What if I don't see my favorite news source in Google News?
We're as shocked as you are! If we're missing a publisher that we should be covering, please send us your ideas. While we can't guarantee that we'll heed your recommendation, but we do promise to review all the suggestions we receive without regard to political viewpoint or ideology.
-- Google (replying to a question it asked itself.)
Speaking of Google, and news sites, there's been a lot of controversy about how it is that Google defines or selects news sites. Charles Johnson reported earlier that Google seems to have no problem with Nazi news sites like National Vanguard, while Roger L. Simon no longer accepts Google advertisements. And in addition to the latest in Nazi news, Jeff Jarvis notes that Google reports highly illuminating stories like this:
Geologists in the East and West coasts are busy understanding a new theory that shows possible underground UFO bases all around the world....
According to this theory, the UFO bases need to be deep under the ground because the UFO crafts need to be close to the mantle of the earth. Servicing of these crafts can be done in that electromagnetic environment only.
Well, I have found another official Google news site called "Official Wire," which, at first glance appears legit.
Until, that is, you notice (sandwiched between obsequious puff pieces about CAIR) the repeated, glowing stories about the exploits of Nazi crackpot Ernst Zundel (partial list shown):
I think most will begin to get the picture. "Official Wire" obviously either has a screw loose or else it's some kind of terrorist front. Unfortunately, I could find very little written about this well-funded outfit. While the following website obviously has its own bias, if what they're saying about baou/Official Wire is true, someone really ought to look into this.
The JDO Intelligence Division has discovered what in our studied opinion is a Saudi-funded front group that mirrors the sleaziness of the Saudi Royal Family. The Baou Foundation even went as far as procuring women for the Saudis under their subsidiary, now shut down, known as SEX WHEEL. The main propaganda operation, OfficialWire, exists under the guise of a Foundation based in Greece known as the Baou Trust, and in the United States as a bogus charity known as QuakeAid. QuakeAid has been alleged to be involved in fraud, although we see it more a a Saudi money laundering operation, but these people's scuminess knows no limits. CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT THE TANGLED WEB THAT HAS BEEN WEAVED TO LAUNDER FUNDS FOR WAHABISM AND HAMAS IN THE GUISE OF AN EARTHQUAKE CHARITY, WEB ESCROW FUND, YACHT CLUB, ALBANY RANCH, RESORTS AND ON AND ON IN WINKIPEDIA, A WEBSITE WITH NO CONNECTION TO JDO.
The QuakeAid link above goes to this Wikipedia post, with more information about "Official Wire."
Google would have us believe its content decisions are not made by human beings, but by unthinking bots incapable of bias. I'm a bit skeptical -- especially in light of the disclaimer of "bias" -- especially considering Google's track record with the Second Amendment. (Nazis yes! Guns no?)
And why aren't LGF and InstaPundit considered news sites? Do I have to be a bot in order to feign shock?
UPDATE: (One link fixed, and another added above.)
My thanks to Glenn Reynolds for linking this post -- and a warm welcome to InstaReaders! Thanks for coming.
(And if you're shocked, be sure to contact Google!)
MORE: "OfficialWire" is spelled without any spacing, and the Google News link above was revised accordingly.
AND MORE: Why isn't Nranews.com considered a news site?
LAST MINUTE UPDATE: (03/24/05 -- 3:06 p.m.) I know it's late in the InstaLanche to be raising a serious question, but I have one. What is it that makes the "Moderate Independent" site I discussed above a Google "news site" and not a blog? Is it all just a function of labeling? Or is it based on the failure of the site to use MovableType, Blogger or TypePad? I've seen plenty of blogs with similar-sounding names, and which similarly call themselves "angry moderates." I might be one myself. So what makes "Moderate Independent" a news site which prevents a blog from being one?
Right now I am more stumped than shocked.
Perhaps I should rebadge this blog as the (ahem) "Classical Values news site."
posted by Eric on 03.23.05 at 03:39 PM
Comments
It's not all that surprising about the UFO story, because according to some, the Nazis escaped underground in UFOs (possibly to the Hollow Earth) after WW2.
So Nazis and Underground UFO bases go hand in hand. At least in crackpot circles.
Jeremy · March 23, 2005 8:35 PM
Not surprising that there is selection going on behind the scenes.
The site promises that the articles it features are chosen by computer:
"Google News is a highly unusual news service in that our results are compiled solely by computer algorithms, without human intervention."
Assuming that is true - after limiting the selection - note the bias obvious in the articles which appear on the site.
It is hard to say what criteria Google News is using to distinguish between "news," "commentary" and "entertainment." The Daily Kos was a news source on Google News until it became apparent that the screen scraper was pulling the "user diaries," which can be very silly and putting them in the database as legitimate news items! It only took a couple of Daily Kos diaries with titles like "Jenna Bush Marries Alien Twins, Moves to Moon" appearing on the front page and people panicked. Kos had the site pulled from Google News and hasn't had it restored.
On the other hand, RedState.org, WorldNetDaily and a host of other conservative blogs and news sites appear on there.
It would be great to know what Google's policy is exactly regarding this.
bink · March 23, 2005 10:12 PM
Google may have its PR problems, but Instapundit is no news source, either. Links and "heh" news do not make. As for unfair publishing, how often does Instapundit link to or comment on blogs that are members of the Alliance? He seems to have a jones against them.
I'm all for free speech, and if Google were content-neutral that would be one thing. But to include Nazis while excluding firearms and LGF, is outrageous.
And can anyone define what, precisely, is "hate speech"?
So, here we have InstaSupporters complaining about Google for shutting out the nonnews-source guy who shuts out Alliance bloggers who had to organize in order to get sufficent linkage to rise high enough on Google to get anywhere near the first page of search results.
Google's answer is simple: if you're a news site, with reporters and everything, and what you do is post news (like Drudge, the NYT, and the National Vanguard), then you're on their List. But if you're a mere blogger (like Instapundit, Volokh, or Classical Values), then you don't count.
Agence France-Presse seems to have its own ideas about who's allowed to read their stuff.
The Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiler
Don?t bang your head!
It's not all that surprising about the UFO story, because according to some, the Nazis escaped underground in UFOs (possibly to the Hollow Earth) after WW2.
So Nazis and Underground UFO bases go hand in hand. At least in crackpot circles.