Make your news app listenable with Pugpig x BeyondWords
BeyondWords has partnered with Pugpig, the mobile app platform that powers the world’s biggest media brands, to help publishers bring high-quality AI audio into their apps using ElevenLabs voices—without adding work for editorial or engineering teams.
With audio embedded into the app experience, publishers can reach audiences in more moments, improve accessibility, and drive deeper engagement.
Leading brands are already using the BeyondWords x Pugpig integration to make audio a core part of their app offering.
Let’s look at three examples, each with a different goal and approach.
The Irish News: Keeping users informed on the go
The Irish News uses the BeyondWords x Pugpig integration to add audio to every in-app article and let listeners build custom audio queues.
And listening isn’t confined to the in-app experience.
Audio continues playing even when the app is minimized or the device is locked. So readers can stay informed while doing other things, without having to keep the app open in front of them.
That flexibility extends to the car. With support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, listeners can take their playlists on the road, turning drive time into dedicated news time.
For a regional title with a loyal, engaged readership, the result is a more flexible, habit-forming experience that keeps audiences connected to the news that matters to them.
The Week: Upgrading to a premium audio experience
The Week US previously offered in-app audio using Amazon Polly, but the voices weren't living up to the quality of the journalism. So, the publisher switched to ElevenLabs voices through the BeyondWords x Pugpig integration.
The step up in voice quality is significant: more natural, more engaging, and better suited to holding attention across the long-form briefings The Week is known for.
The Week also delivers AI audio versions of articles and daily editions in its UK app, using a voice tailored to the region.
Because audio is generated and embedded automatically, there's no delay for listeners and no added workload for editorial teams. Subscribers can listen while commuting, working out, or doing chores, fitting The Week's journalism into the moments they actually have available.
DC Thomson: Delivering the right voice for every audience
DC Thomson uses the BeyondWords x Pugpig integration to deliver high-quality AI narration across its Stylist and Press and Journal apps, tailoring the listening experience to each distinct audience.
For Press and Journal, a regional title serving northern and Highland Scotland, authenticity was non-negotiable. So, DC Thomson worked with BeyondWords to create a Professional voice clone, capturing a tone and accent that feels familiar and credible to local readers.
For Stylist, the brief was very different. The team selected a pre-made ElevenLabs voice that matches the magazine's editorial personality: clear, confident, and distinctly on-tone for a fashion-forward audience.
Because the BeyondWords x Pugpig integration handles the full audio workflow, DC Thomson was able to launch two distinct listening experiences without building complex infrastructure.
In-app audio without the overhead
The BeyondWords x Pugpig integration makes it straightforward to deliver in-app audio, covering everything from CMS integration and audio generation to player integration and analytics.
This means you can modernize your app—and meet changing audience behaviour—without adding complexity for your team.
And that’s just the beginning.
The same audio can be distributed across your website, podcast platforms, and social channels, helping you extend your reach and build a consistent sonic identity.
BeyondWords also lets you turn articles into short-form videos, ready to embed or distribute across channels.
Want to see how it works?
Speak to your Pugpig customer success manager to see how quickly you could get started. Or contact our team to book a BeyondWords demo.
