Washington Post 12+

I use both the digital version and the soon to be replaced print versions of the wapo apps. With what is available in the most recent versions of the digital app, I fear that many of the features of the print app will be lost in the upcoming move to a single app.
Two of these features are: control over which section are downloaded when the app opens and the ability to change pages with a simple touch instead of a swipe. At home, with excellent internet speed, choosing which sections to download is not critical. However, when travelling and at the mercy of a hotel’s slow speeds, it does become very important. I have had cases where it took over 15 minutes to download a single section. The touch vs. swipe may seem insignificant to some but if you must work with one hand while holding your iPad having the ability to turn the page with a simple touch is important. I hope the Post keeps these and the other print addition features when they finally retire the dedicated print app.

My biggest complaint with this app is the confusing way commenting works. If you want to see a reply to a comment that is very far down a chain, you go to a shortened version of the chain. This is fine, but if you try to go back, it takes you to the top of the entire comment section. If you want to look at your own comments, you have to open another article’s comment section, hit my profile, then tap your comment…which opens another article that you have to scroll back down to the comment section, hit my profile, then your comment and THEN you can see your comment. It won’t just take you directly to your comment from a profile page or something like any other app. You also can’t delete your own comments, which seems like a bad choice on a news app. I also have an issue where it logs me out whenever I open the app, but opening and closing the comment section fixes it.

Outside of the comment section, many of the longer read articles aren’t formatted properly for the app. I just saw an article that had important information showing up as white text on a white background for example.
The search function is also pretty useless. Trying to search by keyword will give you stuff from months ago instead of recent articles. Finally, the ads really need better screening. It’s all “5 Quick Tips to Reverse Aging” type clickbait with nasty pictures.

The other day I noticed on a couple media bias graphs that the WP was dead center with the highest amount of original content. As someone who doesn’t fit in either political party I have been longing for a news source that works hard to see both sides, like I do. So, when I saw the graphs I decided to order a subscription at a promo price that seemed generous. The first two days I read as much as I could and seemed to be getting what I had hoped for. Then yesterday I opened the app and was dismayed at what I saw yesterday. Four out of the six featured pieces were obviously left leaning on the issues of state rights, abortion, and the use of presidential power (9/5/21). Were the other two right leaning to at least attempt to give a little balance? No, they were not. They were about items that didn’t have a political impact.
I’m going to give the Post a couple more weeks to try to prove me wrong on this, but I’m not all that hopeful. Has the news media swung so far left in general that the Post just looks centrist by comparison?

I love the way the app is arranged. But I do have a complaint about the search feature. I searched for articles on Indonesia and got several hits from a couple of weeks ago. When I attempted to click on the links the only place they sent me was back to the front page of the current day.