Remove News Articles From Google

Nobody likes negative news articles concerning them. Just one bad news article from national media companies or local publications can tarnish your online reputation. So what can you do about it? Keep reading to learn how to remove news articles from Google Search results.

Removing news from Google that contains false or negative information about you can be tricky. This is particularly true since you don’t have control over the publication. However, with the right strategies, you can get a news article removed.

Why Do News Articles Rank Well in Google?

Depending on what you search for, news articles tend to be the first thing you see in search engine results pages (SERPs). This is especially true if you search for your own name. But why is this?

News articles rank well because of search engine optimization (SEO). SEO is a complex topic, and many factors affect how web pages perform in SERPs. However, here are the main reasons why an article will rank well in a Google search: 

• Domain – the domain authority of a website helps news articles rank well. Many publications have likely existed online for years, and even decades. This is why they typically have such high domain authority. Websites with higher authority tend to rank highly in Google SERPs.
• Date published – Google wants to show users the most relevant, up-to-date results. So, the algorithms tend to favor new content and will display it at the top of search results pages. A recent negative story is more likely to appear highly than a story published years ago.
• Backlinks – if other websites link to the article, it is more likely to rank higher in search results. News stories generate a lot of links because of how shareable they are. Articles from larger national outlets may attract more backlinks than smaller, local publications. But, both can still rank well on SERPs.

How Long Do News Articles Stay Online? 

Like most things on the internet, news articles can stay online potentially forever. Now, a story could fall off the first page of Google search results. However, it may continue to rank highly for a long time.

In some cases, a recent article ranking well could increase in position for a search (or search phrases) over time. Larger stories that gain visibility quickly can also get links from many other sites. This can quickly escalate a negative news story and cause it to rank first in Google.

Even if an article does fall, it’s difficult to predict when that will happen. Instead, it’s best not to leave this up to chance and take matters into your own hands. Removing news articles can be a challenge, but the following strategies make it possible. 

5 Strategies to Remove Articles From Google Search

Getting negative articles removed from Google is difficult, but it is possible. Following these options step-by-step can help you attempt to get the article taken down.  

Reach out to the journalist to remove or update the news article

Since you don’t have ownership over the article in question, you must contact the person who does. But, reaching out to journalists can be a tricky process. Use these tips:

• Research the journalist who wrote the article. Look for their email address or social media profiles to reach out to them directly. Tools like Email Hunter can help you find contact information.
• Be polite and professional in your request to remove the newspaper article. Using aggressive or demanding language can hurt your chances.
• Clearly explain why you want the journalist to remove the article. Offer them specific reasons and supporting evidence.
• Highlight any inaccuracies or false information the article may contain. Provide proof to support your claim.
• Journalists are busy, so keep your emails short and to-the-point.
• Make it easy for the journalist to get in contact with you by including your details.
• Send a polite follow-up email if they don’t get back to you within a week.

Even if you follow these steps, journalists may still hesitate to remove articles. They may also outright refuse to do so. Removing an article completely may jeopardize a journalist’s editorial integrity.

If the journalist will not remove the article, they may still be willing to make updates to the story. Here’s how to approach this:

• Point to specific inaccuracies in the story. Offer verifiable evidence to support the corrections.
• Suggest specific changes that would correct the misinformation.
• Emphasize how the inaccuracies have affected you or your business.
• Provide new, accurate information that enhances the article’s quality and credibility.

Contact the parent company of the news organization  

Parent media companies that own local newspapers also accept removal requests. Some have dedicated committees that review requests to remove names, articles, photos, or videos from their sites.

For example, this removal request form for NJ.com states:

“We recognize and respect the right to be forgotten movement that allows people to request the removal of online content that reflects negatively on them, causing them embarrassment or reputational harm or making it difficult for them to gain employment.”

Other organizations may have similar removal request forms. To get a news article removed from the internet, try contacting the news company. You can typically find this information in the “About Us” section of a news site or through a Google search.

News organizations like NJ.com may have their own removal request form you can fill out. Always try to contact the parent organization to take down negative articles about you.

Remove the negative news article with a Google DMCA form

If the journalist or organization won’t remove the content, you may fill out a Google DMCA takedown notice. Before you do this, keep these in mind:

• DMCA stands for the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, and it protects your intellectual property. You should only use this if the journalist or media company misused content that you made.
• Filing a Google DMCA notice will only remove the newspaper article from Google search results. It doesn’t remove the harmful content from the hosting website itself.
• DMCA does not apply in every circumstance, and Google will conduct an investigation once you submit the request. They will only remove the article if copyright infringement has occurred.

Use Content Suppression Tactics To Get Articles Removed From Google

If you can’t get journalists or Google to remove the news article or blog post, you still have another option. Search engine suppression tactics can help you push down or suppress the negative article in Google search results. Use these tips:

• Generate positive content about you. Think about ways to engage in positive stories that news outlets could pick up and write about. Remember, Google loves when you create new content, so some new positive articles could outrank older negative ones.
• Create professional social media accounts. Major social media platforms tend to rank highly in Google SERPs, just like how news organizations do. Post consistently about all the good things you are doing.
• Publish articles on high-authority platforms. Write and publish blog posts on platforms like Medium, LinkedIn, or other industry-specific sites. These platforms tend to rank highly in search results.
• Create your own website. Use your name or your business’s name as the domain. Make sure to use SEO best practices to increase organic traffic to your website. Publish blogs regularly (just don’t publish the same blogs as you do on other platforms).
• Create a Wikipedia article. Wikipedia has a high domain authority, so it also ranks well in SERPs. Businesses or celebrities without a Wikipedia article should consider creating one. It can be a tricky process, but it is well worth it.
• Find guest post opportunities. Guest posting gives you exposure to new audiences and helps you attract backlinks to your site. Both are great for your website’s SEO. Different websites and publications often accept guest authors outside their organization.

Hire an Online Reputation Management Company

If all else fails, know that there are professionals with plenty of experience suppressing or removing articles. Dealing with negative publicity is rarely a straightforward process. Here’s how to know when to contact an online reputation management company:

• You have multiple negative articles about you on different platforms.
• The article contains defamation, slander, or libel. In some cases, a court order may be necessary for complete removal.
• The negative articles consistently appear at the top of search engine results despite best content removal efforts. 
• The story affects your business’s revenue, consumer trust, or stakeholder confidence.
• The news results in a personal reputation crisis.
• Your efforts to manage your own reputation have either backfired or escalated the situation.
• You need immediate fixes backed by a long-term strategy.

Reputation911 Can Help Address Negative News Articles

Negative online news articles can take a serious toll on your reputation. But, using these tips, you can remove the articles and get your reputation back on track. When a do-it-yourself approach doesn’t work, online reputation management services are here to help you.

At Reputation911, we’re no strangers to dealing with negative press. Our team can help remove or suppress negative news so you can maintain your online image.

About The Author

William DiAntonio

William DiAntonio is the Founder & CEO of Reputation911, a reputation management firm he founded in 2010 that has earned the trust of its clients for over a decade by helping individuals, businesses and brands control their online search results.