Google News - Reporting Spam Sites

Discussion in 'Google' started by Dominic, Nov 22, 2005.

  1. #1
    Someone from Google News is welcome to contact me via personal message or post here about how to report spam sites being picked up by Google News.

    This past week has been our peak season (www.schoolies.org.au) during which we monitor everything that moves on Google News, AP and other news sources, and yes for DP members... yours truly has been in the paper and on the radio plenty. Woopdidoo!

    However I've been pretty surprised by the dupe content sites picked up by Google News and the low quality sites included as 'news' sources.

    Also I'm pretty surprised by the respected newspapers not picked up by Google News.
     
    Dominic, Nov 22, 2005 IP
  2. eduardomaio

    eduardomaio Peon

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    #2
    And how about a #1 in SERPs website with nothing but hidden text that i've reported about 10 times now?

    Google messed up, and they know that! Just check some of the mcdars tools and you'll notice it
     
    eduardomaio, Nov 22, 2005 IP
  3. johnt

    johnt Peon

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    #3
    It was my understanding that you had to apply to be in Google News, and that each application was given a manual review. If they decide that you are a trusted source, then they pick up any articles that you publish for inclusion in news search results.
    Given that all sites are subject to manual review, unlike regular SERPs, I would be surprised to see low quality articles appearing there.

    As for respected news papers not in Google News, maybe they just haven't submitted themselves.
     
    johnt, Nov 22, 2005 IP
  4. Dominic

    Dominic Well-Known Member

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    #4
    Well as far as things go with us, we aren't likely to make the shortlist for Google News and have no interest in doing so. Our site isn't like that, yes we have press releases, but aren't a newspaper or anything like that.

    We are however the #1 authority on this topic, on the web and off the web... our media comments go out through the numerous journalists who call every day, principally with Associated Press.

    The vantage point of knowing what's what with media regarding this topic is where the criticism comes from:
    * no opportunity to report spam sites
    * vague opportunity to suggest key news outlets for inclusion

    Anyway, hopefully someone from goog in this forum will be able to clarify policies and procedures.

    If your site gets picked up let us know, if a site gets picked up and shouldn't let us know, if a site should get picked up and doesn't let us know.

    I appreciate Google News is on autopilot, wondering if there is any opportunity for input for quality control / development?
     
    Dominic, Nov 22, 2005 IP
  5. GuyFromChicago

    GuyFromChicago Permanent Peon

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    #5
    Sites included in Google News are manually reviewed and approved. I've also seen sites booted after they were accepted (threadwatch for example) so I know Google monitors what's being included in Google News.
     
    GuyFromChicago, Nov 22, 2005 IP
  6. ferret77

    ferret77 Heretic

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    #6
    who cares whats in google news?

    what is this volenteer you time to billion dollar corporations day?
     
    ferret77, Nov 22, 2005 IP
  7. Dominic

    Dominic Well-Known Member

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    #7
    Say again I don't understand?

    I care who is in Google serps and Google news as they are so called relevant results... followed by gazillions of net users.
     
    Dominic, Nov 22, 2005 IP
  8. ferret77

    ferret77 Heretic

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    #8
    Basically your site isn't in there and you want it to be

    and someone elses site is in there and you think their site is crap

    so you are upset and want to start policing google news

    how noble
     
    ferret77, Nov 22, 2005 IP
  9. exam

    exam Peon

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    #9
    I think you're overreacting. I think domonic's ok and he's just concerned about the quality found on news.google.com.
     
    exam, Nov 22, 2005 IP
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  10. Dominic

    Dominic Well-Known Member

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    #10
    No, our site has no place in Google News. The site is not a media outlet.

    There is absolutely no grounds on which is should be. Nor would it help the site to be.

    Just because we commentate on issues doesn't mean our website has any grounds to be in Google News.

    There are media outlets and media commentators... legitimate media outlets should be in Google News; comentators on the other hand, even if they have press releases from time to time shouldn't be= in Google News... imo.

    I'm highlighting the fact some sites that dupe content news stories get picked up... = noise / spam. And that there are a lot of legit news outlets = regional newspapers not yet on the list at Google News.

    So how do we spam report dupe listings and how do we contribute suggestions of media outlets that should be scanned and agregated?
     
    Dominic, Nov 22, 2005 IP
  11. GuyFromChicago

    GuyFromChicago Permanent Peon

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    #11
    Check here.


    What do you mean by dupe listings? I assume you're talking about more than sites that are publishing the same (or similiar) story?
     
    GuyFromChicago, Nov 22, 2005 IP
  12. ferret77

    ferret77 Heretic

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    #12
    Dominic,

    I guess I don't understand why you even mention your site if it was nothing to do with google news?

    I'm not really over reacting I am just responding

    when someone says let all pitch in help google, I think its asinine

    its like saying hey everyone lets go volunteer at McDonalds
     
    ferret77, Nov 22, 2005 IP
  13. GuyFromChicago

    GuyFromChicago Permanent Peon

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    #13
    I would have to disagree with you here - I like that fact that a lot of "little guys" are in Google News. If I want to be force fed the same biased news from the same old tired sources I'll just flip on the TV. I've found no less than 50 sites in the last year that I check a few times a week becuase they were in Google news. Without that outlet I probabaly would have never known about them.
     
    GuyFromChicago, Nov 22, 2005 IP
  14. Dominic

    Dominic Well-Known Member

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    #14
    Cheers for the link, I'll use that one.

    Duplicate listings as in there are sites that aren't news sites, but just scrap news stories from legit sites and re-run them (in full) with a link to the original source.
     
    Dominic, Nov 22, 2005 IP
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  15. GuyFromChicago

    GuyFromChicago Permanent Peon

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    #15
    Ahh, those sites suck to stumble across in the news. Good luck getting them knocked out.
     
    GuyFromChicago, Nov 23, 2005 IP
  16. Dominic

    Dominic Well-Known Member

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    #16
    I'll let you know if I have any success.

    So far, after a few days they are still in the mix, have to check which sites they are scraping and keep checking once a week or something via google news to see if they have been dropped.

    I don't hold out much hope but may as well contribute the feedback.
     
    Dominic, Nov 28, 2005 IP