Google announced a major change to how news-related content is added and maintained on its Google News aggregation and search service last night.
The changes are based around the introduction of a new website called the Google News Publisher Center, where the key details of websites can be managed and maintained.
After verifying ownership of a site using Google Webmaster Tools, website owners are now able to submit their website for inclusion in Google News, or remove it from the service, through the website.
In addition, website owners are able to update key details such as the name of the website, labelling the site as “blog”, “satire” or “opinion”, update Google about site structure or give website sections labels.
The feature will initially be rolled out in the US only, however, Google has already announced it plans to both introduce it into other countries and add more features.
In a statement, Google says readers will be “more informed about the articles they’re clicking”, while website owners will “benefit from better discovery and classification” of news content.
Andrew Sadauskas is a former journalist at SmartCompany and a former editor of TechCompany.
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