How Text-to-Speech Tools are Changing the Way Newsrooms Operate

As technology continues to evolve, media outlets are embracing text-to-speech tools to enhance accessibility and inclusivity in their content. One notable example is the Brazilian newspaper Folha de São Paulo, which has been at the forefront of this trend since 2015.

Folha de São Paulo's initiative is not merely a technological upgrade but a strategic move to make its content more widely available. Camila Marques, the leader of digital strategy at the newspaper, emphasized the importance of considering both usability and accessibility when implementing such tools.

"This was an interesting, innovative feature for the average reader. The audio accessibility came along with the visual accessibility, as we also implemented controls for changing font size," she told International Journalists’ Network (IJNET). "We not only thought about people with impaired vision being able to listen to the text, but also about users with other issues. This is what informs our website code, and also the choices for the site’s color palette. For example, we address both impaired vision and color blindness.”

Gustavo Torniero, a journalist and inclusion consultant, emphasized the broader impact of content accessibility. Born with cataracts and glaucoma, Torniero views accessibility as essential for individuals with various needs, including those with low literacy, dyslexia, or other learning disabilities. He stressed the importance of making websites accessible not only for visually impaired individuals but also for those with physical disabilities who rely on alternative means of browsing.

However, Torniero pointed out a persistent challenge in digital content accessibility – the lack of image descriptions.

While text-to-speech tools enhance convenience, the absence of proper image descriptions remains a hurdle. Folha de São Paulo has acknowledged this issue and is actively working on an experiment to automatically describe images and graphics, aiming to eliminate gaps in descriptive metadata.

Beyond Brazil, global media outlets are also integrating text-to-speech features into their platforms. Major publications like The Los Angeles Times, The Guardian, and The New York Times are leveraging audio formats to cater to diverse audience preferences. From podcasts to narrated news and feature stories, these outlets are adapting to changing consumption habits.

While text-to-speech services may be offered for free or as a subscription perk for news consumers, there are still financial considerations for news organizations. Tina Haertel, co-founder of Ad Auris, a Canadian company providing text-to-speech services, noted that “"In the past, there was a bigger barrier to offer audio because the production took time and was expensive” but that now these tools are more “accessible and effective.”