Launches

Source Media launches membership-driven app on Pugpig Bolt

Source Media has launched The Source Local News, a membership-driven mobile app on Pugpig Bolt designed to improve login journeys, build reader habits and support subscription growth across its digital titles. This launch is the latest delivered through our partnership with Newspack, making it easier and more affordable for local publishers to build native mobile apps.

16th December 2025

Source Media, an independent publisher focused on local reporting, has launched The Source Local News on Pugpig Bolt, giving readers another way to “start at the source” and follow its reporting on the move. Built through our partnership with Newspack, the app focuses on a mobile journey that makes sign-in and membership access as seamless as possible.

The app is first and foremost a membership play. It’s both a member benefit and a key lever for driving conversions. By giving readers a place where it’s easy to stay signed in, dip into the latest stories and build a daily habit, the team is betting on a lift in paid memberships over time.

The app also helps Source Media reach readers who were previously anonymous. As people download the app, come back more often and opt in to push notifications, there are more opportunities to turn casual readers into known, engaged members.

Features focused on habit and value

The app brings together Source Media’s journalism with a set of features designed to keep readers coming back:

A personalised For You experience driven by our Follow functionality that lets users focus on the topics and areas they care about
Puzzles, via Puzzler, to encourage repeat visits and daily use
A region selector so readers can quickly get to the coverage that’s most relevant to where they live
Podcasts for people who prefer to listen rather than read
External linking, so website journeys and app journeys work neatly together

The app is powered by Newspack and Pugpig Bolt, helping the team support multiple properties from one setup while keeping the experience consistent across platforms.

Looking ahead

This first release is just the start of a wider digital refresh. On the roadmap are further improvements to sign-in and membership journeys, as well as deeper integration of titles like Delaware Source into the app experience over time.

All of this supports the same goals – acquire new members, convert existing registered users and give readers a more polished mobile experience that keeps them close.

The Source Local News is now available to download on iOS and Android, scan the codes below to have a look.