Bending to bad publicity, Apple has asked Pulitzer Prize-winning political cartoonist Mark Fiore to resubmit the iPhone app it rejected four months ago because the app satirized public figures in violation of its policies. Fiore did just that Friday morning, even though he says he feels a bit odd about it.
"I feel a little bit guilty because it feels like I am getting preferential treatment," Fiore said.
Update Friday 17:05 Eastern: Apple CEO Steve Jobs reportedly responded to a user e-mail complaint about the ban, saying "This was a mistake that's being fixed." Apple's PR department has still not responded to a request for comment.
Apple rejected Fiore's app in December, several months before Fiore won the Pulitzer Prize for editorial cartooning. In rejecting it, Apple cited its rules that prohibit making fun of public figures, which is exactly what the Pulitzer Prize committee praised about Fiore's Flash animations.
Fiore told Wired.com Friday that after news of his ban came to light this week in an interview with Nieman Journalism Labs, Apple called him and suggested he resubmit his app.
News of the ban ricocheted around the net Thursday and prompted the prestigious Columbia Journalism Review to call on media outlets to pull their apps from Apple's online store.
"The iPad is the most exciting opportunity for the media in many years," wrote CJR's Ryan Chittum. "But if the press is ceding gatekeeper status, even if it's only nominally, over its speech, then it is making a dangerous mistake. Unless Apple explicitly gives the press complete control over its ability to publish what it sees fit, the news media needs to yank its apps in protest."
Fiore's app is almost certain to be approved now by Apple, but it's far less clear whether the incident will lead Apple to reconsider whether it should be exercising this sort of discretion over media and political content -- given how powerful its app platform has become.
Fiore points out he's not the first well-known political cartoonist to run afoul of Apple initially, only to get past its auditors after a public stink, referring to the experiences of Daryl Cagle and Tom Richmond.
"It seems like you need to raise a stink to get something political approved," Fiore said. "That's what makes me a little upset, if you are someone people haven't heard of and have an amazing satire app, you won't get this through."
Fiore says he's got no grudge against Apple and likes to think of the company as a friend or family member who is just doing something a little stupid.
"Maybe this is just growing pains," Fiore said. "Hopefully, they will realize, 'Hey, I'm becoming part of the Fourth Estate.' They are becoming the delivery vehicle, and there are some responsibilities that come with that."
Fiore's other app problem is that he cartoons in Flash. He hasn't figured out how to get around Apple's ban on Flash for iPhones and iPads, so his app is fairly simple, relying on the YouTube video translations -- though he'd love to be able to do more.
"There is so much potential there for fun political games and satire," Fiore said.
Apple has not replied to a request for comment.
Screenshot: Mark Fiore cartoon makes fun of President Obama's Afghanistan policy.
See Also:
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