San Francisco (AFP) – Apple released its own news podcasts on Wednesday, a first for the iPhone maker who is stepping into an already crowded field.
Apple News will now feature daily audio news summaries along with “audio stories,” pieces by partners like Esquire, Sports Illustrated, Time, Wired, and the Wall Street Journal, read by professional voice actors.
“Apple News shows so much great journalism, and we’re excited to help bring it to life in new ways with Apple News + audio stories and a new daily news show,” said editor-in-chief Lauren Kern.
The narrated pieces are available to Apple News + subscribers in the US.
Apple News Today briefings are available for free listening.
Apple said it has also begun targeting local news collections in a handful of areas of the United States, and that it has added “more local and regional news media” to its partner list.
“Our new local news feature highlights your work for readers who live in and are interested in those communities,” said Kern.
Apple News has more than 125 million monthly active users in Australia, Great Britain, Canada and the United States.
The subscription version, Apple News +, costs $ 10 a month in the US and offers access to content from hundreds of magazines and newspapers around the world.
