News spreads fact, but it rarely disappears as quickly from Google.
If a past article is still showing up in your search results, it can continue to harm your reputation long after the moment has passed. Whether it’s outdated, inaccurate, or just casting you or your business in a bad light, that coverage causes damage every time someone searches your name. Thankfully, there are steps you can take to remove negative news articles from Google search.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to deal with negative press online – from contacting publications to using Google removal tools to burying articles you can’t delete.
Negative articles include any piece of content written by a publication, journalist, or media outlet that could harm how others perceive you or your business.
They often appear on trusted news websites, giving them high visibility in Google search results. Once published, they can remain on the first page for years, even if the situation has long since changed.
Negative articles on the first page of Google can create lasting reputational damage – especially when potential employers, clients, or business partners are searching for you. Removing negative news from Google searches helps protect your personal and professional image, ensuring that online impressions reflect your current character and achievements rather than outdated or misleading information.
Bad press can quickly cause widespread reputation damage – whether the coverage is accurate or not.
Public perception shifts fast. New stories, opinion pieces, and media mentions influence how people view you, your business, and your work.
Once negative coverage appears in Google search results, it can leave a bad first impression to potential employers, clients, or partners.
The experts at Reputation911 can help you remove negative press and news articles from Google search results.
One a negative article ranks well in Google, it can be hard to shake – and that’s not by accident. Google’s algorithm favors news articles for several reasons:
The result?
One single negative article can quickly turn into a web of related coverage that dominates the first page of Google – and sticks around much longer than it should.
Start by identifying where the article appears in search results.
Search your full name, variations of your name, and any related keywords to see how the content is showing up in Google.
Then, check if the article has been shared on social media – reposts can amplify its reach and keep it circulating.
Once you’ve found and documented where the article appears, use the following strategies to remove or suppress it from search results:
Your first step should be reaching out directly to the person responsible for the article – usually the journalist who wrote it or the editor of the publication.
Check the news website for a contact page, or author bio page. If you can’t find anything, use tools like Hunter.io or LinkedIn to locate a journalist’s email address or newsroom contact details.
As you prepare to write your email, be polite, professional, and specific. Explain why the article is harmful and should be removed – whether it’s outdated, misleading, or no longer relevant.
Even if the article is factually accurate, you can still request changes if the story is:
If the article contains misinformation or factual errors, politely point them out. Back your claims with credible evidence or updated records.
If the article includes false statements that hurt your reputation, it may meet the legal threshold for defamation. In that case, a more urgent or formal request – possible through an attorney – might be appropriate (see Section 4: Legal Action).
There are three things you can ask the publisher to do:
Google won’t remove a news article from search results just because it’s negative – but there are a few tools that can help in specific situations.
Use this if the news article contains highly sensitive personal information, such as:
If the article includes any of this content, you can report a problem here.
Use this if the article has already been deleted or updated at the source, but the old version still appears in search results.
This tool tells Google to refresh its index and remove the outdated page or snippet. Access the outdated content tool here.
While these tools won’t apply to most standard news stories, they’re worth checking if the article includes personal data or has already been taken down by the publisher.
If you can’t get a news article removed, the next best option is to push it down in search results so fewer people see it. This approach is also called search engine suppression.
Most people never scroll past the first page of Google. By creating and promoting positive high-ranking content, you can move negative articles off page one – making them much less visible to anyone searching your name.
Publishing new blog posts, launching a personal website, optimizing your LinkedIn, and contributing to trusted platforms are just a few ways to do this. To learn more, check out our strategies to bury content on Google search results.
If a news article contains false statements presented as fact that harm your reputation, you may have a legal case for defamation and may be able to pursue action to remove the content from Google.
Defamation refers to false published statements that damage a person’s character or credibility. In written form, this is called libel (as opposed to slander, which is spoken).
To qualify as defamation, the article must:
Simply being negative, unflattering, or critical does not meet the legal threshold. The statement must be demonstrably false and cause real reputational damage.
Because defamation law is complex and varies by state, it’s important to consult an experienced defamation attorney. They can:
Legal action should be a last resort – but in cases of serious misinformation or reputational harm, it may be necessary to set the record straight.
While you work on removing or burying a negative news article, how you respond in the meantime can make a big difference.
Taking the right steps early can reduce long-term damage and help you regain control over your reputation.
If the story involves a real event or controversy, consider issuing a public response – such as a statement on your website, blog, or social media. Be honest, professional, and focused on the facts. Avoid being defensive, and don’t escalate the situation further.
Have a clear crisis communication strategy in place for responding to media inquiries, customer concerns, or online backlash. Designate a spokesperson (even if it’s just you) and stick to one consistent message across all platforms.
Use tools like Google Alerts, Mention, or Brand24 to track new mentions of your name or business. Staying informed helps you respond quickly to new coverage or related content.
Bad press can feel overwhelming, but reacting emotionally can backfire. Stay focused on your long-term reputation goals – every article removed or pushed down is a step in the right direction.
Proactively managing the fallout while working behind the scenes on the article removal gives you the best shot at repairing your reputation and moving forward.
Negative news coverage can have a lasting impact – but you’re not powerless. With the right strategy, it’s possible to reduce visibility, repair your reputation, and move forward.
Reputation911 offers expert content removal services to help you clean up your search results and take back control.
We make you look good online.
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