It’s Official: Wikipedia Is A Google News Source
Jun 22, 2009 at 3:01pm ET by Matt McGee
Google’s “experiment” in using Wikipedia as a news source on Google News is over, at least in the U.S. and Canada. The experiment was obviously a success, because Google has confirmed for us that the idea has been expanded. Says Google spokesperson Gabriel Stricker:
“As with many features on Google News, these links were initially launched as an experiment. Now they’ve been rolled out to all English language editions of Google News.”
As I mentioned just a couple weeks ago in writing about the Wikipedia link test, it’s hard to argue that Wikipedia pages don’t offer valuable background and context on many current events. At the same time, though, it can be hard to understand how and when Google chooses to include a Wikipedia link on Google News, and sometimes easy to question when they do.
Consider, for example, these two stories on Google News this morning:
The top cluster doesn’t include a Wikipedia link, despite the presence of a tremendously detailed Wikipedia entry about the Voting Rights Act. The lower cluster includes a link to a Philip Marloff Wikipedia entry that comes with a warning: “The neutrality of this article is disputed.” (The Voting Rights Act entry only calls for additional references.)
Google, of course, won’t say how and when it determines that a Wikipedia link is appropriate for inclusion on Google News. “An algorithm determines when Wikipedia topic pages are relevant to Google News clusters,” Stricker says.
Share, Bookmark & Discuss This Article
More:
Keep Updated: News Via Email | News Via RSS Feed | News Via Twitter
See more stories like this in the Members Library! Check out the Google: News sections of the Members Library where this story is filed. Members also get access to exclusive video content, a members-only weekly & monthly newsletter, plus more. Check out all the benefits!
ONE COMMENT ON It’s Official: Wikipedia Is A Google News Source
TOP STORIES
SEARCH NEWS BRIEFS
FEATURES & ANALYSIS
RECENT COMMENTS
- Zee said " No doubt about it. I screwed up royally with the Plancast / Myspace story. To clarify however, it wa"
- Chris Sherman said " Excellent tips, Josh. I'd only add one other thing: Don't be afraid to approach and talk with speake"
- Clifford Bryan said " Industrial espionage is a fairly common practice in China. The U.S. government does its fair share a"
FREE DAILY SEARCH NEWS RECAP!
SearchCap is a once-per-day newsletter update:
STAY CURRENT THROUGHOUT THE DAY
Search Engine Land produces SMX, the Search Marketing Expo conference series. SMX events deliver the most comprehensive educational and networking experiences - whether you're just starting in search marketing or you're a seasoned expert.
SMX Web Site » | SMX Difference » | SMX News »
Join us at an upcoming SMX event:
- SMX Munich – March 23-24, 2010
- SMX Toronto – April 8-9, 2010
- SMX Sydney – April 22-23, 2010
- SMX Advanced London – May 17-18, 2010
- SMX Advanced Seattle – June 8-9, 2010
- SMX East – October 4-6, 2010
- SMX Stockholm – October, 2010
Learn more about search marketing with our free online webcasts and webinars from our sister site, Search Marketing Now. Upcoming online events include:
- Business Blogging & SEO – March 11, 2010
- Excel Tips & Tricks for PPC Success – March 18, 2010
- Paid Search and Big Brand Marketing – March 23, 2010
FOLLOW US SOCIALLY
- Wall Street Journal Recommended Reading
- Ad Age Power 150 Blog
- Technorati Top 100 Blog
- Techmeme Leaderboard Source
- Best Search Engine Community/Forum
Featured sites from our Blogroll
- Usability and Accessibility
- SiteLogic – Marketing Logic
- Marketing Pilgrim
- Jennifer Slegg – An SEM Consultant
- CNET News.com
Get Your Search Engine Land
Premium Membership!
Become a premium member today and receive:
- Express commenting privileges & photo.
- Exclusive videos & newsletters.
- Discounts to our SMX conferences.
- Access to "How To" & Other Archives.
© 2010 Third Door Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Google, Yahoo & Microsoft logos trademark respective companies and used with permission.
Premium member since 01/2009
What I still find most interesting about this is the wiki article link gets indexed and remains part of the story cluster while the remaining publishers are updating new urls w/fresh content. As far as I know I don’t think major media can yet apply the same approach (the expanding story) and continue to have their news indexed.