Apple News Expands Local News Offerings, Launches New Audio Features in U.S.

Apple has today announced the launch of some new features for Apple News and Apple News+, including the ability to listen to audio stories of the top featured stories from Apple News+, a daily audio news briefing hosted by Apple News editors, and curated local news collections.

Beginning today, Apple News will produce about 20 audio stories a week across a wide range of interests. Narrated by professional voice actors, these are audio versions of some of the best feature reporting and long-form pieces published by Esquire, Essence, Fast Company, GQ, New York magazine, Sports Illustrated, TIME, Vanity Fair, Vogue, Wired, and more.

At the same time, Apple News is also adding more top local and regional news outlets for readers and subscribers, including The Charlotte Observer, the Miami Herald, and The News & Observer. The new curated local news experience is currently available in the Bay Area, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco

“Apple News showcases 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, Apple News Today,” said Lauren Kern, editor-in-chief of Apple News. “We also greatly value our many local news partners — our new local news feature highlights their work for readers who live, and are interested, in those communities.”

Audio stories are currently only available to Apple News+ subscribers in the US.