(Credit: PCMag)
Google is making it easier to spot news articles from your favorite outlets. A new feature now lets you set your "preferred sources" for the Top Stories block on the search results page.
The feature is rolling out to users in the US and India, with broader availability expected soon.
How to Add a Preferred News Source on Google
To get started, search for a topic on Google. If it's trending, you'll see relevant news stories in a Top Stories section. Click the icon that looks like two overlapping cards with a star on top.
(Credit: Google/PCMag)A pop-up will ask you to "Choose your preferred sources" by typing the name or URL of your favorite website (like PCMag). Tap Reload results at the bottom of the pop-up.
(Credit: Google/PCMag)Tap the card star icon again to add more sources; you can add as many as you like. To remove a source, return to the pop-up menu and uncheck a source in the list below.
Once set, if your preferred sources cover a topic you search for, they will appear more prominently in Top Stories or in a dedicated "From your sources" section below Top Stories, Google says. You'll still see articles from other sources as well.
Google began testing the feature as a Labs experiment in June. During the test, more than half of users added four or more sources, Google says. This comes as many of Google Search's recent additions have been AI features that impacted publisher traffic. Google insists that "AI in Search is driving more queries and higher quality clicks," though it's declined to offer specifics about which sites have been impacted.
Publishers can use a shortcut link in social promotions or include a dedicated button on their website to ensure their readers add them as a preferred source. Instructions for both are provided on this support page.