David Bozell Tells Joe Concha: Apple News Could Be Deceiving Users

David Bozell, President of the Media Research Center (MRC), recently appeared on The Joe Concha Tunnel to Towers Foundation Show to expose what he describes as systemic bias in the Four Big News Apps - Google News, Apple News, Yahoo News, and MSN. Bozell spotlighted a new MRC study using the MRC Digital News Tracker, which monitors how these platforms curate content for millions of users.

Bozell highlighted Apple's curation practices, noting that in January, Apple News featured 620 top stories—440 from left-leaning outlets, with the rest from center sources, and none from right-leaning ones. Just last week Apple ended a 99-day shutout of conservative sources by linking to a Fox News Digital story about the death of actor James Van Der Beek.

Bozell argued that while Apple has editorial rights, claiming neutrality becomes untenable when 80% or more of selected news skews left. "If they're presenting themselves as a neutral arbiter of the narrative of the day, they have a tough time sticking by that claim," Bozell said.

MRC’s research gained traction when FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson sent a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook questioning potential violations of user agreements or consumer expectations under the FTC Act. Bozell welcomed the scrutiny, emphasizing it's not about free speech but deceptive practices if platforms misrepresent neutrality.

Bozell stressed the stakes: These Big Four apps reach more people than peak broadcast news, influencing perceptions for casual users reliant on preloaded apps. The MRC's work aims to shine light on this "rigged" curation, urging accountability as policymakers investigate.