Get Talking Newspapers with Alexa
Get help switching from Speech Talking Newspaper mobile phone app to listening to Talking Newspapers with Alexa. Follow our guide to keep listening to your favourite content via your smartphone or Alexa device.
Earlier this summer we announced that, after a thorough review of our digital services, we made the decision decommission our Speech Talking Newspaper mobile app. BWBF British Wireless for the Blind Fund (BWBF) and Talking News Federation (TNF) reached an agreement to move the Alexa Skill element of the service—and the upload service that allows local talking newspapers to deliver their content through the Skill and online—into TNF's care.
How do these changes affect me?
Historically BWBF has helped people living with sight loss to listen to talking newspapers via our Speech Talking Newspaper service. Until now, this has included the option to listen via our app, Alexa Skill or online.
Later this summer, the Alexa Skill and online service will move into the care of Talking News Federation. The app will stop being available to all our users. If you are using the Skill or online player, you can carry on accessing the service in the same way you have been doing. But, if you’ve been listening via the BWBF Talking Newspaper app, you will need to change how you listen.
Can I still use my smartphone?
Yes, you’ll be able to use the Speech Talking Newspaper service via a smartphone or via any Alexa device. If you’re a smartphone user, you’ll need to access Speech Talking Newspaper via the Alexa app.
You can also listen via an Amazon smart speaker like an Echo Dot, Echo Pop or Echo Show, if you prefer.
Need help?
We’re here to ensure that everyone using the Speech Talking Newspaper service can continue to access this support. We've prepared a guide which you can read or download to help you start listening to Talking Newspapers with Alexa. If you want extra support switching to Alexa, please contact dave@blind.org.uk who will be able to guide you through the process.
Our guide to accessing Talking Newspapers with Alexa
Here’s our quick step guide to getting started with Talking Newspapers on Alexa, using your smartphone or a smart speaker. Scroll down to download a Word or PDF version of this guide.
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If you’re using a phone, first, check whether you already have the Alexa App. If you’re unsure just search your phone for ‘Alexa’.
If you don’t have Alexa installed, search and download it from the App Store (iOS users) or Play Store for (Android users).
You can also listen via an Alexa device such as an Echo Dot, Echo Pop or Echo Show Smart Speaker. To start, just ensure that the device fully set up, connected to the internet and ready to go.
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Now you have Alexa ready to go on your phone or Echo device, you can enable Talking Newspapers.
If you’re using a phone, open the Alexa app and select:
More > Skills and Games > Search > Talking Newspapers > Enable
If you’re using a smart speaker, such as an Amazon Echo device, simply say:
‘Alexa enable Talking Newspapers’
Then, follow the prompts given by Alexa, until confirmation is provided that the skill has been enabled.
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Alexa is designed to respond to voice commands you give it. This will also work alongside Siri or Hey Google, as well as with VoiceOver or TalkBack on or off.
On your phone or tablet follow these instructions:
Say ‘Hey Siri’ or ‘Hey Google open the Alexa App’.
If you’re using VoiceOver or TalkBack, the app will announce ‘Alexa Home’ when it opens.
Then you just need to say ‘Alexa, open Talking Newspapers’.
For smart speaker users, just make sure your speaker is on and ready and say ‘Alexa, open Talking Newspapers’ to get started.
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If it’s the first time you’ve listened to Talking Newspapers with Alexa, or if you haven’t done so for a long time, you will hear a standard welcome message. This will vary as the skill gets more used to you.
The user will then be asked for a Talking Newspaper name or the name of a town or city in the UK. Just say:
‘Alexa, ask Talking Newspaper for Liverpool Talking Newspaper’ or any publication name.
This will immediately play the talking newspaper selected.
If, having listened to a newspaper, you return in any 24-hour period, Alexa will ask if you want to carry on listening, just say ‘yes’to carry on, or ‘no’ to browse others.
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If you listen to a newspaper regularly, the skill will start to recognise this. Alexa will say ‘Welcome back to Talking Newspapers I can see that you have been enjoying listening to [newspaper name]. Do you want to listen to this newspaper?’
You can simply say ‘yes’ to play or ‘no’ to browse others.
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Once you’re listening to Talking Newspapers with Alexa, it’s easy to skip through content as you please.
If the publication you’re listening to has more than one track, say ‘Alexa, next track’ or ‘Alexa, previous track’ to move between tracks.
To fast forward or rewind, say ‘Alexa, ask Talking Newspaper to forward/rewind [number] seconds.’
Pause, stop or play whilst listening to any publication, by saying ‘Alexa, pause’, ‘Alexa, stop’ or ‘Alexa, play’.
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To stop listening to Talking Newspapers via Alexa, just say ‘Alexa, cancel.’
Download the Talking Newspapers with Alexa guide
Download our guide to getting started listening to Talking Newspapers with Alexa.