New Tegna app teaches you "How To Dallas"
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The “How To Dallas” app is now ready to download. Screenshot: Apple application
A North Texas news station has launched a new app to create a community for young newcomers to Dallas.
Why it matters: Moving to a new city is hard. Where do you eat? How do you make new friends? What neighborhoods are cool?
- The Dallas-area population is booming, and many of the newcomers are young professionals.
The latest: WFAA's parent company Tegna launched the community-building app "How To Dallas" last Friday.
- The goal isn't to fill the app with news content. Think of it as a nontoxic Nextdoor and an alternative to TikTok and Instagram for suggestions on where to eat and hang out in Dallas and neighboring cities.
How it works: The app is user-propelled. You can ask a question about where to eat or which neighborhoods have the best running trails, and other users can respond.
- The goal is to blend online interactions with real-world meetups. There will likely be group hikes and field trips to museums.
- There will also be monthly educational programming. Next month's theme is "How To Ball On A Budget" to discuss how to attend parties and buy gifts without breaking the bank.
The big picture: "How To Dallas" is not the "traditional media play" for a newsroom, Pete Freedman, the director of digital content at WFAA, tells Axios.
- The goal is to engage with the community and create a third place for people to connect with each other.
The intrigue: Freedman founded the arts and entertainment site Central Track in 2012. He left in late 2021 for the WFAA gig.
- The site often took a snarky take on Dallas happenings, such as a yearly stand on "Why The State Fair Sucks."
What they're saying: While influencers have their place, sometimes you just want to know where your neighbors eat and hang out, Freedman says of the new app.
- "There are the shiny new restaurants but that's not what makes home. It's the neighborhood restaurant. The neighborhood sandwich shop," he tells Axios. "It gives you a sense of place that makes you feel like you belong."
What's next: The group's first meetup is Saturday at the Deep Ellum Block Party.
- "How To Dallas" users will meet at 2pm at Will Call Bar. The first 30 to show up will get a free drink and a wristband to get into the evening shows.
The bottom line: "It can be intimidating to do a lot of stuff in the city," Freedman says. "We want to lower the barrier of entry and make Dallas your place."