Apple Shuns The New York Times in OS X Mountain Lion Coverage Over Foxconn Reporting

[brdeveloper]

I don't blame them. Write an unfair article (focus only on 1 company Foxconn works with because it will get more hits), twist facts (it was an Foxconn Xbox employee - not Apple), and this is what happens.

Although I agree with you about the blaming war against Apple, I think these sensationalist news are good overall. When Apple get a negative impact on revenue because of Foxconn workers' conditions, maybe they'll do something for improve it. Then the next victim will be guitar manufacturers, Lenovo, HP and so on.

Apple as a niche/cool/innovative/altruist tech company will eventually push better capitalist standards.

 

[charlituna]

Of course David Pogue tweeted that he had been running it for over a week which makes this whole article moot.

Yep. And frankly who else at NYT would be versed enough in the OS to actually be able to talk about it fully other than Pogue. That could be the reason why he and not all the other tech writers got a preview.

 

[brdeveloper]

Think back to the 1984 commercial. Like most revolutionaries, Steve wasn't looking to eliminate oppression. He was looking to change who was doing the oppressing.

He wore the same outfit every day to present himself as an icon, as an Apple "uniform".

Corporate behaviour is always about changing who is doing the oppression. The ultimate corporation goal is reaching the monopoly and this has nothing to do with rebel attitude.

A small corporate starts innovative then it grows and becomes itself coercive.

 

[nokuchikushi]

Misleading garbage

Since David Pogue has since refuted the allegations of this article (saying that the NYT was shunned by Apple), then the article should be removed or at least have the titled changed. The title of the article is a flat-out lie. Have some integrity, MacRumors.

 

[charlituna]

Covering working conditions in the developing world, on the other hand, is important stuff.

But shouldn't they be covering it fully and correctly. Placing all the blame on Apple when they are a small fraction of the business unit wise and not mentioning the other 70 clients is unfair and biased. And for all we know conditions outside of Apple's lines are horrid. After all it wasn't Apple that had 100+ workers threaten to jump off a roof in mass over work conditions. But no one is forcing those other companies to allow inspections etc. No one is calling them out on their 'crimes'. What good does it do to make conditions better for one building of workers and let the rest do as they will

 

[bungiefan89]

The NYT article title "In China, Human Costs Are Built Into an iPad" says it all.

I suppose "In China, Human Costs Are Built Into an Xbox" sounds a lot better to you?

When you run with a news story about the abusive practices in China that go in to making the electronic devices we use today, which are you going to mention? A game console that only some people know about? A product like the iPhone which is really only used by more affluent individuals and therefor more familiar to a smaller segment of the population? Or are you going to name a big-name product that in the last 2 years has received huge press coverage and widespread consumer usage and has introduced an entirely new market that some in our increasingly tech-savy country consider the bane of the conventional PC?

From a journalistic perspective, it's a fitting title. But to a fanboy, it's an unfair and clearly biased hit-piece on a beloved company that's done nothing wrong.

 

[LorenK]

Apple is right to exclude the New York Times, but for a different reason. Whatever journalistic integruty the Times once had, it has long since lost it through misleading, misinformed and poor journalism. As reported by The Rolling Stone, the New York Times was all to happy to reap the benefits of Julian Assange's WikiLeaks for stories until the Times received pressure from teh Obama administration, after which it began to reprint every rumor that it could find about Assange and do everything it could to distance itself form WikiLeaks. A far cry from its taking the Pentagon Papers case to the Supreme Court and winning as it did.

While Apple can be a decidedly heartless company when dealing with others, its freeze out of the New York Times couldn't happen to a nicer company.

 

[Nebrie]

I suppose "In China, Human Costs Are Built Into an Xbox" sounds a lot better to you?

When you run with a news story about the abusive practices in China that go in to making the electronic devices we use today, which are you going to mention? A game console that only some people know about? A product like the iPhone which is really only used by more affluent individuals and therefor more familiar to a smaller segment of the population? Or are you going to name a big-name product that in the last 2 years has received huge press coverage and widespread consumer usage and has introduced an entirely new market that some in our increasingly tech-savy country consider the bane of the conventional PC?

From a journalistic perspective, it's a fitting title. But to a fanboy, it's an unfair and clearly biased hit-piece on a beloved company that's done nothing wrong.

Considering that the mass suicide threats and suicide nets that were attributed to Apple actually happened at the XBox plant, then yes that would have been a better title.

 

[Stephen123]

Except Apple didn't freeze out the New York Times at all and this entire article is completely false as it explains in the update right in the article.

So take it down already!

 

[charlituna]

For example: Apple's report said "We found 11 case were employees were hired while underage; in 7 of those cases they were not employed anymore, or were not underage anymore, when we found out". NYT says: "Apple suppliers use child labour".

Indeed. Articles like the NYT make it sound like Foxconn was using 8 year olds when in fact it could have been 16 year olds. Which while not legal isn't as nasty as the articles made out.

