West-germany would he have cracked the code of Apple News? Since Thursday morning, his article “Marina Robinard takes the barber of Mézières-sur-Couesnon”, published in its editions of Ille-et-Vilaine, is leading the application of topical installed on all the iPhone, in front of the case Carlos Ghosn and the stop of the airport of London-Gatwick. This choice to say the least, surprising a smile from visitors.
” READ ALSO – Apple is necessary in the battle of the mobile information in France
Already, the November 19, the article of the edition of Morlaix in Western France, “The bar is open to the micro-brewery Lane B, Saint-Pol-de-Léon” had been powered on Apple News. On the 13th of December, an article by France Info on the mobilization of the “yellow Vests” was put at the honor. Problem: the topic was, in reality, on December 7,… “Apple News we brought 600,000 people to a snippet of JT published seven days earlier, what did not understand users (and we)”, wrote on Twitter Bastien Hugues, deputy chief editor of the information website. “This content has remained at the head of Apple News for hours, a pure non-sense editorial.”
algorithms inscrutable
These clashes are related to the nature of the Apple News France. The application is not managed by humans, but by a machine. More exactly, by algorithms, the operation of which falls within the defence secret in american society. Number of branches of the digital pull their hair in an attempt to understand the selection criteria of this computer code. Only certainties: a dozen media outlets hardly are accepted by Apple News. The application appreciates the various facts and the unusual. For the rest, mystery and ball of eraser. And given the choice of picturesque these past few weeks, there is perhaps, at bottom, no rational logic.
All this would be amusing if Apple News did not become a real strategic issue for the media. Be present on one of the five locations of the application is in effect guaranteed its hearings to take off, with winnings that can reach hundreds of thousands of additional clicks per article, if not more. “Some days, Apple News is our first source of traffic on mobile”, told the Figaro Guillaume Bournizien, director of digital marketing of the Parisian. The (very) many in the media not retained by Apple News are furious: on what basis are they excluded? Silence with the american company. And even among the lucky ones, the frustration reign. The operation of the algorithm is impenetrable, and its selection often arbitrary. Impossible to calibrate an editorial strategy lot of to make the most of this incredible source of hearing.
” READ ALSO – Apple is investing a billion dollars in a new headquarters in Texas
The absence of hierarchy of information, and the full powers entrusted to the algorithms are also an issue. In the United States, the firm is seized of the problem. The five items highlighted by the application of the Atlantic are selected by former journalists. And during the mid-term elections, Apple News USA had put in place a special section managed again by former journalists. It is unknown if this operation will be extended to non English-speaking countries.
