Preferred Sources is one of the latest big updates from Google, as it aims to help and empower people to “deepen their understanding of current events and news” where they live and in their surrounding villages, towns and cities.
The new feature in Google Search lets you customise your experience to see more from your favourite sites within the Top Stories section on search results pages.
Specifically, those that you click on time and time again, whether it’s for local traffic and sport updates, new shops or restaurant openings, or the most recent court and crime goings-on.
Following the launch of Preferred Sources in the U.S. and India, it’s recently been released in the UK too, and now you can add your local Newsquest title to your own favourites section, so you never miss a story.
Why you should favourite your local Newsquest title as a Preferred Source on Google
Just some of the reasons your local Newsquest title should be a Preferred Source on Google include:
To stay up to date with the latest breaking news where you are
See the most recent transport updates, including road closures, train cancellations and general traffic incidents
Read in depth analysis of everything from court and crime to sport and travel
Make the most of supporting local businesses with the newest retail and food and drink openings
Be in the know with what’s on in your area, from community events to concerts and gigs
How to make your local Newsquest title a Preferred Source on Google
If you’re wondering how you can make your local Newsquest title a Preferred Source on Google, it’s easy:
Search for a topic that’s in the news on Google and click on the icon to the right of the Top Stories section (this looks like two little dark squares overlapping with a star in the middle)
Search and select your Preferred Sources – e.g. the title of your local Newsquest site (you can choose as many as you like)
Refresh your results and see more stories from your favourite site
Once you have selected your Preferred Sources, they will appear more frequently in Top Stories or in a dedicated ‘From your sources’ section on the Google search results page.
Google notes that you will still see content from other sites, and can manage your selections at any time (remove or add news titles as you wish).
Have you discovered the new Preferred Source option on Google for all your local news needs? Let us know in the comments below.