Scrolling issues (jumping back to the top, jerky scrolling) (very frequent).
    • App crashes (frequent).
    • Slow loading times (frequent).
    • Links being unreadable in dark mode (moderate).
    • "Unable to Load" errors (moderate).
    • Loss of place when switching between apps (moderate).
    • App freezing (moderate).
  • Advertising Issues:
    • Excessive and intrusive ads, even for paid subscribers (very frequent).
    • Auto-playing video ads with sound (frequent).
    • Ads that disrupt the reading experience (frequent).
  • Content Issues:
    • Perceived political bias (frequent).
    • Outdated information (moderate).
    • Reprinted content from other sources (moderate).
    • Poor writing quality (spelling and grammatical errors) (moderate).
  • User Interface/Experience:
    • Small font size with no zoom option (moderate).
    • Difficulty navigating the app (moderate).
    • Dislike of new format after updates (frequent).
  • eNewspaper Issues:
    • Difficulty accessing the eNewspaper (moderate).
    • Inability to listen to articles in the eNewspaper (moderate).
  • Comments Section:
    • Lack of a comments section in the app (moderate).
    • Comments being removed for disagreeing with the publication's views (moderate).

Frequently Requested Features

  • Ad-free option for paid subscribers: Many users specifically requested an ad-free experience for those who pay for a subscription.
  • Improved font size and zoom options: Users with visual impairments need better control over text size.
  • A functional comments section: Users want to engage in discussions about articles.
  • A search function: Users want to be able to quickly find specific articles or topics.
  • A return to a previous app format: Many users disliked the new format and want the old one back.
  • Offline reading: Some users want to be able to download articles for offline reading.
  • Ability to save articles: Users want to be able to save articles for later reading.
  • A weather app within the news app: Some users liked the weather app that was available in a previous version.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Comprehensive Local Coverage: Users consistently praise the app for its thorough coverage of Detroit and Michigan news, including politics, business, and local events.
  • Strong Sports Reporting: The app is highly valued for its sports coverage, especially for Detroit professional teams and Michigan college teams.
  • Easy to Use (for some): Some users find the app easy to navigate and use, particularly for accessing news updates and specific sections.
  • Staying Connected: The app is a valuable tool for those who have moved away from Detroit to stay connected to their hometown.
  • Real-Time Updates: Users appreciate the real-time breaking news alerts.
  • Digital Replica: Some users appreciate the eNewspaper, a digital replica of the print newspaper.
  • Range of Content: Users appreciate the different newsletters and podcasts available.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  1. Fix Subscription Access Issues: Investigate and resolve the widespread problem of subscribers being unable to access subscriber-only content. Provide clear instructions and troubleshooting steps for users experiencing these issues. Implement robust account verification and authentication processes.
  2. Reduce Intrusive Advertising: Significantly reduce the frequency and intrusiveness of ads, especially for paid subscribers. Consider offering a truly ad-free subscription tier. Disable auto-playing video ads.
  3. Address App Functionality Glitches: Prioritize fixing scrolling issues, app crashes, and slow loading times. Conduct thorough testing on various devices and operating systems before releasing updates. Optimize the app for performance.
  4. Improve Cancellation Process: Make the subscription cancellation process straightforward and easy to access within the app. Comply with all applicable regulations regarding subscription cancellations.

Medium Priority:

  1. Enhance User Interface/Experience: Address complaints about the new app format. Consider offering users a choice between different layouts or reverting to a previous, more user-friendly design. Improve font size and zoom options.
  2. Improve Commenting Functionality: Implement a functional comments section in the app to foster engagement and community discussion. Moderate comments effectively to prevent abuse.
  3. Address Perceived Political Bias: Strive for more balanced and objective reporting. Clearly label opinion pieces as such.
  4. Improve eNewspaper Access: Make the eNewspaper easier to access and navigate.
  5. Update Content Regularly: Ensure that news and sports scores are updated frequently and accurately.

Low Priority:

  1. Add a Search Function: Implement a search function to allow users to quickly find specific articles or topics.
  2. Add offline reading capabilities: Implement the ability to download articles for offline reading.
  3. Add the ability to save articles: Implement the ability to save articles for later reading.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • Hyperlocal News Aggregator with User-Controlled Bias Filtering: A news app that aggregates local news from various sources and allows users to customize the level of political bias they want to see.
  • Subscription Management Service for News Apps: A service that helps users manage and cancel subscriptions to various news apps, providing a centralized platform for billing and account management.
  • Ad-Free News App Subscription Service: A service that partners with news organizations to offer ad-free access to their content for a single monthly fee.
  • Accessibility-Focused News App: A news app designed specifically for users with visual impairments, featuring customizable font sizes, screen readers, and other accessibility features.

Trends and Observations

  • Negative Sentiment Associated with Updates: A recurring theme is that app updates often introduce new problems and worsen the user experience.
  • Strong User Loyalty: Despite the issues, many users express a strong connection to the Detroit News and a desire to stay informed about their hometown.
  • Political Polarization: The reviews reflect a growing polarization in political views, with some users praising the app for its conservative perspective and others criticizing it for its liberal bias.
  • Accessibility Concerns: Several users raised concerns about the app's accessibility for visually impaired individuals.
  • Desire for Local Focus: Users value the app's focus on local Detroit and Michigan news.

Conclusion

The Detroit News app has the potential to be a valuable resource for residents and former residents of Detroit. However, the app's full potential is being undermined by technical glitches, intrusive advertising, and subscription issues. Addressing these issues should be the top priority. By focusing on improving app functionality, reducing advertising, and resolving subscription problems, the Detroit News can significantly enhance the user experience and retain its loyal readership. The app should also strive for greater objectivity in its reporting and improve accessibility for all users.

Overall Recommendation: Prioritize fixing the technical issues and subscription problems. Re-evaluate the advertising strategy. Focus on providing high-quality, unbiased local news coverage.

Original App Link

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/the-detroit-news-local-news/id904391210?uo=2