Someone made a comment about Apple letting the facts stand. Such details are the facts that need to be made public and 'let stand' rather than vague ones that don't tell the full truth. same with telling the 'fact' of how much the employees make without the contextual fact that the cost of living is well below that amount, what other 'payments' via free/reduced room and board etc are in the mix

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For those that are angered about the Foxconn story, this is worth looking at to put it in proper context.

http://blogs-images.forbes.com/timworstall/files/2012/01/appleboycott.png

I would object to comparing fatal accidents at Foxconn with those outside of China. And would like to have seen non fatal but debilitating accidents included.

As well as accidents, suicides etc on Apple's lines compared to non Apple ones.

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It's always the biggest player that gets grilled, not the smallest. Does anyone care if Asus (whoever they are ) is using Foxconn? No. They might if it were Amazon or Google or Microsoft.

Where do you think your xbox was made.

 

[trainwrecka]

Can we update the post title? Even Gruber mentioned running into Pogue on the way out of his ML briefing on the Talk Show.

 

[tom vilsack]

Freedom of the press is so important...poor apple can't handle something negative..please!

Whats next...some paper/web site writes something negative about new ipad...will they also be cast aside by apple?

This is something id expect from microsoft of the late 90's...not apple!

This is a slippery slope that apple best not continue!

 

[onigami]

But shouldn't they be covering it fully and correctly. Placing all the blame on Apple when they are a small fraction of the business unit wise and not mentioning the other 70 clients is unfair and biased. And for all we know conditions outside of Apple's lines are horrid. After all it wasn't Apple that had 100+ workers threaten to jump off a roof in mass over work conditions. But no one is forcing those other companies to allow inspections etc. No one is calling them out on their 'crimes'. What good does it do to make conditions better for one building of workers and let the rest do as they will

You know how much time that would take? You know how much time it takes to research even a single unit in these situations? Weeks.

You think an NYT writer can simply traipse through the People's Republic of China and go into every factory in Shenzhen that builds electronics for American consumers? The PRC, who makes its reputation on crushing dissent of any kind, and prolly has its hand in a couple of these Shenzhen factories? Are you dense?

Furthermore, your additional suggestions would just add weeks to already weeks of research and study, especially since the figures are most likely unavailable for public view if at all (given that work environment standards are far far lower in the PRC than they are in America). And NYT just doesn't have a large enough staff to do all the footwork, what with all the staff cuts in recent years. By the time they would get what a fanboi like you requested, the story would be dead.

Can we update the post title? Even Gruber mentioned running into Pogue on the way out of his ML briefing on the Talk Show.

Link, please. Once you post that, this entire article should be redacted. It's clear MacRumors is engaging in the kind of Gizmodo sensationalism which it now accuses NYT of doing, and it needs to stop.

 

[azurehi]

For what it's worth, Foxconn Clients:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foxconn

 

[brdeveloper]

Gibson supposedly uses rain forest and other forest wood to build all those stunning guitars.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15268169

Also, they produce a cheaper line of products branded Epiphone. Probably workers from Epiphone factories work on similar Foxconn conditions.

 

[albusseverus]

Of course David Pogue tweeted that he had been running it for over a week which makes this whole article moot.

Perhaps Pogue had access, but was told to hold back on the article - as if they'd been snubbed by Apple over their reporting.

Normally I have an uneasy feeling about Apple playing favourites, based on positive reporting, but in this case NYT is way out of line. Not only is this not Apple's problem alone, but the impetus for the "story" comes from Apple's own and very public efforts to fix the issues.

Apple publishes annual report on efforts to get companies to clean up their acts. NYT times suddenly decides there's a problem. Pathetic.

It's a bit much to expect sensationalising the issue will encourage companies to comply with their own undertakings. And crippling Apple reportage to create the impression that Apple is punishing the NYT, appears to be more of the same wrongheaded and deliberately provocative approach the paper has demonstrated all along.

On the other hand, Pogue may be good mates with Apple and between them they decided to make NYT coverage appear second rate. Guess we'll never know for sure.

 

[ixodes]

When Apple published its press release and went live with OS X Mountain Lion information at 8:30 AM Eastern yesterday, the embargo was lifted and all of the pre-briefed publications immediately posted their stories on the topic.

But one publication with a long track record of receiving favored access from Apple was missing from that group: The New York Times. An article from the Times' David Pogue was published about five hours after Apple's announcement, and it did not appear to include any specific details suggesting that he had received advance notice of the release.

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As reported by The Washington Post, Apple apparently shunned The New York Times over the newspaper's "iEconomy" series of articles that has focused in large part on working conditions in Foxconn's manufacturing plants in China.A decision by Apple to cut off access for a publication presenting the company in a less-than-favorable light should certainly be no surprise to longtime Apple watchers, and the technique is not an unusual one in business as companies constantly seek to ensure the most positive coverage possible.

