News organizations attempt to attract smartphone users by adding more visuals to content

The average time currently spent on a mobile device is 177 minutes or two hours and fifty-five minutes per day. The majority of that time is used for gaming. Traditional news organizations are struggling to convert the long form print of yesterday to the mobile platforms of today. Only three percent of time spent on mobile devices is used for news consumption.

 The article "Dial "M" for Mobile Media" outlines the struggle of the new smart phone generation and suggests ways in which the fickle new audience can be reached. 

The first hurdle traditional media must overcome is the loss of direct readers. Today social apps produce and host news content. Younger audiences see the top news stories of the day shared on their Facebook feeds.

 They no longer need to seek out the news; it is being integrated into their social networks. 41% of Facebook users are using the site to read, watch, and seek out the news, according to the Reuters Institute 2015 Digital News Report. In short, Snapchat is now in competition with the Washington Post. 

Traditional news organizations are being forced to work in a more visual medium. However, there is potential for an increase in engagement with the shift to a mobile viewing platform. The constant increase in processing capabilities allows news organizations to use more graphics, photos and videos in conjunction with articles. Analytics like Google Now constantly monitor viewer traffic and can be viewed in real time. 

The post-publish feedback is faster then ever. This can help news organizations to tailor their content more effectively. Native advertisements produce the most revenue of any web ads today. New media believes that native ads are the best ads for the mobile market place as well. 

The popularity of Buzzfeed's sponsored "listicles" is proof that when done in a witty and transparent manner native ads do belong in the mobile world, according to "Success in Native 
Advertising Hinges on Preserving Best Practices" an article in AdWeek by Pam Horan. 

Finally, news organizations that have dedicated apps are more likely to get traffic. "The app is sexier and it engages better," according to "Dial "M" for Mobile Media." However, in terms of monetization, the app costs a lot more then just hosting content on a website.