Google added a new feature that lets you choose your favorite news outlets for its “Top Stories” section.
Google’s Top Stories section often appears when you search for something happening in the news right now. Setting a site as a preferred source means it will appear in the Top Stories section whenever it is relevant to your query.
How to add a preferred source on Google Top Stories
You need to be logged into a Google account to add a preferred source.
The easiest way to add NBC News as a preferred source is by clicking the link here. You can search news organizations and they should automatically appear as an option to select from the dropdown menu.
You can also add a preferred source as you browse Top Stories on Google search. I searched TSA-banned items, for example, and next to the Top Stories module, there is a new icon that looks like a card with a star in the center. Click it, and you can add preferred sources using a menu like the one above.
Why is this a big deal?
Google Preferred Sources gives you more control over what you see in your search results. Typically, Google’s search algorithm surfaces top results, and while these can change based on factors like your location or search history, there isn’t much direct input from the user. Using Google Preferred Sources, you can tell Google from the start which websites you prefer over others, and better curate your Top Stories as a result.
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Why trust NBC Select?
I’m a reporter at NBC Select who covers technology and fitness, including recent stories on smartwatches, running shoes and cameras. For this piece, I tested Google’s new preferred sources feature and learned how it works.
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