MS NOW Membership Expands the News Experience
MS NOW is expanding the traditional news experience with the launch of the MS NOW Membership, a new platform designed to combine journalism, community, conversation and wellness in one digital destination.
The membership was developed following more than a year of audience research, including over 18,000 survey responses, individual interviews, product testing and beta feedback. According to MS NOW, the research pointed to audiences wanting more context around the news, greater access to journalists they trust, and meaningful opportunities to participate in conversations surrounding current events.
Those findings helped shape an experience organized around five primary destinations: For You, Watch, Connect, Breathe and Explore.
Members receive access to MS NOW’s 24/7 live television feed, exclusive programming, a curated Daily Briefing, and twice-daily live conversations featuring MS NOW anchors and reporters. The platform also introduces a moderated Member community, creating another avenue for audiences to engage beyond simply consuming the day’s headlines.
One of the more distinctive elements is the addition of mindfulness and lifestyle programming. Through content created with Calm and a lineup of contributors, MS NOW is exploring how people can remain informed while navigating the stress, relationships, health questions, and personal responsibilities that often intersect with today’s news cycle.
Dan Harris leads Never Worry Alone, a weekly program answering Member questions about mindfulness, stress and mental well-being. Harris also hosts The Week in Sanity, where journalists, mental health experts, comedians, activists and other guests examine major headlines through psychology and contemplative practices.
Relationship expert Nedra Glover Tawwab hosts Dear Nedra, addressing questions surrounding relationships, family dynamics and the broader social climate with an emphasis on communication and healthy boundaries.
Health information takes center stage with Dr. Joel Bervell’s Myth or Medicine?, which examines healthcare headlines and misinformation while breaking down the science behind widely discussed medical stories.
Richard Lui brings attention to America’s caregivers with Because We Care. Through conversations with founders, public figures, and innovators, the series explores personal caregiving experiences alongside practical resources and potential solutions for families.
Parenting also receives its own dedicated conversation. The Parenting Shift, hosted by Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart, explores what it means to raise children and teenagers within today’s civic, cultural and digital environment through discussions with parents, experts and special guests.
Together, the programming signals an effort to broaden the relationship between a news organization and its audience. Rather than ending the experience once a headline has been delivered, MS NOW is building spaces around understanding, discussion and decompressing from the news itself.
The MS NOW Membership is available through the App Store, Google Play and MS NOW for $7.99 per month or $79.99 annually. An introductory annual rate of $39.99 plus tax is available to new Members through September 30.
MS NOW says the membership will continue to evolve based on Member feedback, with additional programming and features planned ahead of the midterm elections.
Photo Credit: Deitch Pham LLC