Apple News

⬇ Download this section

Where this platform overrides General Guidelines: The headline character range is 90–120 characters (data-validated)—substantially above the 80–100 universal default; data-validated performance shows engagement rising through 110–119. Question headlines, number-led headlines, and “What to Know” endings underperform in organic algorithmic reach (data-validated) and should be avoided. AI disclosure requirements exceed General Guidelines §1.6—AI-generated or AI-assisted content requires a byline or co-byline and must be tagged in News Publisher metadata; AI-generated media must be clearly labeled. The subtitle field is a required publishing step with no General Guidelines equivalent. Thumbnail specs (300×300px minimum, 1:2 to 3:1 aspect ratio) have no General Guidelines equivalent.

Platform Overview

Apple News delivers content natively across iPhone, iPad, and Mac via a combination of algorithmic personalization, social signals, and human editorial curation. Two publishing format options are available:

• RSS feed—standard layout; simpler setup
• Apple News Format (ANF)—recommended; JSON-based format with full typography control, photo galleries, parallax scrolling, and animations; renders natively and optimally across all Apple devices

Apple’s human editorial team curates featured content. Quality, originality, and factual accuracy are prerequisites for featured placement—not just best practices.

Headline

(REQUIRED)

Character count: 90–120 characters. Data-validated: engagement rises through 110–119 characters.

• Compelling and informative—Apple News readers expect content that earns their full attention, not just a click
• Write a separate Apple News title—distinct from the shorter SEO/Discover variant; the Apple News title can be set as an override in News Publisher
• Avoid question headlines—underperform in organic algorithmic reach on Apple News and SmartNews (data-validated)
• Avoid number-led headlines—underperform on Apple News despite performing well on other platforms including SmartNews (data-validated)
• Avoid “What to Know” endings—worst-performing formula on SmartNews (pct_rank 0.37, p=3.0e-6, n=213); avoid on both platforms for organic reach
• Casing: follow destination site style guide

Subtitle (Excerpt)

(REQUIRED)

Populate the subtitle field in News Publisher. Without a subtitle, Apple pulls from the first paragraph of the article body as the excerpt—that paragraph is rarely optimized as a standalone excerpt.

• The subtitle appears below the headline in Apple News feeds
• Write it as a 1–2 sentence excerpt that complements the headline and earns the tap
• It should not repeat the headline verbatim

Tone

(REQUIRED)

Polished, confident, editorially rich, trustworthy.

Apple News readers expect a curated, magazine-quality experience—not content that feels mass-produced. Editorial investment is visible in this environment. Content that reads as rushed or formulaic underperforms against the quality bar Apple’s algorithm and editorial team reward.

Target persona: The Apple News Explorer—A cross-device reader who encounters content through algorithmic personalization, social signals, and human editorial curation. Expects polished visuals and content that feels worth reading in full. Core Drive: Surface the best of what I care about and make it worth my time to read the whole thing.

Article Structure

(REQUIRED)

• Lean into Apple News Format (ANF) over basic RSS—ANF unlocks typography control, galleries, parallax, and animations that reward editorial investment and drive significantly higher engagement
• Maintain a consistent publishing schedule—the algorithm rewards regularity alongside engagement signals
• Select appropriate content categories (technology, lifestyle, sports, etc.) in News Publisher for discoverability
• Include CTA boxes within articles where appropriate—drive readers to newsletters, subscriptions, or owned properties
• Sports content has the strongest topic signal on Apple News. Business and lifestyle content consistently perform lower—compensate with stronger headline execution in those verticals

Image Requirements

(REQUIRED)

AI Content Policy

(REQUIRED)

Apple imposes disclosure requirements beyond General Guidelines §1.6. Apply all of the following in addition to the standard AI disclaimer.

• Articles generated by or assisted by AI must include a byline or co-byline and be marked as AI-generated in News Publisher metadata
• AI used as a tool for idea generation, headline generation, research, or editing does not require disclosure if a journalist composes and vets the final article
• AI-generated images, video, and audio must be clearly labeled per publication standards
• Include an explanation of how AI was used within the article to maintain reader trust

Discoverability

Apple News surfaces content through a combination of three signals:

1. Algorithmic personalization—based on user interaction patterns, topic relevance, and social engagement
2. Social signals—shares and engagement within the Apple News ecosystem
3. Human editorial curation—Apple’s editorial team selects featured content; quality, originality, and factual accuracy are prerequisites

Promote feature: Publishers can submit up to 6 articles per section for promoted placement.

Consistent publishing cadence is rewarded—irregular publication depresses algorithmic standing over time.

Monetization

• Ads managed via Workbench
• Publishers keep 100% of self-sold ad revenue; 70% of Apple-sold revenue
• Affiliate content is algorithmically prioritized—product reviews and gear guides that already exist for other channels can be repurposed for Apple News with minimal additional production; strong alignment for Experiences and Everyday Living verticals
• CTA boxes supported within articles—drive readers to newsletters, subscriptions, or owned properties

Analytics

Apple News analytics are available in News Publisher. Key metrics: views, engagement, shares.

Topic performance signal for planning:

• Sports: strongest topic signal
• Business and lifestyle: consistently lower performance—compensate with stronger headline execution

What to Avoid

Pre-Publish Checklist

• Apple News title: 90–120 characters (110–119 target), compelling and informative, distinct from SEO/Discover headline
• No question headlines (unless specifically targeting featured placement—see Headline section)
• No number-led headlines
• Subtitle field populated in News Publisher
• Content categories selected for discoverability
• Publishing format: ANF (preferred) or RSS
• Lead image: 1,200px+ wide
• Thumbnail: 300×300px minimum, aspect ratio 1:2 to 3:1
• All AI-generated or AI-augmented media clearly labeled
• If AI-generated or AI-assisted content: byline/co-byline present; tagged as AI-generated in News Publisher metadata; explanation of AI use included in article
• Standard AI disclaimer per General Guidelines §1.6 applied
• CTA box included where appropriate
• Promote feature submission considered (up to 6 articles per section)