The Newsonomics of Circa’s Uncertain Future (And New Competition From AJ+)

By: Ken Doctor | Nieman Lab

What’s in the cards for Circa, an award-nabbing industry darling, a pioneer of mobile-first news apps and a visual style that still spreads on the web?

Its atomized cards-and-stacks approach to smartphone news prompted lots of double takes when it product first launched in October 2012. But now 2015 looks to be a pivotal year for the digital toddler’s future. CEO Matt Galligan is assessing his strategic options and is out raising money. Meanwhile, Circa has gained a new across-town competitor — San Francisco-based AJ+, already funded at four times the level of Circa by its parent Al Jazeera.