SMS Platform For Newsrooms & Media
Break news. Convert readers. Retain subscribers. Subtext helps media organizations connect directly with their audiences through real-time, two-way SMS. Deliver updates instantly, drive clicks, and grow loyalty while reaching both your audience and revenue goals.
Deliver Breaking News
PolitiFact delivers fast, credible fact-check updates straight to subscribers’ phones. The team uses Subtext to share verified information during major news events, reaching readers directly in real time. The result is real-time engagement and stronger reader trust during live news cycles.
Add Value for Paid Subscribers
The New York Post uses Subtext as a retention tool, providing subscriber-exclusive value through its Sports+ membership program. The Post seamlessly integrated Subtext’s API into its digital subscription platform, allowing paid members to automatically opt in to insider commentary and exclusive updates. Over 41% of subscribers joined two or more SMS campaigns. Subtext helped increase engagement and retention through an integrated, high-value subscriber experience.
Retain Digital Subscribers
The Spokesman Review launched a win-back campaign via Subtext targeting subscribers 2–8 days from expiration. By swapping email for timely SMS nudges, they re-engaged lapsed users, reduced involuntary churn, and bolstered recurring revenue. This resulted in an 82% increase in digital subscriber retention and nearly $8k in recovered revenue in just six weeks.
Drive Affiliate Revenue
BuzzFeed Shopping used Subtext during Black Friday and Cyber Monday to share real-time deals and recommendations directly with readers. SMS messages stood out amid crowded inboxes, driving clicks, conversions, and measurable affiliate revenue. The team saw higher conversion rates and increased sales during the year’s most competitive shopping season.
Give Your Newsroom a Voice
Cleveland.com used Subtext to give editor Chris Quinn a direct, personal line to readers. By turning the newsroom’s top editor into a recognizable voice, the campaign built transparency, trust, and authentic two-way dialogue. Since launch, the channel has grown subscribers by 295 percent and maintains an average engagement rate of 31 percent, creating a highly engaged audience that sees the editor as a trusted personality, not just a byline.
Drive Event Attendance & Engagement
Morning Brew leveraged SMS to engage attendees at its Marketing Brew Summit: The Brief. The events team used Subtext’s scheduling feature to share the agenda, send session reminders, distribute Wi-Fi details, and prompt audience Q&A. They also issued live alerts for schedule updates and changes throughout the event. The result was a seamless attendee experience and more engaged participants with real-time updates at their fingertips.
Keep Readers Informed
When Hurricane Ian devastated Florida, McClatchy’s Miami Herald and Bradenton Herald, along with Gannett’s Sarasota Herald-Tribune, used Subtext to deliver vital updates when power and internet were down. More than 8,000 people subscribed for real-time alerts on curfews, water safety, food distribution, and school reopenings. Subtext helped local journalists keep their communities safe and connected during the storm—and brought humanity to coverage when it was needed most.
Build a Loyal, Responsive Community
CNET’s Stream Source acts as a 21st-century TV guide, texting subscribers personalized recommendations and reviews of the best movies and shows to stream. When audiences can’t decide what to watch next, they text the Stream Source team for expert picks—building brand loyalty and engagement that can’t be bought. The result is a trusted, two-way connection that keeps readers coming back for more.
Why Subtext for News?
Media partners using Subtext see click-through rates up to 5× higher than email. Subtext drives website traffic, boosts conversions, and builds subscriber loyalty. You own the relationship—and the results.
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Deliver news alerts that drive action.With 98% open rates and readers engaging in under ten minutes, SMS ensures your headlines get seen. Send alerts that increase traffic, extend time-on-site, and move readers from awareness to subscription. -
Boost retention and reduce churn.Keep your most valuable subscribers engaged with direct, premium updates. Subtext integrates seamlessly with your subscription model helping newsrooms deliver exclusive value that keeps members renewing. -
Turn messages into monetization.From affiliate links to sponsored campaigns, Subtext turns every message into an opportunity for revenue. Use audience feedback and insights to recommend products, promote partners, and convert readers into buyers. -
Reclaim control with first-party data.As AI Overviews and chat-based tools like ChatGPT change how audiences find information, Subtext gives you a direct, owned SMS channel and reliable first-party data you control—keeping your newsroom connected, visible, and in command of its audience. -
Build a loyal, responsive community.Create trusted, interactive spaces for your readers. Whether it’s daily streaming picks or real-time election coverage, SMS lets you connect personally, answer questions, and strengthen your brand relationship with every text.
