How to follow custom topics in Apple News app

Brainjax44,

Thank you for participating in the Apple Support Communities. We understand you're unable to find or follow a specific topic in Apple News. That topic may not be available to follow. You can follow channels that may have that content or tell Apple to "Suggest More Like This" when you find a similar story with that type of content. This article explains more about this: Follow or unfollow channels and topics in Apple News - Apple Support.

"Follow a news channel or topic

If you're reading on your iPhone, tap the Following tab at the bottom of your screen to see everything that you follow.

On your iPad, you can find the channels and topics that you follow in the sidebar under Channels & Topics. On your Mac, look in the sidebar under Following.

Follow a channel or topic on your iPhone

Browse for a channel or topic in the Following tab or search in the Search tab. When you find the channel or topic that you want, tap the Follow button.

Follow a channel or topic on your iPad or Mac

Browse or search for a channel or topic in the sidebar. Tap or click the Follow button  next to the channel or topic that you want.

Favorite a news channel or topic

Add the channels and topics that you love to your Favorites.

Favorite a channel or topic on your iPhone or iPad

• On your iPhone, go to the Following tab. On your iPad, open the sidebar.
• Tap or click Edit at the top of the screen.
• Next to the channel or topic, tap the Add to Favorites button .

You can find all of your Favorites at the top of the Today feed on your iPhone or in the sidebar on your iPad.

Favorite a channel or topic on your Mac

In the sidebar, find the channel or topic that you want to add. Control-click the channel or topic, then click Add to Favorites.

You can find all of your Favorites in the sidebar on your Mac.

See only the news that you follow

To have only the channels that you follow appear in your Today feed and topic feed, turn on Restrict Stories in Today.

Restrict Stories in Today on your iPhone or iPad

1. Open the Settings app. 
2. Scroll down and tap News.
3. Tap Restrict Stories in Today.

Restrict Stories in Today on your Mac

From the menu bar choose News > Settings, then select "Restrict stories in Today."

Tell News the types of stories that you like to read

• Want to see similar stories in Today like the one that you're currently reading? As you read a story, select Suggest More Like This .
• You can also tell the News app the types of stories that you don't like so that they don't appear as often in Today. In a story, select Suggest Less Like This .
• You can also report a concern about an Apple News story."

You can also leave feedback for Apple here: Product Feedback - Apple.

We hope this helps.

Take care.

Apple's "features" are not very helpful. Customization is what we want. Customize the topics we follow, customize the news sources we follow.

I would gladly switch to Apple News+ for my news if it worked more like an RSS news reader. The ability to add custom sources and topics, be able to handle keywords or topics in particular ways (ie. highlight articles that match or put them in a folder automatically). Why do I want Apple to decide my news sources for me? My local newspaper isn't even in there, and I would love to add its RSS feed so I can see what's going on in my own town.