Washington Post Select Reviews

by Becky Wolsk

As a new digital subscriber I gave WashingtonPostSelect a try first but this is “curated content” and provides only partial access to the articles one is paying for— I say this because the only way to find the “buried” articles is to use WashingtonPostSelect ’s mediocre search functionality, which doesn’t surface the most recent articles first. So when I input “Capital Weather Gang” which I am sure a lot of people search for often (and subscribe for), I not only was unable to find their main page, but I could tell that results weren’t sorting from newest to oldest, and there was no way for me to toggle that option. There is also no way for me to browse on topic tabs the way I can on other newspaper apps. I deleted WashingtonPostSelect immediately and downloaded Washington Post Classic, which works perfectly, but I wanted to come back and leave this review for fellow subscribers to the WP. The pretty images aren’t worth it, in my opinion, if you want fast access to the most recent news on topics you want to select rather then “wild cards” that a digital strategist thinks will interest you.

by Monopolist

This is one of the better media apps (Although the WSJ app is still much much, much better, many local paper news apps are simply appalling. The WP app has the dubious benefit of being better than appalling but not really that good). Plus is nice big articles and images to swipe through. Downsides are:

1. WashingtonPostSelect is supremely buggy on an iPad and dumps you out after swiping through a dozen or so articles. (Maybe this is a feature, not a bug? To keep you from spending a half hour reading the news?) Come on, folks, this problem has been happening forever and is really unacceptable.

2. Branded, embedded “News-advertisements” are overly prominent, annoyingly large, and repetitive. Stuff from the Brand Studio is especially obnoxious and you can see the same Newsvertisements for months and months.

3. It is hard to expose all the content available. If you were to go by what you can see on the Table of Contents and what you can quickly swipe through, you’d think the post was a one or two page newspaper. There’s gotta be a better way to expose and access content.

So all and all, this is a “meh” experience and is definitely not WaPo worthy.

by Ahsaneres

1. add a dictation feature.

it doesn’t have to be a real voice, it can be archaic like the feature on the apple phone

2. give it more functionality.

WashingtonPostSelect is missing a LOT of news coverage on the regular washington post app. also features such as filtering your news feed, finding news based on topics (it gives you some examples on the regular app and the prompts on the search engine is much clearer in what the user should input).

wait. in writing this review, i’ve been switching back from app to app and the thought just occurred to me: what is the difference between the two apps? what keeps the developers from integrating the features on WashingtonPostSelect with the regular—there’s already the feed of article graphics on the discover page. WashingtonPostSelect doesn’t seem to have much of a difference compared to the regular so perhaps you can make it a settings option in the regular app?

the user can select to have the less cluttered, minimalistic user interface of WashingtonPostSelect or the regular features and can switch at any time. plus it would make it less confusing when the user sees three different washington post apps on WashingtonPostSelect store.

question: do you guys have a podcast? i thought i saw a podcast section but i might have been wrong.

i hope these suggestions are of any use to you! the washington post is such an amazing news outlet and i want people to know that those monthly $6 subscriptions are well worth their money!!

by Cardioballet

I have been a subscriber to WaPo for a couple of years after decades of subscribing to NYTimes (and others). It is an excellent paper with a long, proud tradition of investigative reporting. My only criticism is that the coverage of Israel/Palestine, Syria, etc. (the Middle East in general) is biased and misleading. The reporting is uniformly Pro Zionist. There is a Pro Western take on all conflicts and the reporting on our foreign involvements generally parrots the Pentagon and CIAs version of our many invasions and/or support of our "allies' " invasions, the unimaginable brutality of the KSA/USA led campaign in Yemen being but one example.

Reporting on domestic issues is excellent, the investigation of candidate Roy Moore in Alabama being a prime example of such deeply researched and hard hitting journalism for which the WaPo has justifiably been respected and celebrated, especially ever since the Watergate era.

I hope that WaPo might hire a reporter who has the humanity of a Nicholas Kristoff or Chris Hedges, for example, to cover Israel/Palestine.

by Russwethet2013

As a paying customer who has a subscription with The Washington Post, I feel I have griping rights. WP is one of the finest newspapers in the US and has an excellent iPhone app. It’s well laid out, easy to use and rarely malfunctions. My principal gripe is that it features very cleverly inserted sponsored content by large organizations who are likely paying for the rights to submit such content. This impinges upon WP’s journalistic objectivity. In a world where fake news emanates from the highest political offices to the lowest hovels of decency, journalistic objectivity is everything. Otherwise, we can just get news from Facebook or Twitter. The dim-witted who don't care about accuracy, truth, accountability can continue to be manipulated. WP, If you want to have ads, have ads and call them such. Don’t let the large, wealthy, and powerful write the news that suits them while paying you for the privilege of using your good name.

by Pthpthpthpthpth

The Washington post is not as bad as cable news or USA Today, but it still takes itself a little too seriously. “Democracy dies in darkness”?really? I can tolerate a steady stream of high-drama stories: anti gun articles and “look at how bad society has become” articles; but I would appreciate it if wapo would spend some more time putting high drama news in perspective with either a historical/cultural baseline or statistics. If so, we would find (for example) that the most severe impact of poor gun policy is not mass shootings but gun-empowered-intimidation. We would find that our government spends billions on minor (but very dramatic) problems, while ignores other major ones. This would be responsible journalism. I would also appreciate more articles on how to endure the trumpian age rather than be reminded about every possible reason to feel bad about it. I would pay more for this service.

by Gscrutiny

Very happy to be supporting the Washington Post's journalism in this difficult time for our country.

