The most mainstream technology company-related controversy within the past few weeks is most likely the issue of Chinese supplier-working conditions. In January, the New York Times published a lengthy and controversial report about the supposed conditions in these supplier factories. The report claimed to source its information from former Apple executives, and it paints Apple and its suppliers in a horrible light. As we exclusively revealed, Apple CEO Tim Cook responded to the Times’ report and said, “We care about every worker in our worldwide supply chain. Any accident is deeply troubling, and any issue with working conditions is cause for concern.”
Apple and Cook went even further and opened Apple’s supply chain to a full review by the Fair Labor Association. Cook recently spoke about Apple’s supply chain safety efforts at the Goldman Sach’s conference earlier this week. Now, in an unprecedented move, Apple granted ABC Nightline full access to its Chinese supply chain. ABC’s Bill Weir traveled to Shenzhen, China for an exclusive look inside Apple’s supply chain, and ABC provided the following quote from Weir about his trip:
ABC decided to spread its coverage across “Good Morning America,” “World News with Diane Sawyer,” “ABCNews.com,” “ABC News Radio,” and “ABC Newsone.” The first look inside Apple’s factories will show on “ABC Nightline” Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 11:35 p.m. EST.
ABC’s parent is Disney Corporation whose CEO, Bob Iger, sits on Apple’s Board. Former Apple CEO Steve Jobs and now his family are the biggest individual shareholders of Disney.
- NYTimes accuses Apple of playing “Access Journalism”, claims their coverage of Foxconn conditions got them blackballed (9to5mac.com)
