Text to speech on the Wall Street Journal – Does it exist?
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Whether you want to learn about the latest drama surrounding Donald Trump, where Amazon stocks stand, or the big White House student loan forgiveness whopper of the day, The Wall Street Journal covers it.
There's just one problem.
You may find reading the latest news on a monitor or smartphone screen difficult or want to listen to an audio version of your article.
Text to speech (TTS) technology can help. Here, we explore this clever technology, how it can assist you, and whether you can find TTS readers that work with The Wall Street Journal.
What is text to speech?
Text to speech is an assistive technology that reads digital text aloud to a reader. You can pull articles from The Times, The WSJ, and The Washington Post so a TTS reader can read them aloud. Think of it almost like a technology that turns text into a podcast.
The platforms use speech recognition technology that allows them to read what's on a screen and convert it into an audio version.
Why might text to speech be able to help you?
Text to speech technology can help you in a variety of ways including multitasking, overcoming learning challenges, and overachieving.
Multitasking
Imagine you're busy doing housework, but you want to learn what the columnists at The New York Times or The Washington Post have to say about the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
TTS readers let you do that.
You can have a TTS platform read an article in the background while taking care of your daily chores.
Overcoming learning disabilities
Those with learning disabilities can also use TTS readers to decipher text. For example, those with dyslexia often find text presented on a screen difficult to read. TTS software reads the text aloud, so such individuals can easily understand what it says.
The platforms are also helpful for those with visual impairments who may not be able to read the text on a screen.
Overachieving
Who wants to get stuck doing one thing at a time? The overachiever in each of us wants to hear about breaking news, keep track of everything going on in the world, and still get their work done.
You can do that with TTS readers. Imagine tracking the Dow Jones & Company, Inc index while listening to what's happening at DARPA or the latest news with the pandemic. You can do it all with TTS technology.
TTS tool that works with The Wall Street Journal: Speechify
Sadly, The Wall Street Journal doesn't offer any text to speech technology natively in its app or on its website.
The good news is you don't need the WSJ to offer that tech. Speechify is a comprehensive TTS reader that you can integrate into your web browser to read WSJ articles aloud.
So, how does it work?
Sign up for Speechify via the website and find the Google Chrome extension. Once installed, the extension gives you a "Play" button that you should see when browsing the web.
Just click the button and Speechify reads the text. You can even select the specific reading voice and speed that suits your needs.
Speechify works on more than just the WSJ – It's life-changing!
You're not limited to reading the WSJ with Speechify. Once you've installed the app, you can use it to read almost any website, including but not limited to, text on The Washington Post, New York Times, LinkedIn, or even Amazon. If you want articles you browse on your smartphone read to you, download the iOS or Android version of the app.
Maybe you want to learn a new language?
Speechify empowers free expression by making it easier to read digital text, no matter the language. It can read digital text in multiple languages and use native voices. As a result, you can hear the proper pronunciation and speed up your learning experience.
Speechify: Next steps
Now you know what Speechify has to offer, you need to get your hands on it. Start with a free trial:
- Go to Speechify and click the "Try for free" button. You'll find it at the top of the page.
- Follow the steps to select your preferred voice, reading speed, usage, and goals.
- Sign up for a free account before downloading Speechify for your platform of choice.
The free trial allows you to listen in 10 standard voices at a 1x speed. By upgrading to the Premium tier, you get access to over 30 voices in 20 languages and an array of features that make it easy to read, highlight, and manipulate your text.
FAQs
Does WSJ have an audio version?
The Wall Street Journal has two audio versions - The Morning Read and The Market Final & Analysis. Both are available on Audible.com.
Can you listen to Wall Street Journal articles?
You can listen to WSJ articles using the newspaper's audio versions or with text to speech software.
How can I read an article in The Wall Street Journal for free?
For free, you can use the Factiva database to read the text from Wall Street Journal articles. If you settle for this platform, it only shows articles from the last two weeks.
How do I find the audio version of an article?
Suppose the article you wish to read isn't available in The Morning Read and The Market Final & Analysis. In that case, you can use a TTS reader like Speechify to access an audio version.
How do I read WSJ articles offline?
You can download website pages to read offline via your browser. Typically, this involves clicking on a "Tools" option and choosing to save the page as a document.
What is the WSJ app?
The WSJ app is a mobile version of The Wall Street Journal that you can download to Android and iOS devices.
What is the cost of The Wall Street Journal?
It costs $38.99 monthly to subscribe to WSJ Digital and $49.99 per month for the WSJ Digital Bundle.
Where can I find the latest Wall Street Journal articles?
You can find the latest articles on wsj.com or the WSJ app.
