Last month, a report explored Apple’s efforts to ensure Apple News doesn’t become a “crazy land.” Now, The Sydney Morning Herald is out with another look inside the Apple News team. This time, the report dives into the company’s Australian based team, as well as its broader goals.
The report explains that Apple has a small team of editors working for Apple News tasked with “sifting through story pitches from some of the country’s best known publications.” Apple News in Australia attracts some 5 million readers every month, according to Apple.
Apple’s vice-president of apps, Roger Rosner, offered some color to The Sydney Morning Herald on why Apple feels the need for a separate news app on iOS:
Meanwhile, Apple News editor-in-chief Lauren Kern added that Apple takes “pride” in ensuring misinformation cannot gain traction and go viral through Apple News:
Building on that, Kern said that Apple is focused “having publishers from different parts of the political spectrum” be available on Apple News. “In general, outrage clicks well. People like to read within their own filter bubble. That’s not something we want to encourage here,” Kern said.
Perhaps most interestingly, Rosner cites Tim Cook as one of the driving forces behind Apple News and its goal of “helping journalism thrive.” Cook has been critical of other platforms like Facebook, which has done a poor job of managing the spread of misinformation.
The full report from The Sydney Morning Herald can be read here.
