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Google Newspaper

Here’s some interesting news from The Wrap, which got it direct from Eric Schmidt, Google CEO –
Google to build intelligent newspaper.
“In about six months, the company [Google] will roll out a system that will bring high-quality news content to users without them actively looking for it.
Under this latest iteration of advanced search, users will be automatically served the kind of news that interests them just by calling up Google’s page. The latest algorithms apply ever more sophisticated filtering – based on search words, user choices, purchases, a whole host of cues – to determine what the reader is looking for without knowing they’re looking for it.
And on this basis, Google believes it will be able to sell premium ads against premium content.
The first two news organizations to get this treatment, Schmidt said, will be the New York Times and the Washington Post.”
Schmidt acknowledged that Google would not be paying the newspapers for their content. Interesting.
Will the NYT’s Boston Globe be the first major daily to shut down?
When do we reach the tipping point – or breaking point – where we have very few sources of verified information?
Can libraries step in and fill the void? Or will we just continue to trust the free and watch from the sidelines as opinion trumps verified facts.
I am not arguing against the Google strategy. I just can’t see it being sustainable in the long term but then maybe I lack the vision. With USA Today getting many stories from blogs, maybe that’s the future.
Stephen

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Posted on: May 4, 2009, 10:35 am Category: Uncategorized

By: stephen

rev="post-2369" 1 comment

One Response

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  1. Heidi Hoerman said
    on May 4, 2009 12:57 pm

    Newspapers have been committing hara-kiri for reasons that have nothing to do with medium (paper versus web). The problem is a failed business model that demands a profit margin triple that which satisfied newspaper owners for many years. When newspapers became part of large chains, profit triumphed over product. As with everything else, this only works for so long. Eventually, the lack of product leaves the company bankrupt.
    So far, Google has balanced profit and product. If they continue to do so, they will succeed. If the AP chooses to deny Google the ability to link to their content, it will be the AP’s loss. Making your content accessible is the name of the game. If I were AP, I’d be trying to figure out how to get Google to feature my content to get the back-link traffic.