How to Access Talking Newspapers on Alexa - A Step by Step Guide
- Exmouth & District Talking Newspaper
- Apr 1
- 3 min read
Accessing Talking Newspapers through Alexa offers a simple way to listen to local news and stories without needing to read or search manually. Whether you prefer using your phone or a smart speaker, this guide walks you through each step clearly and practically. By the end, you will be able to enjoy your favourite talking newspapers with just your voice.
Setting Up Alexa on Your Device
Before you start listening, you need to have Alexa ready on your phone or smart speaker.
On your phone:
Check if the Alexa app is already installed by searching for it. If you don’t have it, download it from the App Store (for iOS) or the Play Store (for Android).
On a smart speaker:
Devices like Echo Dot, Echo Pop, or Echo Show work well. Make sure your device is plugged in, connected to Wi-Fi, and set up through the Alexa app.
Once Alexa is ready, you can move on to enabling the Talking Newspapers skill.
Enabling the Talking Newspapers Skill
This skill allows Alexa to access a wide range of talking newspapers from different locations.
Using your phone:
Open the Alexa app, tap More at the bottom, then select Skills & Games. Use the search bar to find “Talking Newspapers” and tap Enable.
Using a smart speaker:
Simply say, “Alexa, enable Talking Newspapers.” Alexa will confirm once the skill is active.
This step connects your Alexa to the talking newspapers service, so you can start listening right away.
Opening Talking Newspapers with Voice Commands
Alexa works best when you use voice commands to control it.
On your phone or tablet:
Activate your phone’s voice assistant by saying “Hey Siri” or “Hey Google, open the Alexa app.” Then say, “Alexa, open Talking Newspapers.”
On a smart speaker:
Just say, “Alexa, open Talking Newspapers.”
Alexa will respond and get ready to play the newspaper you want.
Listening for the First Time
When you open Talking Newspapers for the first time, Alexa will greet you with a welcome message. Then it will ask for the name of a newspaper or your location.
For example, say:
“Alexa, ask Talking Newspapers for Exmouth Talking Newspaper.”
Alexa will start playing the latest edition. If you return within 24 hours, Alexa will ask if you want to continue where you left off. Just say “yes” or “no.”
Listening Regularly and Managing Preferences
If you listen often, Alexa will remember your preferred newspaper and suggest it automatically. When you open Talking Newspapers, Alexa might say:
“Would you like to continue with your usual newspaper?”
Say “yes” to start playing it or “no” to browse other available newspapers.
This feature saves time and makes your listening experience smoother.
Controlling Playback with Voice Commands
While listening, you can control playback easily by speaking to Alexa. Here are some useful commands:
“Alexa, next track” or “Alexa, previous track” to move between sections
“Alexa, ask Talking Newspapers to forward 30 seconds” or “rewind 15 seconds” to skip ahead or back
“Alexa, pause,” “stop,” or “play” to control playback
These commands help you navigate the content without touching your device.
Stopping the Listening Session
When you want to stop listening, just say:
“Alexa, cancel.”
This will close the Talking Newspapers skill and stop playback immediately.
Getting Help with Alexa Setup
If you have trouble setting up or using Talking Newspapers on Alexa, support is available. You can email the Talking News Federation team at alexa@tnf.org.uk for assistance. They can guide you through the process and answer any questions.
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