News app screenshots with a kicker
A short label above the headline, such as NEW or TRUSTED BY. A kicker labels the screenshot before the headline is read: a category, a status such as NEW, or who trusts the app.
From the top 98 free News apps on the US App Store, read on October 9, 2026. Screenshots are the developers’ own, shown from Apple’s servers with a link to each app.
The numbers
Apps that do it
13% 13 of 98
Screenshots that do it
6% 33 of 517
The top ten
4 of 10 against 9 of the other 88
33 of the 517 News screenshots read (6%) do this, across 13 of the top 98 apps (13%). 4 of the top ten do it (40%), against 9 of the other 88 (10%): the top ten do it more than the rest. Of the 23 categories read so far, News is 7th for this. It is most common in Sports (21% of apps) and least common in Productivity (6%).
12 examples from the chart.
12 of the 33 News app screenshots with a kicker, one from each app, the highest on the chart first.
“Reach anyone”
“Stay Aware with Timely Alerts”
“Breaking news and live reporting.”
“Lift the veil on media bias”
“See what people near you have to say”
“Livestream BBC News directly from the app.”
“50 MILLION+ FREE PODCASTS”
“DAILYWIRE”
“CONNECT TO WHAT MATTERS”
“News happens fast. Don't miss a beat.”
“FEED”
“CPD TRANSPORTS”
Real headline examples, word for word.
The words on all 33 that carry any, as each app wrote them.
- globe icon
“Reach anyone”
X · #1 · screenshot 3 - Public-safety dispatch audio. Not an official report.
“Stay Aware with Timely Alerts”
CrimeRadar Dispatch Audio · #3 · screenshot 1 - Follow Today
“Breaking news and live reporting.”
NYTimes: US and Global News · #9 · screenshot 2 - MAJOR UPDATE
“Lift the veil on media bias”
Ground News · #10 · screenshot 1 - Nearby
“See what people near you have to say”
Fizz: Your Authentic Community · #11 · screenshot 2 - ◉ LIVE
“Livestream BBC News directly from the app.”
BBC: World News & Stories · #25 · screenshot 2 - Castbox
“50 MILLION+ FREE PODCASTS”
Up-to-date ContentPodcast App & Player - Castbox · #29 · screenshot 1 - Welcome to
“DAILYWIRE”
Daily Wire · #47 · screenshot 1 - THE WIRED APP
“CONNECT TO WHAT MATTERS”
WIRED · #49 · screenshot 1 - The Washington Post
“News happens fast. Don't miss a beat.”
Washington Post: Breaking News · #56 · screenshot 1 - Welcome to
“FEED”
FEED Mobile · #59 · screenshot 1 - Cleveland Police Dispatch and Metro Housing Au
“CPD TRANSPORTS”
Police Scanner + · #61 · screenshot 2 - msn
“Your tailored feed, with you on the go.”
MSN · #90 · screenshot 1 - Public-safety dispatch audio. Not an official report.
“Listen to First- Responder Audio”
CrimeRadar Dispatch Audio · #3 · screenshot 2 - Explore Today
“Arts, culture and lifestyle, unfolded.”
NYTimes: US and Global News · #9 · screenshot 3 - For College
“or in your school community”
Fizz: Your Authentic Community · #11 · screenshot 3 - OWN THE EXPERIENCE
“MAKE WIRED YOURS”
WIRED · #49 · screenshot 2 - KNOW IT NOW.
“Customize push notifications to your preferences.”
Washington Post: Breaking News · #56 · screenshot 2 - Public-safety dispatch audio. Not an official report.
“Track Locations You Care About”
CrimeRadar Dispatch Audio · #3 · screenshot 3 - Listen Today
“Audio journalism and podcasts.”
NYTimes: US and Global News · #9 · screenshot 4 - Friends & Mutuals
“Find out what the people you know really think”
Fizz: Your Authentic Community · #11 · screenshot 4 - PODCASTS AND NARRATED STORIES
“LISTEN ON THE GO”
WIRED · #49 · screenshot 3 - SEE IT HAPPEN.
“Watch clips of the latest headlines and top stories.”
Washington Post: Breaking News · #56 · screenshot 3 - Public-safety dispatch audio. Not an official report.
“Customize for What Matters Most”
CrimeRadar Dispatch Audio · #3 · screenshot 4 - Personalize Today
“Follow your interests in the You tab.”
NYTimes: US and Global News · #9 · screenshot 5 - Topic Feeds
“Dive into relationships, culture, and other topics”
Fizz: Your Authentic Community · #11 · screenshot 5 - EDITOR Q&A
“JOIN THE CONVERSATION”
WIRED · #49 · screenshot 5 - ASK AWAY
“Answers you don't have to question.”
Washington Post: Breaking News · #56 · screenshot 4 - Play Today
“Word, visual and number games.”
