Google's Xmas Gift To Local Press?

Google News says it is now “actively promoting” local stories via its search facility.

The portal has recently changed some of its news ranking algorithms and claims that the adjustments will favour online reporting from local sources.

A post on the Google News blog outlines some of the changes and asserts that the company is seeking to “recognise the importance of local context”.

The blog continues: “In order to provide a local angle to global events, we have started actively promoting high quality local reporting in addition to coverage from foreign sources.

“This means we try to find sources at the scene of a story who are doing original reporting.

“It may be a national or international story with many sources from around the world reporting on it, but often times one of the best sources of information on a story are those closest to it.”

Further news ranking changes can also be expected as the blog ends on a teasing note: “There are quite a few other exciting quality initiatives we are working on, but we don’t want to take away all the suspense!”