Apple has launched a special guide section for Apple News, featuring coverage of 20 Democratic candidates in the lead-up to the 2020 U.S. Elections.
The section of the app curates content from a variety of news sources. It also includes basic information about the different candidates who will take place in the first debate. This includes their biography and current position on key issues.
“The 2020 Democratic field is complex, and we want to offer Apple News readers a trusted place to learn more about candidates they’re familiar with and those they may be hearing about for the first time,” said Lauren Kern, editor-in-chief of Apple News. “The candidate guide in Apple News is a robust and reliable resource, connecting readers to valuable at-a-glance information and to great journalism from our partners.”
The candidate guide can be found in the Top Stories section of Apple News. Unfortunately, it appears that it will only be available to users in the U.S. That means that political junkies, or other interested parties, from around the globe can’t access the content.
Apple News will feature updates from the first Democratic debate, which will take place on two consecutive nights on June 26 and 27. It will include articles and video highlights from NBC News. There will also be fact checking, reactions, and key onstage moments and takeaways.
The battle against fake news
As with many tech giants, Apple has focused more heavily on politics in recent years. In the aftermath of the 2016 election, Apple met with members of the U.S. intelligence community. The subject of discussion was finding ways to stop the spread of “fake news” online.
Since then, Apple has made several changes. In September 2018, it removed several questionable websites serving up problematic content via “Siri Suggested” search results. The recommended websites pointed users to posts about the “Pizzagate” hoax, Holocaust denier conspiracies, and race-based “science” stories.
In March 2019, it announced support for a new initiative designed to root out fake news. Lauren Kern said this is intended to help citizens, “seek out accurate and reliable information amid an increasingly complicated news landscape.”
Source: Apple
