FORT MYERS, Fla. (March 25, 2015) – News happens all around us, every minute of every day. Who is there to capture it? With today’s launch of a new mobile app called NewsByMe, now everyone is.

NewsByMe is the world’s first dedicated mobile news app and a new source for community-based news happening around us. Now, users may join reporters in their area and read and report the news happening in their location. The NewsByMe community views and shares first-hand accounts of real-time breaking news, weather, crime, lifestyle, reviews, sporting events and more.

NewsByMe is the creation of experienced news professionals Pason Gaddis and Jeff Cull.

Gaddis managed and launched media brands for Gannett Company before he and his partners launched and now lead a regional news and entertainment company Florida Weekly, which currently has six editions across the state of Florida.

As a career entrepreneur, Cull has been a co-founder of six successful businesses from tech and media to commercial building and development. He brings a wealth of experience to NewsByMe after a successful stint as co-founder and chief content officer of Florida Weekly. He holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy and flew the Navy’s most computerized aircraft.

Along with a team of highly skilled software engineers, Gaddis and Cull have responded to the times and with their vision for the future of news. NewsByMe is a simple-to-use and effective application that works by users creating reports in real time from any mobile device with descriptions, video and images in any geographical area they choose – worldwide.

“NewsByMe is a mobile community committed to news ‘by people, for people,’” said Gaddis. “Now, users can both report and follow news posts in any geographic areas they select.”

Traditional social media only allows a user’s friends and followers to see his or her posts. NewsByMe allows anyone to see the eyewitness reports complete with photos and videos.

“It’s usually ordinary people who spot a news event first,” said Cull. “Now, we can follow the news in real time both locally and globally with a concise report of the facts.”

Download the free Open Pubic Beta release of the NewsByMe app at the Apple App Store. The official app launch will be in early May. The current version is compatible with iPhone with iOS 8.0 or later. Android and iPad versions are coming soon.

“NewsByMe offers a first-hand look from people on the ground who are actually seeing and experiencing the things happening in their area and in areas they care about,” said Gina Birch, test site user of NewsByMe.

“I’m more aware of what’s going on around me and always looking for a good ‘scoop’,” said Jason Sherman, co-owner of the Diamond District in Fort Myers. “Most of the news I’ve seen on NewsByMe has been refreshing with no ‘spin’ from the major media sources. It definitely has me thinking differently about local news.”

With the focus on NewsByMe being an authentic news source, users agree to the app’s community guidelines including not posting content or engaging in activity that violates laws or the privacy rights of others.

“NewsByMe is a user friendly experience. I love that I can see what’s happening in a certain geographic area and when I travel the news feed changes,” said Stefanie Ink, test site user. “It’s truly an evolution and the next generation of social media.”

For more information, visit www.newsbyme.com or email team@newsbyme.com.