News Feed Widget

Overview

The News Feed Widget brings Staffbase news into a custom layout directly in the intranet. Instead of the default display, design the news section to match your corporate branding – with flexible filters, personalized content, and various view modes.

Why This Widget?

Internal communication often fails due to visibility. Important news gets lost in the information overload:

• ✅ Full design control: Cards, magazine, timeline, or compact list – you choose the layout
• ✅ Personalized: Everyone sees only authorized news – automatically filtered by location, department, or role
• ✅ Always current: New posts appear in real-time – no manual refresh needed

Key Features

1. Flexible Staffbase Filters

Use the full power of Staffbase filters to display exactly the right news:

• Filter by channel (e.g., only #company or #hr-news)
• Filter by category (Events, HR, IT, Product)
• Narrow down by location or audience
• Global news or channel-specific posts

Each user only sees news they are authorized to view – Staffbase permissions are applied automatically.

2. Custom Layouts

Choose from various display modes – depending on context and audience:

• Card Layout: Classic news cards with image, title, excerpt, and category tags
• Magazine Layout: Hero article on top, smaller posts below – like an online magazine
• Compact List: Space-saving display with icons and filters – ideal for sidebars
• Timeline: Chronological view with daily grouping – perfect for an overview
• Channel Grid: News sorted by channels in a clear card grid

3. Real-Time Updates

The news feed updates automatically when new posts are published:

• Automatic refresh without page reload
• Unread posts are marked
• Breaking news banner for urgent announcements
• Engagement metrics (likes, comments, views)

Result: Employees never miss important news again.

4. Mobile-Optimized

The news feed is optimized for all screen sizes:

• Responsive card view on smartphones
• Touch-optimized interaction
• Featured articles with image headers
• Compact display for quick scrolling

Typical Use Cases

📰 Homepage: Company News

“Highlight of the Week: Digitalization Initiative – All Locations Connected by Q3”

The homepage shows the most important company news in magazine layout – with a hero article and secondary stories below.

🏢 Department Hub: Filtered Channel News

“#hr-news: New Benefits – Public Transit Pass for Everyone”

Each department page shows only news from the respective channel – automatically filtered and always current.

🚨 Breaking News: Live Ticker

“BREAKING: Board Approves Frankfurt Office Expansion with 500 New Workspaces”

Breaking news appears as a red banner at the top – with live indicator and automatic scroll.

📱 Mobile: News on the Go

“Hello Thomas! 3 new articles since your last visit”

On smartphones, employees see their personalized news in a mobile-optimized card view.

Integration & Setup

The News Feed Widget is set up in just a few minutes:

1. Choose widget – Add from the widget gallery
2. Select channel/filter – Choose Staffbase channel or global news
3. Configure layout – Cards, magazine, timeline, or list
4. Customize design – Configure colors, fonts, and display
5. Publish – Done!

Optional: Enable breaking news banner, dark mode, or engagement metrics.

Design Options

View Modes

• Classic Cards: News cards with image, title, and excerpt
• Magazine/Hero: Large hero story with smaller posts below
• Compact List: Space-saving with icons and category filters
• Dark Mode: For dark themes and night shift monitors
• Channel Grid: News sorted by channels in card grid
• Timeline: Chronological with daily grouping

Display Options

• Category tags and color coding
• Author avatars and profile information
• Reading time indicator
• Engagement metrics (views, likes, comments)
• Unread marker
• Breaking news banner

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does the news come from?

The widget accesses the Staffbase News API directly. All published posts in the configured channels are displayed automatically – including Staffbase permission checks.

Can I have multiple news feeds on one page?

Yes, you can place multiple instances with different filters – e.g., one for company news and one for department news.

Are permissions respected?

Yes, the widget uses Staffbase user identity. Each employee sees only news they are authorized to view – just like in the native Staffbase app.

How current is the feed?

The feed refreshes automatically every 60 seconds. New posts appear without manual reloading. The refresh frequency is configurable.

Can I fully customize the design?

Yes, all visual aspects are configurable: layout, colors, fonts, spacing, category tags, and more. The widget seamlessly integrates into your corporate design.

Best Practices

📌 Dos

• Set clear filters: Define exactly which news should be displayed
• Match layout to context: Magazine for the homepage, list for the sidebar
• Test on mobile: Most employees read news on their smartphone
• Use breaking news sparingly: Only for truly important urgent announcements

⚠️ Don’ts

• Too many news feeds on one page (overwhelms readers)
• Publishing without filters (information overload)
• Using breaking news banner as a permanent state (loses its impact)
• Disabling engagement metrics (social proof motivates reading)