How to Remove News Articles from Google

remove negative news

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 Whether it’s outdated, inaccurate, or just casting you or your business in a bad light, that coverage causes damage every time someone searches your name.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.

What Are Negative Articles, and How Do They Appear in Google?

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. 

Common examples of negative articles include:

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and professional image, ensuring that online impressions reflect your current character and achievements rather than outdated or misleading information.

What Happens When You Get Bad Press Coverage?

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.

Short-Term Impact:

Long-Term Impact:

Need a News Article Removed Quickly?

The experts at Reputation911 can help you remove negative press and news articles from Google search results.

SEO and News Publications: How Negative Articles Appear at the Top of Google

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:

  1. High Engagement: People are more likely to click on negative headlines because of negativity bias – leading to more clicks, shares, and comments. This tells Google the content is relevant and worth ranking.
  2. Strong Backlink Profile: News articles get linked to from blogs, forums, and social media. means more authority in Google’s eyes (also referred to as “domain authority”).
  3. Trusted Domains: Sites like CNN, Forbes, and even local newspapers have high domain authority. Google favors content from these established sources over smaller websites or personal blogs. 
  4. Fresh Content Signals: News sites constantly update their articles. Even older stories can rise in rankings if they stay active or relevant to trending topics. 
  5. Syndication Spreads the Story: A single negative article can get republished or quoted by dozens of other outlets. This amplifies the story’s visibility and reinforces its association with your name in search results.

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.

Follow These Steps to Remove Negative News Articles

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:

1. Contact the Publication or Media Person

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:

  • No longer relevant (e.g., old legal charges, resolved disputes)
  • Missing key context that could change how it’s perceived
  • Disproportionately damaging, especially compared to the current facts

2. Use Google’s Tools (Outdated Content Tool)

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:

  • Delete the article: This is the best-case scenario. If the article is removed entirely, no one will be able to view it, and it will drop out of Google search results within a week or so. Best for: Stories based on false claims, inaccurate coverage, or articles causing ongoing harm with no public interest value. 
  • Edit the article: If removal isn’t possible ask if they’ll update the article by removing your name or business from the title, headings, or body. This can help prevent it from appearing in searches for your name. Best for: Stories that are accurate but missing key info, name you unnecessarily, or highlight outdated events.  
  • De-index the article: De-indexing keeps the article live on the website, but completely removes it from Google search results. It’s a way for publishers to keep their content while reducing its visibility in your search results. This is often a fair compromise when deletion isn’t on the table.

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. 

Personal Content Removal Tool:

Use this if the news article contains highly sensitive personal information, such as:

  • Your home address or phone number
  • Government ID numbers (e.g., Social Security or passport numbers)
  • Non-consensual explicit images
  • Financial account details or medical records
  • Content from exploitative removal sites

If the article includes any of this content, you can report a problem here.  

Outdated Content Removal Tool

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.

3. Use Search Engine Suppression

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.

4. Take Legal Action

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). 

defamatory content

To qualify as defamation, the article must:

  • Contain a false statement claimed as fact (not opinion)
  • Be published or publicly shared
  • Cause harm to your reputation
  • Be written with negligence or intent to harm (especially for public figures)

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:

  • Assess if the article qualifies as defamatory
  • Help you send a formal cease and desist letter
  • Pursue a retraction or correction from the publisher
  • File a lawsuit, if appropriate

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.

Steps to Further Handle Bad Press

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.

Address the issue head-on

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.

Create a crisis communication plan

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. 

Monitor the situation online

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.

Stay calm and consistent

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.

Closing Out: Removing Negative News Articles from Google

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.

Need Help Removing or Suppressing a Damaging Article?

Reputation911 offers expert content removal services to help you clean up your search results and take back control.