Paper Folds News Beta Tester Application

Welcome, and Thank You

Paper Folds News is Tipton County’s first all-digital, independent news outlet. We’re building something that works for real people in this community, and we need real people to tell us how it’s going.

The next step is through the development of our app and we appreciate your interest in being a beta tester. We are currently seeking iOS (iPhone) beta testers. We will seek Android beta testers soon.

Here’s what we’re asking of you, what you can expect from us, and how to give us feedback that actually helps.

What Beta Testing Means

Beta testing is the phase between “we think this works” and “we know it works.” You’re using a version of the app that is functional but not finished. That means:

  • Some features may be incomplete or temporarily unavailable.
  • You may encounter bugs, slow load times, or unexpected behavior.
  • The design or layout may change before launch.
  • Content volume may be limited during the testing period.

None of that is a problem — it’s the point. You’re helping us find those things so we can fix them.

What We’re Asking of You

Your Commitment

We’re asking for approximately four weeks of your time, from May 15 through June 15. During that period, we hope you will:

  • Use the app at least 2–3 times per week on your normal device(s).
  • Complete at least one mid-point feedback survey (sent around June 1).
  • Complete a final feedback survey at the close of the beta period.
  • Report any bugs or issues as you encounter them — big or small.

If you signed up for the optional follow-up conversation, we’ll reach out near the end of the beta period to schedule a short call (15–20 minutes).

What “Good Feedback” Looks Like

You don’t need technical expertise to give us useful feedback. Here’s what helps most:

  • Be specific. “The app crashed when I tapped the story photo” is more useful than “it crashed.”
  • Note your device and what you were doing when something happened.
  • Tell us what you expected to happen versus what actually happened.
  • Share gut reactions — if something feels confusing or off, say so even if you can’t explain why.
  • Don’t hold back on positives, either. We want to know what’s working.

Confidentiality

The app and all materials shared during this beta period are confidential. We ask that you:

  • Not share screenshots, recordings, or descriptions of the app publicly (including on social media) before our official launch.
  • Not share your beta access link or credentials with others.
  • Not discuss specific features or design details with people outside the beta program.

We know you’re excited — and we appreciate it. We just want to make sure the launch feels fresh for your friends and neighbors who haven’t seen it yet.

We genuinely appreciate your time. This is a small, independent operation, and your participation makes a real difference.

Please complete the application below:

What You Can Expect From Us

  • We will acknowledge receipt of your feedback. You won’t be sending things into a void.
  • We will not contact you more than once per week outside of scheduled surveys.
  • We will send a summary of what we learned and what changed as a result at the close of the program.
  • We will give you early access to the official launch before it’s announced publicly.
  • We will credit beta testers (by first name, unless you prefer to remain anonymous) in our launch coverage.

Questions?

If you have any questions about the beta program, how to access the app, or anything else, reach out:

Robert Rose
Chief Technical Officer & Publisher
robert@paperfoldsnews.com

Echo Rose
Chief Executive Officer & Editor-in-Chief
echo@paperfoldsnews.com