Google Launches News Showcase In Australia Amid Dispute Over Proposed Law (zdnet.com) 15
Google has launched a limited version of its News Showcase in Australia despite threatening to pull Search from the nation a fortnight ago. ZDNet reports: News Showcase, Google claims, provides an "enhanced view" of articles, and aims to give participating news publishers more ways to share important news to readers while having "more direct control of presentation and branding." The product will appear across Google News on Android, iOS and the mobile web, and in Discover on iOS.
As part of the initial version of News Showcase in Australia, seven local news publishers have partnered with the search giant, Google APAC news, web and publishing head Kate Beddoe said in a blog post. "The initial publishers featured in today's launch were among the first globally to sign up, providing early feedback and input on how the product could help bring their journalism to the fore for readers," she said. The Australian publications included in the initial version of Google News Showcase are The Canberra Times, The Illawarra Mercury, The Saturday Paper, Crikey, The New Daily, InDaily, and The Conversation.
As part of the initial version of News Showcase in Australia, seven local news publishers have partnered with the search giant, Google APAC news, web and publishing head Kate Beddoe said in a blog post. "The initial publishers featured in today's launch were among the first globally to sign up, providing early feedback and input on how the product could help bring their journalism to the fore for readers," she said. The Australian publications included in the initial version of Google News Showcase are The Canberra Times, The Illawarra Mercury, The Saturday Paper, Crikey, The New Daily, InDaily, and The Conversation.
Only heard of one of them... (Score:1)
Likely publications that are terrible anyway, if they need Googles help.
Re:Only heard of one of them... (Score:5, Insightful)
Actually, they are pretty good publications with good reputations. However they have a very small readership compared to News Corp and Nine Media.
This will be a very large source of concern for the government. Right now 95% of what is read in the news in Australia is pro-government. These papers with very small readership have been known to criticise corruption, waste and stupidity by the ruling party. There's an election coming soon. Can the government risk people reading news online to read something that is not blindly pro-government? It doesn't bear thinking about...
Re: (Score:2)
More interesting is the fact that they are getting paid.
https://www.androidpolice.com/... [androidpolice.com]
Seems like the Australians called their bluff and scored at least a minor victory.
Re:Only heard of one of them... (Score:4, Interesting)
Yes, it does look like Google is backing down, which is a pity. I would love it if Google left Australia and large numbers of people started using DuckDuckGo. Privacy in Australia would improve. It might result in a surge of interest in privacy around the world.
Let's hope that Facebook stands firm and leaves Australia...
Re: (Score:3)
Yes, it does look like Google is backing down, which is a pity. I would love it if Google left Australia and large numbers of people started using DuckDuckGo. Privacy in Australia would improve. It might result in a surge of interest in privacy around the world.
Let's hope that Facebook stands firm and leaves Australia...
Not at all.
Google planned to pay for some news [news.com.au] over 6 months ago, before the draft code was first published. I don't think sharing revenue from a news.google.com.au or whatever it is called now was ever a major issue for them. This is about a different line in the sand. The newspapers have asked their politician mates, the LNP to pass a law to force Google to give them money from their search engine business.
You are perhaps under the mistaken belief they've come
Re: (Score:2)
I think you've missed the point of what Google was threatened with. Google can't run google search outside of Australia and have ad revenue from inside Australia. They would be in breach of the new laws, which I agree are crony capitalism, designed to defend the duopoly of Nine Media and News Corp. So Google is backing down, but in a way that lets them control the narrative, potentially. Expect howls of anguish if Google start to give preference to news other than Nine and News Corp - both the coalition
Murdoch is the driver behind this (Score:5, Informative)
So which publications are affiliated with the Murdoch cartel? If you live in Australia you will be well aware by now that he is the driving force behind the majority of news and tabloid publications that have historically pushed towards right wing coverage. And for Murdoch to keep his stronghold you can see examples such his move to push a cross the board "let's kick this mob out" front page headline to stave off the labour parties fibre to the home commitment in the previous election run-up. Yep, that was an entire front page headline to push voters to an opposition who effectively put the brakes on and watered down the whole concept so he could continue to pump Australians with his own agenda. Make no mistake, Murdoch uses his influence to get his way, by any means. Ethics asside.
Who is getting news from Google? (Score:4, Informative)
People keep acting as if this was a big deal but I've not used Google for news in years. Their search engine is barely usable for general cases these days; finding news via it is madness.
All these sources have their own website - just go to those directly. Bookmark them even!
Google is usually a better search engine (Score:2)
than the ones the news sites use. Googling "site:example.com search_string" is almost always going to return better results than searching using the site's own widget.
Re: (Score:2)
I've not used Google for news in years
That doesn't matter. If you search on some topic and Google includes news summaries and links to the source sites in the results, laws are being passed requiring them to pay the news outlets. Even if you have no intent on visiting them.
Google's approach seems to be pretty good. Continue to index Australian news sites and stories. But only display them for people who want to see news. Australian news to be specific. The down side: One of the great advantages to Internet search has been the ability to discov
Google is the 800 lb gorilla (Score:2)
No matter which side of the fence you are on, one fact is clear. Google is the 800 lbs gorilla in the room. If governments and traditonal media can get Google to move to a model where Google pays something for "using" traditional media content, the other search engines will likely follow.
The other option would be to go after some of the smaller search engines, but, paying for content will mean higher ad prices. Few of the others have the ad revenue and financial resources, to surviv