Google wants you to see more local news
Google wants you to read local, when you can.
Google has announced a new effort to feature local news outlets, particularly when its reporting ends up becoming a part of national news stories.
Google News has introduced a new "Local Source" tag that identifies news from sources that are reporting first-hand on nearby news. It's a welcome nod from one of the Internet's biggest traffic drivers at a time when local news outlets face an uncertain future.
You May Also Like
James Morehead, product manager of Google News, said that the new tag is meant to bring "greater exposure for local news outlets reporting on stories that have gone national."
News from local outlets will lead with "Local Source" in the headline, as can be seen in the image below.
Morehead said that the new tag will be automatically applied to local stories "by looking at where a publisher has written about in the past and comparing that to the story location."
The new tag will appear in Google News on desktop, as well as its iOS and Android apps. There is no indication that the tag will have an impact on Google's search algorithm.
Facebook is the reigning champion of driving traffic to media companies, but Google still can send plenty of people to news stories. A study from analytics company Parse.ly found that 38% of traffic to media sites comes from Google (Facebook accounts for 43%).
Google News by itself is also a pretty good source of readers.
Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.
Topics Google
Jason Abbruzzese is a Business Reporter at Mashable. He covers the media and telecom industries with a particular focus on how the Internet is changing these markets and impacting consumers. Prior to working at Mashable, Jason served as Markets Reporter and Web Producer at the Financial Times. Jason holds a B.S. in Journalism from Boston University and an M.A. in International Affairs from Australian National University.
