TAPinto Logo PNG
The Tapinto logo embodies the platform, which has become a convenient local news source and a useful service for many. The media resource evolved from creating a space where residents of small towns and districts can learn about local events, find business information, and discuss important issues.
TAPinto began in October 2008, when Michael and Lorin Shapiro founded The Alternative Press, an independent online newspaper in New Jersey. Michael Shapiro had worked as an attorney at a large New York law firm. Still, after his young son successfully underwent heart surgery, he decided to change his career path. At the same time, he noticed local newspapers reducing staff and cutting community coverage during the economic crisis. The first TAPinto sites focused on New Providence, Summit and Berkeley Heights.
In the early years, Shapiro worked with freelance reporters and advertising specialists while building connections within local communities. As more towns requested similar news platforms, he left his legal career in 2009 and focused entirely on expanding the project. In 2013, The Alternative Press introduced a franchise model that let journalists and local entrepreneurs launch websites using shared technology, content systems, training, and advertising support. Former Patch editors joined the network after large reductions at the AOL-owned local news company.
In 2014, The Alternative Press changed its name to TAPinto. The new brand identity supported the network’s expansion beyond New Jersey into New York, Pennsylvania and Florida. Franchise owners launched local websites in communities where traditional news outlets had reduced coverage. At the same time, TAPinto continued improving its digital platform and mobile access.
In 2024, TAPinto introduced the Hyperlocal News Network licensing program, allowing existing local publications to use its technology and infrastructure with more freedom over branding. By 2025, the network included around 99 sites across four states. It was listed among growing local journalism networks filling gaps left by declining traditional media.
Meaning and History
What is Tapinto?
It is a digital network of local news sites that helps people in the United States stay up to date on events in their cities and regions. Each site focuses on local news, business, sports, and social life, creating a convenient space for information. The platform’s highlight is that it allows journalists and entrepreneurs to launch their news resources under a single brand, forming a network of reliable information sources.
2014 – today
The TAPinto network of online platforms originated as a local resource, covering news at the neighborhood and small-town levels. Its name is derived from the phrase “tap into ” to connect or gain access to something. This is reflected in the logo’s symbol, a smartphone, the device through which residents learn about nearby events daily.
The smartphone symbol is placed on the left, balanced by text on the right, creating a neat horizontal composition. On the phone’s screen is a cozy street scene featuring small figures of pedestrians, building facades, and green trees. Everything is shown schematically, without intricate details, emphasizing the local character of the brand news nearby, within easy reach.
To the right, the company name is written in a sans-serif font, with the large uppercase letters “TAP” colored in vibrant green and the lowercase letters “into” in a warm orange hue. The contrast between the different sizes and colors makes the word dynamic and easy to perceive. The fresh, natural colors reflect the resource’s friendly, approachable nature.
Below the name is an explanatory tagline, “Your Neighborhood News Online,” written in a thin, simple black font that ensures readability and communicates the company’s purpose: local news online.
TAPinto’s history is tied to the growth of online platforms that cover small communities, providing essential information for residents, including events, announcements, incidents, and everyday life. The logo matches this format, using a smartphone and neighborhood atmosphere to emphasize the content’s closeness, relevance, and accessibility for residents.
