Birmingham student newspaper launches multi-device web app

Redbrick, the University of Birmingham's award-winning student newspaper and website, has launched a web app today.

The app is available on any internet connected device, including smartphones, tablets, desktops and web-enabled TVs.

Custom built by Chris Hutchinson, digital editor of Redbrick and a geography student, the app offers a new way to view content from the newspaper, aimed at students and the wider community.

The app, which is accessed through a web browser, allows desktop users to scroll through pages using the arrow keys. Tablet and smartphone users can click "add to homescreen" so it appears on the device like a native app.

Hutchinson said he opted to build one web app rather than a number of native iPad, iPhone and Android apps to save time and as they can be difficult to maintain with students only involved in the newspaper for three years at a time. 

Hutchinson has been building the app, which runs off the WordPress CMS, "for the last few weeks" and has been gathering feedback.

"I've asked my housemates more questions over the past week than I've asked in rest of my life," he told Journalism.co.uk.

He has also tested the app on the web-connected TV in his student house.

"It is quiet now with the exam season so I plan to re-launch it in September with new features, appealing to new students many of which arrive at university with iPads."

Free daily newsletter

If you like our news and feature articles, you can sign up to receive our free daily (Mon-Fri) email newsletter (mobile friendly).