News feeds can get messy. Fast.
When you type something into Google, the engine tries to guess what’s happening. It pulls headlines from everywhere.
Mostly the big, loud names.
Maybe you’re done with that noise.
Google now lets you curate your own news ecosystem. It’s a simple switch that tells the search engine exactly who gets the spotlight.
Pick Your Publishers
The mechanism lives in the Top stories box. That cluster of headlines that pops up during breaking events? Click the tiny icon next to the heading. It looks like overlapping rectangles with a plus sign.
Start typing the name of an outlet you actually like. The New York Times? Local indie blog? Pick them.
They move to the front of the line.
This isn’t about blocking anyone, really. It’s about elevation. Google says you’ll see your chosen sources more often.
How often? They’re vague.
But the result is clear: less filler. More signal.
Where It Actually Works
Here is the catch. This feature requires a specific workflow.
- You must use Google Search to add sources. You cannot add new ones inside the dedicated Google News app or portal.
- Once added via search, they sync over. Head to
Google News, then the Following tab. Your preferred outlets are there under “Sources”.
So the setup is on search. The reading is on News. A bit disjointed.
But functional.
On the Google News front page itself, your controls are weaker. Click the three dots next a story? You can say “more like this” or “hide this source entirely.”
There is no granular “boost this specific writer” button yet. Only mute.
“There is some overlap here,” but not a complete marriage.
You can also tweak Your topics. Sports, business, tech. That helps shape the algorithmic feed too. But it doesn’t replace the human choice of publisher preference.
Why Bother
Let’s be real. The default algorithm serves you what keeps you clicking. Not what you respect.
Adding a local newspaper might feel minor. It’s not.
It forces the engine to serve niche voices alongside the global giants.
Is it a perfect fix for misinformation? No.
Garbage news still exists. It will still find ways to your screen.
But this tool lets you drown out the worst of it with better choices.
One rhetorical question for you.
Do you actually trust the algorithm to know your taste in journalism?
Probably not.
Head to google.com/preferences/source if the search menu feels tedious. There is no limit on how many sources you can add. Five. Fifty.
Go wild. Or stay conservative.
The feed is yours to build.
