NEW YORK — Nov. 24, 2025 — Newsreel, the interactive and social news app designed to help the next generation build healthier media habits, today announced an investment from the Glen Nelson Center at American Public Media Group (APMG). The partnership represents a rare bridge between public media's civic mission and a new generation of startups rebuilding trust in how people engage with the world around them.
The investment marks a key milestone in Newsreel's early growth. Over the past year, the company has launched its app in colleges and libraries nationwide and was named a 2025 Resource of the Year by the National Association for Media Literacy Education (NAMLE). The Glen Nelson Center's backing will help accelerate that momentum as Newsreel expands its reach in the U.S. and Europe and prepares to open its pre-seed round in early 2026.
The company is seeking to build on its recent traction and strategic partnerships to scale its platform and meet growing demand from educators, libraries, and young readers worldwide.
“Social media companies are eating news' lunch. We've completely ceded the direct relationships we once had to readers to Big Tech. I'm not waiting for another platform to save us. Journalists built the content that made those feeds valuable in the first place, and now we're building the technology that puts people, not algorithms, back at the center.”
Jack Brewster, Founder & CEO
“At Glen Nelson Center, we look for companies that are reimagining the future of media. Newsreel represents exactly the kind of mission-driven innovation we aim to support, combining rigorous journalism with the kind of human-centered design young audiences actually want to engage with.”
Jeff Freeland Nelson, Director of Venture Investments, APMG
Founded by Brewster, a former Forbes and NewsGuard journalist, Newsreel turns verified reporting into interactive story stacks, polls, and quizzes that spark discussion rather than doomscrolling. Its new social layer lets users see how their friends are engaging with the news, nudge them to read certain stories, compare polling responses, and compete on leaderboards.
Every Friday, users can join a live weekly quiz to test their knowledge and compete for cash, turning staying informed into a shared ritual rather than a chore.
“Every design choice we make is about making credible news feel social, rewarding, and habit-forming without the toxicity that defines most feeds.”
Brijesh Tiwari, Chief Technology Officer
Rebuilding the digital commons
Newsreel's ultimate goal is to help rebuild what Brewster calls the “digital commons” — a shared civic space for curiosity, reflection, and credible conversation in a time of fractured attention spans.
“As journalists, we've seen firsthand how social media turned a borderless public square into a noisy, fragmented one. With Newsreel, we're using technology to rebuild that space — a place where curiosity, credible information, and connection can thrive again.”
Jon Ponciano, VP of Business Development
What's coming next
The Glen Nelson Center's investment helps fuel the next phase of Newsreel's social roadmap. In the coming months, the app will introduce:
- Communities, inspired by Reddit and Strava, where users can discuss stories in interest-based groups.
- Polling boards, which bring together users with similar and differing ideological profiles to compare perspectives and spark dialogue.
- A video feed featuring vetted journalist-creators and explainers, designed to be as engaging as TikTok — without the AI slop.
- European partnerships with universities and media organizations, extending Newsreel's reach and connecting young people across borders.
About Newsreel
Newsreel is an interactive news app helping the next generation build daily news habits through swipeable story stacks, polls, and quizzes. Designed for attention spans shaped by the digital age, it makes credible information simple, social, and engaging. Learn more at newsreel.co.
About Glen Nelson Center at American Public Media Group
Glen Nelson Center at American Public Media Group identifies, elevates, and invests in groundbreaking media ventures led by a diverse group of visionary founders. Programs include College Emerging Voices, the Horizon Fund for early-stage ventures, and The Next Challenge for Media & Journalism. Learn more at GlenNelson.org.