Noosphere Licenses App to Sky News for Direct Journalist Interactions

New York-based news company Noosphere announced a multiyear licensing agreement Friday with British broadcaster Sky News, providing technology to enable direct interactions between journalists and their audiences through a mobile app. The deal aims to transform traditional one-way news consumption into a more personal dialogue, starting with Sky's defense and security experts.

Noosphere, founded two years ago by former war correspondent Jane Ferguson, hosts around two dozen journalists who operate as independent contractors. Among them are Tiffany Higgins, who reports from the Amazon River region; former NBC "Meet the Press" moderator Chuck Todd; and ex-CNN journalist Chris Cillizza. The company's model emphasizes a personal style of reporting, where journalists make themselves available to followers beyond published stories.

The agreement licenses Noosphere's app, which allows subscribers to communicate directly with specific journalists via text, video, or other means. Sky News plans to test it immediately, creating tailored experiences for highly engaged viewers. "Give audiences access not only to the news but to those who report it," Ferguson said, summarizing the core principle.