Strongly encourage the WP to focus on hard news and investigative journalism, avoiding cheap shots. Think of your readers as the "persuadable middle" even if in practice they are not. You are doing well so far but the temptations to get easy clicks are obvious.

WashingtonPostSelect is pretty good. I wish it were easier to find all the day's content, not just some featured subset. It does always seem possible to find the rest of the news with searches. I agree with other comments that it's annoying how easy it is to accidentally swipe off an article, and then lose one's place when swiping back. The ability to see reader comments would be nice.

by Fran Liebowitz

I’ve really come to like WashingtonPostSelect and appreciate it for what it is. [N.B. This is a complete rewrite of a scathing review fro several years ago. WaPo has now “fixed” its strange suite of apps.] Although I now have the full daily paper app, too, I frequently find myself back here to get a quick skim of the day’s top stories. Sometimes I use the reporting here as a jumping off point for more in-depth coverage in the full paper, but mostly I appreciate a 6 paragraph article covering the substance of an article, plus quick access to Opinions - and cooking, gardening, movies and whatever else interests you.

Thanks, WaPo, for reworking that debacle and creating these 2 separate apps, each with its own clearly discernible purpose. One or the other perfectly suits my needs and purpose at at any given time.

by Bbbolt

You have to be doing something right if The Donald hates you fervently. However, most of us believe it’s “fair and balanced “. And you do write about other subjects and have many points of view. I grew up in a “read the paper family” which is no longer in business. The local paper and it’s sister paper shut down for a week and was purchased by a Maine man who saves papers as a hobby. I like a print version so I take the Saturday/Sunday one as I need it to build highly combustible fires in the fireplace as well. In addition the freebie always “sells out” at the two sr. centers I sometimes attend classes at. Keep up the good and desperately needed “vehicle” needed to preserve our democracy.

by Jghalliday

It seems to me that US newspapers have had two real options in dealing with the moments since January last year: bemoan and accommodate, and cover like a newspaper. For many years I have read NYT to see what the ruling class feels it appropriate to mention and, with a few signal exceptions, they have fulfilled that mandate admirably. But I can't stomach it any more. They appear to be stuck in normalizing mode. WaPo, by contrast, seems revived and crucial, and I have switched my reading habits accordingly, seeking NYT's counsel only as a contrast set. I'm glad to have you, WaPo (and admire Alexandra Petri in particular). If as a paper you'd done nothing else, your simple declarative use of the word "lie" would have been worth the price of admission.

by Denalisdad

I’m in Washington for the next few days. Today, I was in an office conference room looking out at the north portico of the White House. My repeating thought was: “What an epic tragedy.” The lies that emanate hourly from the center of Article 2 of the Constitution are farce and pernicious. I commend the Post’s commitment to the facts and its dogged pursuit of same. Does its editorial page tilt left? Of course it does! Just as the Wall Street Journal’s tilts right. Both, along with the New York Times, report detailed, rigorously sources stories, and provide the reading public perspectives on what to make of the events that underlie those stories. We need more, not less of all of the WAPO, NYT, and WSJ have to offer on every page and section.

by ImOldfashioned

As a lifelong (60+ years) reader of the NY Times, I have now been an electronic subscriber to the Post for the past four years, and your reportage has been frankly superior. Your newspaper's superb reporting and wide range of trenchant opinion pieces are what have gotten me through the multiple disasters of the Trump era. Your reporters have allowed the country to see just how great a threat we have been facing. And you have done it with what I believe to be both absolute professionalism and appropriate levels of objectivity. The small amount I pay for my online subscription provides exceptional value. I wish you continued success.

by Ufolks

I enjoy reading the Post because the content is different than the Times and seems to be less one sided. The Post has many stories that delve into the lives of everyday people such as the Jessica's thst are turning 30 and the opioid crisis. The Post content has lots of sports stories that I read though I don't care much about that, I do read them to keep up. Food articles are cool, I like the stories about chefs and they often have obituaries of people I am interested in.
I first started reading the Post when Trump ran for president in 2016 and I've felt compelled to stay in touch with true news ever since then. I know Democracy Dies in Darkness so I support the Washington Post.

