Newsflash Component
Overview
A redesigned breaking news component that introduces audio playback — creating a new way for users to consume updates in real time.
The Challenge
The Newsflash component is a long-standing feature on ynet’s homepage, used to deliver breaking news in real time. Over time, its previous version became visually outdated and less engaging. In parallel, a new editorial goal emerged: enabling users to listen to breaking news updates, not just read them. This shift created the need to redesign the component in a way that could support a hybrid experience — combining fast visual scanning with audio playback.
Design Process
A structured approach to introducing audio playback into a fast-paced news interface.
1
Expanding the Component’s Role
The initial goal was to adapt the long-standing Newsflash component to support a new audio playback feature. This meant expanding its role from a static, text-only element to a hybrid experience combining visual and auditory content. The redesign needed to maintain the component’s familiar presence while introducing a new layer of functionality that would feel native to the interface — not added on top of it.
2
Research & Layout Exploration
With no existing models in local news platforms, the process began by exploring podcast players and mobile audio apps to understand how playback can coexist with dense content. Several layout and interaction models were tested — a bottom-fixed floating player was chosen for its balance of visibility, intuitiveness, and minimal intrusion.
3
Interaction Principles
All interactions were designed to feel seamless and require no onboarding. The focus was on enabling passive listening as a natural part of the user experience, especially on mobile.
Key Design Features
The following features were designed to modernize the component and introduce a seamless audio layer, without disrupting the user’s reading flow.
Updated Newsflash UI
The component’s layout was refreshed with cleaner structure and improved hierarchy, adapted to match ynet’s visual language and align with the overall design system.
Integrated Audio Layer
Audio playback was added to the Newsflash component, allowing users to listen to updates as an alternative to reading. A dedicated button activates a persistent floating player at the bottom of the screen. In its compact state, it includes essential controls like play/pause, skip, and speed adjustment — all while users continue browsing uninterrupted. The player can be closed at any time, giving users full control over the experience
Expandable Playlist
When expanded, the player reveals a playlist of recent newsflashes, giving users the option to jump between updates. This dual-state interaction was designed to be intuitive, lightweight, and non-intrusive — allowing users to stay updated without disrupting their flow.
The interface supports audio as a seamless layer within the browsing experience — not above it.
Final Thoughts
This update transforms the Newsflash from a static element into a more flexible, multi-sensory experience. By introducing a hands-free listening option, ynet became the first news platform in Israel to offer breaking news in an audio-first format — expanding how users engage with urgent content and reinforcing the brand’s role as a digital leader.
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This project reflects a growing need for media platforms to offer multi-format, accessible news experiences — and shows how a single component can reshape user behavior across an entire product.