How we consume news is changing at a very rapid rate. Recent developments have gotten us closer and closer to a personalized newspaper. These services take information from your social network and organize it into a newspaper format. Each is a little different, all are free.

Paper.li

Paper.li creates a custom newspaper from your twitter feed. It takes the news, images, and videos from your Twitter Feed and organizes it a newspaper layout. For an example of what one looks like, you can check out mine at http://paper.li/jamesbasbas . It is simple to setup, and very customizable. For instance you can simply use your twitter feed. However, you can also create a paper based on someone else’s feed a hashtag, or a list. It updates twice per day, so it is somewhat static. As you can see from my link, you can share your paper or others can subscribe to your paper. I don’t quite see the value to this feature, as it seems like the point is to make this personal. I don’t see why anyone would want to read my paper, perhaps maybe a stalker.

Paper.li jumping off of Twitter makes a lot of sense because there are so many reporters on Twitter. You can essentially take your favorite reporter from dozens of different newspapers, magazines, and networks to create your own paper. Many news outlets have been reluctant to allow their reporters to tweet because they are worried about hurting the paper. However, Paper.li is just one more reason that if you are not tweeting, you may find yourself completely cut out of this social newspaper.

Pros: Twitter is news rich; Great options including twitter feed, hashtag, or list; Very easy to use.

Cons: Only updates twice per day; does not integrate Facebook.

PostPost

PostPost connects to Facebook and grabs all of your friend’s links, photos, and videos. It is updated in real time and available on the web. They also have a Chrome store application. The layout is customizable, including only viewing links, photos, videos, or a dynamic mix. This site is built completely on HTML5, no flash so it is very fast and updates quickly. You can share and comments right from this page, but not like. For a video introduction from the inventor, please click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3oI9fsCEIg.

Pros: Very Fast; Ability to share and comment in-line; Updates in real-time.

Cons: Not as customizable; No Twitter integration.

Flipboard

Flipboard is only available for iPad. It takes your Facebook and Twitter feeds and lays them out in a magazine format. It is very slick looking on the iPad and flips through just as a magazine would. You can easily share stories by e-mail or retweet them right from this app. For an in-depth video describing Flipboard, please click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7umqKbQ3PA.

Pros: Utilizes both Facebook and Twitter feeds. Sharp looking.

Cons: Only usable if you have an iPad.

Conclusion

PostPost is a very interesting way to view your Facebook content. However, news is not Facebook’s wheelhouse. Facebook is more social, sharing personal photos, personal update, and comments. For news, Twitter, is where that lives. Reporters and commentators are all over Twitter, and have thousands and even millions of followers. Therefore, any creation of a newspaper needs to include Twitter. If you look at your own online profile, I am sure you follow reporters on Twitter, but I doubt you are friends with them on Facebook. Paper.li allows you to drill into your twitter feed, or utilize a list to create a rich social newspaper. It is a great way to get a snapshot of what is going on as viewed through your lens.

Flipboard is beautiful and reads like a magazine. If you have an iPad it is a must have. For the rest of us, Paper.li is the way to go.

How do you consume the news? Are you utilizing a social newspaper? If so, which one? We would love to hear from you.