While Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) television programming is high-quality stuff, it struggles, nevertheless, to shed its dowdy reputation. The PBS NewsHour iPhone app, however, couldn’t be more hip. It delivers the same A-grade content, but in a modern, mobile format.
On the main page of the app, users will find a vertical scrolling list of the latest international headlines, about three dozen items. These include a nice mix of full-length stories and news briefs on a broad range of subjects, including business, political, science, etc.
Users can also select the More option at the bottom right corner and browse stories within specific topics such as “economy” and “arts beat.”
The app’s Video” category is similarly well-stocked. Once a clip has been selected, the user will be directed to the PBS YouTube channel. There, a news junkie could spend all day watching PBS’ latest coverage.
For those who enjoy the wranglings of the political scene, there is an entire category dedicated to Politics. It includes the latest approval ratings, election polls and, of course, Sarah Palin sightings.
The content on the app is so well-written and well-produced that everything becomes a must-read, even stories about school lunches in West Virginia and goat farmers in Oregon.
The only thing lacking are PBS’ in-depth, documentary-style reporting pieces. For those, you should probably turn on the TV.
