No, but it should be. What people are supposed to read on their commute time?
Newspaper? Or they have to buy also a e-ink device for the books / audible?
Then, you go in the Jolla market and search for “news”. You will find just one app with limited features. Nice, clean, but too much limited. Therefore, there is a default app, unless you buy the €49 license for having the Alien Dalvik¹ compatibility layer to install Android apps and/or you are able to cope with one week of IT professional work to setup your smartphone.
it was a week of IT professional work, until a Quick Start Guide will appear… 
NOTES
¹ in the Jolla market, it is refered as Android App Support but it is based on Alien Dalvik since the beginning of SFOS, as far as I know.