Google News Initiative

I used Google News for a long time. I have since blackholed it on all of my machines. By tailoring the news articles presented to be based on the interests that Google data mined from my Google profile, it became an echo chamber even worse than Facebook.

It became a very bad source of news: all of the articles were self-reinforcing each other with very very little actual diversity of sources.

Re: Google News Initiative

#7

Post by mojuba » Tue, Mar 20, 2018, 4:15 PM UTC

Why is Google putting $300 million of their own money into this?

Does anyone have greater than zero trust in what Google is trying to do in this space?

Re: Google News Initiative

#8

Post by kosei » Tue, Mar 20, 2018, 4:16 PM UTC

kyrra wrote: post #4

EDIT: It looks like there were 3 blog posts by Google announcing this initiative. Blog posts announcing Google News Initative: https://www.blog.google/topics/google-news-initiative/announ... Subscription payments feature: https://www.blog.google/topics/google-news-initiative/introd... Elevating quality journalism: https://www.blog.google/topics/google-news-initiative/elevat... Some news coverage on it: https://www.th…

Based on the blog article, it seems like the main thing they're trying to solve is the payment system (use Google payment to easily subscribe). If that's true, it's a much different and less exciting offer than the OP's linked page which seemed like a much larger initiative.

Re: Google News Initiative

#9

Post by lgleason » Tue, Mar 20, 2018, 4:17 PM UTC

Given the bias inside of Google and the fact they have already demonstrated that they are not a neutral arbitrator, the last thing I want to have is them being the arbitrator of who or what news is seen. This is more of an attempt to consolidate their power, what you can and cannot see etc.. Hard pass.

Re: Google News Initiative

#10

Post by 2aa07e2 » Tue, Mar 20, 2018, 4:18 PM UTC

howenterprisey wrote: post #5

What's the point of the withgoogle.com domain?

It gives a partnership vibe, in contrast to the default "we are using you" one.