NYTimes: US and Global News · #9 · screenshot 6 - Make Posts
“Share what's on your mind”
Fizz: Your Authentic Community · #11 · screenshot 6 - ORIGINAL VIDEOS
“GO BEYOND THE ARTICLE”
WIRED · #49 · screenshot 6 - LEVEL UP.
“Play your way to the next level of word games.”
Washington Post: Breaking News · #56 · screenshot 5 - SAVE FOR LATER.
“Save stories now. Read when you’re ready.”
Washington Post: Breaking News · #56 · screenshot 6
Top ten News apps that do it.
- #1X1 of its 6 screenshots
- #3CrimeRadar Dispatch Audio4 of its 4 screenshots
- #9NYTimes: US and Global News5 of its 6 screenshots
- #10Ground News1 of its 6 screenshots
The same tactic in other categories.
| Category | Apps that do it | Screenshots | Top ten |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sports | 21% 21 of 100 | 12% 67 of 558 | 2 of 10 |
| Food & Drink | 20% 20 of 100 | 7% 40 of 540 | 4 of 10 |
| Shopping | 20% 20 of 100 | 7% 37 of 562 | 1 of 10 |
| Health & Fitness | 16% 16 of 100 | 4% 23 of 574 | 2 of 10 |
| Finance | 15% 15 of 100 | 8% 46 of 581 | 2 of 10 |
| Lifestyle | 15% 15 of 100 | 5% 28 of 556 | 0 of 10 |
| News | 13% 13 of 98 | 6% 33 of 517 | 4 of 10 |
| Photo & Video | 13% 13 of 100 | 5% 28 of 566 | 0 of 10 |
| Reference | 13% 13 of 100 | 5% 29 of 566 | 0 of 10 |
| Graphics & Design | 12% 12 of 99 | 4% 22 of 564 | 1 of 10 |
| Weather | 12% 12 of 100 | 3% 16 of 555 | 3 of 10 |
| Social Networking | 11% 11 of 100 | 4% 24 of 554 | 1 of 10 |
| Travel | 11% 11 of 100 | 4% 21 of 561 | 1 of 10 |
| Navigation | 10% 10 of 99 | 3% 18 of 566 | 0 of 10 |
| Entertainment | 10% 10 of 100 | 3% 18 of 544 | 0 of 10 |
| Music | 10% 10 of 100 | 2% 13 of 550 | 1 of 10 |
| Utilities | 10% 10 of 100 | 2% 11 of 549 | 1 of 10 |
| Business | 9% 9 of 100 | 5% 26 of 554 | 0 of 10 |
| Developer Tools | 9% 9 of 100 | 4% 22 of 507 | 0 of 10 |
| Education | 9% 9 of 100 | 2% 9 of 555 | 0 of 10 |
| Medical | 8% 8 of 100 | 3% 16 of 548 | 0 of 10 |
| Games | 7% 7 of 100 | 2% 12 of 567 | 0 of 10 |
| Productivity | 6% 6 of 99 | 2% 13 of 551 | 0 of 10 |
Related tactics.
Often on the same screenshot
- Serif headline45% of these screenshots, against 15% of all News screenshots
- A word in a different colour42% of these screenshots, against 19% of all News screenshots
- No phone, bare screen36% of these screenshots, against 16% of all News screenshots
- Dark55% of these screenshots, against 34% of all News screenshots
- Words at the top97% of these screenshots, against 78% of all News screenshots
- Has a headline100% of these screenshots, against 84% of all News screenshots
More in words
- Has a headline86%
- Tells you to do something72%
- Headline under five words65%
- Says “you” or “your”57%
- Has a subline45%
- No words at all30%
- Names the app24%
- Headline in Title Case22%
- Uses a number21%
- Headline on one line20%
- Headline in capitals19%
- Headline over eight words15%
- Says “I” or “my”13%
- Names another app2%
- Asks a question1%
- Exclaims1%
- Uses a percentage1%
- Uses an emoji1%
Questions, answered from the chart.
How many top News apps have App Store screenshots with a kicker?
13 of the top 98 News apps (13%) have at least one, and 33 of their 517 screenshots (6%) do it. Counted from the US App Store’s top free chart on October 9, 2026.
Which News apps have App Store screenshots with a kicker?
In the top ten: X (#1), CrimeRadar Dispatch Audio (#3), NYTimes: US and Global News (#9) and Ground News (#10). Further down the chart: Fizz: Your Authentic Community (#11), BBC: World News & Stories (#25), Podcast App & Player - Castbox (#29), Daily Wire (#47) and WIRED (#49), and 4 more.
Should my News app have App Store screenshots with a kicker?
The chart shows who does it, not whether it would work for your app. 4 of the top ten News apps do it (40%), against 9 of the other 88 (10%), so the top ten do it more than the rest. Ten apps is a small group, so read that as a description of this chart and not as a rule.
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