As many long time Apple enthusiasts know, Pogue was an Apple "Yes-Man". Specifically groomed by, and very close to Steve Jobs, Pogue was the only writer to always, without fail, receive all upcoming Apple products early, to assure he had time to create glowing reports.

Now that Steve's gone, he's free to do whatever he feels like doing.

Thinking for himself is a new arena for him to play in.

 

[steve jr.]

Or....

Mr. Pogue was home in Akron,OH with his family at a speaking engagement the night before at The University of Akron.... http://www.ejthomashall.com/site/page.php?id=111&event_id=1114

...just sayin.

 

[JAYnLA]

Nasty BS

This sort of behavior makes me think less and less of Apple.

 

[MagnusVonMagnum]

This is precisely why people should be concerned about Gatekeeper. Any controls put in place to limit freedom of choice or information in an Apple product should be met with concern, IMO. The idea of Apple punishing news outlets for shedding light on legimtiate news concerns over their holdings is unprofessional and tells me EXACTLY how they will wield their power over the consumer. You will only recieve the information Apple approves of. You will only be allowed to use software that Apple endorses. You will not compete directly with Apple on anything from a browser to advertising sales. You will not make one dime without paying apple 3.34 cents out of that dime just for allowing you the privilege of selling something (that they approve of) on their platform, etc.

What AMAZES me is how the current generation of young adults take all this in stride as normal. I'll say again we have a whole generation of young people that don't have a clue what freedom is really about. The Cold War kept those lessons fresh in our minds up through GenerationX. But now it's like China's our good buddy over there making cheap goods for us and the world is our oyster (if you can find a job). Unbiased, reliable NEWS is low on the list of priorities. In fact, today's generations believe that Fox actually runs a NEWS channel!!! LOL. I think many of them are simply out of touch with freedom and therefore they do not appreciate it and will not realize it's gone until it's too late. The media and large corporations have taken over the country and made a mockery of its Constitution through corruption of its government. We are little more than an oligarchy for the aristocracy these days and sadly darn few people seem to even realize it.

 

[Nostromo]

I don't care if David Pogue's article is out a few hours later.

I'd rather read his independent article than that of a sycophant.

Not that all those who are still getting the news early are that.

I appreciate the New York Times for its independence.

Everybody knows David Pogue loves Apple product.

To release the news later to him is not a minus for Pogue, but a faux pas for Apple.

Pogue is the winner in this.

Apple needs to learn that love isn't always sweet.

Just like in real life, when you have to sometimes call an intervention and be tough on a loved one to stop him from drinking.

And the New York Times wanted Apple to stop getting drunk on low wages. They want Apple to be one of the really good guys. And the hints in the article that high tech manufacturing in the US is on the upswing, together with correlative news about political movement into that direction, the article was top quality.

Maybe this is what made it hurt even more at Apple.

 

[SoGood]

Serves NYT right if it really was the case. That article on Apple and Foxxcon was just ridiculous for it really is Foxxcon's problem, and one that's way better than other OEM companies operating in that part of the work.

 

[DavidRichards]

The Times may be more than happy to lose some access to Apple in exchange for its ability to publish high-profile investigative reports such as its iEconomy series.

Nonsense. Like any media outlet, NYT has always had the 'ability' to publish articles like iEconomy. It's not like they need Apple's permission, it's not like they could not publish these articles before. Sadly, criticising Apple always comes with the risk of Apple PR cutting you out of the loop. No self-respective media would hold back on the former in fear of the latter.

As for "Did Apple cut NYT out of the loop for iEconomy?"... of course they would have. Apple has done this time and again. After being flow from Sydney to San Francisco as part of a press junket for the launch of the iPad, The Sydney Morning Herald dared to write a balanced report on the iPad which quite rightly pointed out what some people would see as shortcomings - after all, they are not there to regurgitate Apple PR! For that 'sin' Apple took the SMH off its junket list for at least a year, inviting other media and journalists instead, because those media/journalists would happily swallow and serve up the Apple PR hype to their readers.

Apple has reportedly (and this is from solid media sources) done the same to media in the UK, Europe and Asia.

Pogue could have gotten his Mountain Lion code from many other sources besides Apple, but the fact that his story wasn't out there at the same (Apple-specified end-of-embargo) time as other Mac regulars indicates the NYT got the cold shoulder from Apple.

 

[onetime50]

.

 

[maknik]

Speaking for myself, if I hire a company to do work for me and they abuse their employees, that's on my shoulders -- either I correct their practices, or I find another subcontractor. When I choose what to pay my employees, I base it on what is fair and humane, not just on the lowest possible price I can get away with (and yes, you can still make a profit being fair). And when I am caught by others doing something wrong, I don't whine that it's no fair to focus on me because other people are just as bad. That's the logic of a 5-year-old. If it's wrong, it's wrong, and close attention is just what you should expect if you are the biggest company in the world. Apple should stick up for its principles without hiding behind NYT-bashing and "he did it first/worse" defenses.