by SNH Guy

Great reporting. Great app..........until a week or two ago. No longer can exit WashingtonPostSelect and return to where I was reading & pick up where I left off. Neither of the English not a first language customer service reps I talked to could do anything other than pass the message up the line and give me the same response I got when trying earlier in the day to solve the problem via email, which was that somebody would get back to me within 48 hours. Way too much going on politically to wait for this to be resolved (if in fact it will be resolved). Will go back to reading the Post on their site rather than with WashingtonPostSelect.

by Sawhat

Love having the paper in my hand and reading Favorites - Health Section on Tues, second glance Sunday , food section an food ads, I am a comic fan, special features of Kelly, Courtney, Singletary, Style everyday, especially on Sunday with movie, concert and reviews, Local on Thursday especially home sales and features on home repairs, and painting, furniture design and placement, Business, especially on Sunday, and Outlook I check the obituaries daily I just love reading the post.

When I am out and about I check it out on my “I phone”. I like being notified immediately about news as soon as it happens. I like being able to read my comics without toting my paper along for doctor appointments etc.

by Columbia Walker

It is clear that we need the Post more that ever. We have a president that lies so much that it’s a full time job for the Washington Post to keep up with it. Thank you for all you do. It’s time for a reset. Here is a quote from an Ethical Business Man! Yes there is such a person in fact many business people who play by the rules and care about humanity.

It should be our purpose to grow inspired, concerned, loving people. An inspired, concerned, loving society will dignify man; will find ways to develop his talent; will put the fruits of his labor and intellect to effective use; will achieve brotherhood; eliminate bigotry and intolerance, will care for the indigent, the delinquent, the sick, the aged, seek the truth and communicate it; respect differences among men. James Rouse

by Marquessa34

Wonderful newspaper, one of my highest heroes in this dark time of trumpspeak when so many Americans have been infected with what I call the the trump-virus. Thank you, Post People, for fighting the good fight of TRUTH. I am awed by your courage and your persistence. A la Kipling, you have kept your heads when those about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you. You have been a light to many who value the first amendment far more than the second amendment, and I thank you from the depths of my soul for protecting our beloved country from all those who do not understand the Constitution. Though you have been assaulted for speaking truth to powers that want to assail our liberties, there are many MANY who value you and love the spirit of your paper. Lady Liberty is in your debt, and so am I.

by Orwell's Daughter

RELIABLE and RELEVANT investigative journalism is precious. We are concerned about the food we consume and where it comes from. Likewise, sources of information and discussion have never been more important. We need what the Washington Post provides, The presentation is good. Importantly, the fonts can often be enlarged and improved. Videos are interesting and helpful for people with decoding difficulties. Most important is the quality of what is presented and it’s relevance. Today, we we face threats to the fundamental values of our democracy and our environment. If we do not take the trouble to be well-informed caring, thoughtful, and active citizens, we will be in part responsible for the ensuing suffering and destruction. We may even get what we deserve,

by OldGeezer99

I have an Apple iPhone, and the Wash Post select app used to work flawlessly with no problems but beginning about 2 uodates ago it began crashing after being open for about a minute. WashingtonPostSelect crashes so soon after opening that I am unable to complete a msg in the contact option of settings asking for help and advice about this problem. When WashingtonPostSelect has been open for less than a minute and I’m reading a story, my iPhone screen suddenly goes dark for about 1-2 seconds and then displays the iPhone home screen. WashingtonPostSelect used to never have any problems, and then beginning about 2 updates ago it starts crashing. I thought the latest update would fix but it did not. PLEASE FIX!

by Old Flight Paramedic

The Washington Post keeps me grounded to the truth, to the real news & real stories. I crave their editorials and opinion pieces. And don’t even get me started on the front page. I lived in Washington, DC for 21 years and spent so
many Sundays sitting at Starbucks or on my roof with the best entertainment bargain going, the Post...for hours and hours, until I had read every page of the front section, scanned the Metro, Style, Real Estate, Sports & Arts sections, and then dive into the opinions, reading every column. Since I moved out of the DC area, I miss the smell of the newspaper, I miss sorting out the sections, folding and refolding the paper repeatedly, but I don’t miss getting ink stains on my hands. Now, I read the Post online and it is a beautiful thing. Thanks for your awesome journalism!! Democracy Dies in Darkness!

by Downhomeala

Love getting the Post on line. I get talented writers, aggressive research, WDC focused, engaging style, and an immediacy unavailable in printed papers. Here in coastal Alabama there is nothing to compete with this service. I also subscribe to the on line NYTimes It offers a world view and broad looks at society and the arts, but it lacks the focus on what's going on at the White House and on Capitol Hill. And it has comics
The electronic format of the Post is a jumble of serious and trivial news and features and there appears no way to cull what I want to read from everything I don’t care about. Overall the format has improved since my last review and I do recognize that others are interested in the things in the paper that I want to skip. But why in an electronic version of a newspaper can’t the reader tailor what is presented to him or her. The Times suffers from the same shortcoming but somewhat compensates by having a very detailed “table of contents” that mirrors the format of the physical paper.