How to Remove News Articles From Google (9 Steps)

Last Updated on February 28, 2025

Negative articles can stick around online for years, damaging your personal reputation, credibility, and business. 

Even if the article is outdated, misleading, or completely false, it can still dominate Google search results – costing you trust, opportunities, and revenue. 

Unfortunately, you don’t have full control over what news organizations publish or how search engines rank their content.

But, that doesn’t mean you’re powerless. 

While completely removing a news article from Google isn’t always easy, there are ways to fight back. 

Overview

This guide walks you through our proven strategies to remove negative articles from Google (yes, even high-ranking ones) – so you can take back control over your online reputation. 

Contents

Why Do News Articles Rank So Well in Google?

9 Steps to Get a News Article Removed from Google

1. Find the Bad News Articles About You

2. Contact the News Website for Removal

3. Request Edits or Corrections to the Article

4. Ask for a No-Index Tag

5. Take Legal Action

6. Refresh Outdated Content on Google After Deletion

7. Use Content Suppression Tactics

8. Seek Help from a PR Team

9. Hire an Online Reputation Management Company

Summary: Removing Negative Articles in Google Search Results

FAQs

Why Do News Articles Rank So Well in Google?

Ever wondered why negative news articles and blog posts seem to stick to the top of search results like glue? It’s not a coincidence – Google’s algorithm favors news sites, making them difficult to outrank or remove. 

Here’s why:

People love reading bad news

Ever heard the newsroom expression “if it bleeds, it leads”? Turns out, there’s truth behind the idiom.

Basically, our brains are wired to focus on negative information more than positive. Sounds weird, but it’s our brain’s way of protecting us from danger. 

This is called negativity bias, and it’s why bad news gets more clicks, shares, and engagement than good news. 

One study even found that each additional negative word in a headline increased click-through rate by 2.3%. 

High engagement levels send a signal to Google to push it up in search results, amplifying its visibility (leading to even more people to click on it). 

News articles receive a lot of backlinks

Backlinks (when other sites link to an article) are a major factor in search engine rankings. 

Since news stories spread quickly, people tend to share them across social media, blogs, and other websites, boosting their authority in Google’s eyes. 

The more backlinks an article has, the more Google assumes it’s relevant and important – keeping it high in search results. 

News sites have high domain authority

Not all websites are created equal.

People (and therefore Google) trust major news organizations like CNN, the New York Times, and even local newspapers because they have established credibility over time. 

These sites have:

• Strong backlinks profiles
• A long history of publishing content
• Consistent traffic and engagement

Because of this, newspaper articles naturally rank higher than content from smaller, less authoritative sites. 

Domain authorities of news sites (examples)

Domain authority (DA) is ranked on a scale of 1-100. The closer a site is to 100, the more trust it has from Google. The average score across all websites is between 30 and 50.

As you’ll see, national and even local news sites have high DA scores:

• CNN – 100
• Boston Globe – 68
• Washington Post – 87
• New York Times – 100
• Forbes – 100
• Worcester Telegram & Gazette – 54
• USA Today – 99
• MSNBC – 79
• CBS News – 92
• Huffington Post – 78

News sites regularly update their content

Google loves fresh, relevant content – which is why breaking news appears at the top of search results. 

Even if a negative article about you is months or years old, it can still rank highly if:

• The news site updates the page with new information
• Other sites continue linking to it
• The story remains relevant to trending topics. 

Syndicated articles amplify negative associations

If a major news outlet publishes a negative article, other media sources often pick it up and republish the same story – spreading it across the web.

This creates a network of related content, reinforcing Google’s belief that the story is important. 

As more sites discuss the same topic, Google strengthens the connection between your name and the negative news – making it even harder to push down in search results. 

Example

Let’s say John Smith, a CEO of a major company, is accused of financial misconduct.

When the news first breaks, a single article from a major publication like the Wall Street Journal might appear in his Google search results. 

Soon, dozens of other media outlets start covering the same story. They might:

• Repost the original article (syndication)
• Summarize it with different angles (new headlines and keywords)
• Publish opinion pieces or analysis (adding fresh content to the topic)
• Reference it in blogs, tweets, and Reddit discussions (generating backlinks and engagement)

Because of this, Google starts to understand the contextual relationship between:

• The CEO’s name
• The company name
• Keywords like “fraud, “lawsuit” or “SEC investigation”

Even if no new developments occur, the continued discussion and linking between these elements signals to Google that this topic is highly relevant to the CEO’s name.

So, whenever someone searches for the CEO, Google predictively connects their name with the negative keywords – meaning even unrelated searches could trigger damaging results. 

For example:

• Searching “John Smith” could auto-suggest “John Smith fraud”
• Typing “John Smith business” could still pull up articles about the scandal
• The CEO’s LinkedIn or website might rank lower than the negative news because Google believes the controversy is more relevant

This is why negative news stories don’t just disappear – Google’s algorithm continuously reinforces their importance by analyzing how frequently a person’s name appears alongside the negative topic. 

The more the story spreads, the stronger the association becomes, making it harder to suppress or replace with positive content.

9 Steps to Get a News Articles Removed From Google

Removing a negative article from Google isn’t always straightforward, but it can be done.

Below, we’ll walk you through proven strategies to get rid of a news article – or at least pushed out of sight – so you can start repairing your online reputation. 

1. Find the bad news articles about you

Before you can remove an article, you should first identify what’s out there. This means searching for yourself the same way a potential client, employer, or business partner, or fan would.

Google yourself in incognito mode

To get the most accurate search results, open a private browsing window (incognito mode in Chrome, Private Mode in Safari, etc).

Why? Google does not track searches in incognito mode. 

Basically, if you search your name in the regular search bar, this could send a signal that brings up the negative news even further – especially if you search yourself over and over. Incognito mode prevents this. 

Google also personalizes search results based on your browsing history, location, and activity. Incognito mode shows you a more neutral version of what others see when they search your name. 

Pro Tip: Search different variations of your name – including your full name, name + job title, name + company title, name + keywords, etc. 

Keep track of results in a spreadsheet

Once you find damaging articles, you need a system to track them. 

Set up a simple spreadsheet with:

• The article’s URL
• Publication name (CNN, Forbes, etc)
• Date published
• Key topics mentioned
• What page of search results its on
• Journalist/publication contact information

Tracking these details will help you stay organized as you work through removal strategies. And, if your DIY efforts fail, you can bring this to a reputation management company.

Prioritize high-authority websites first

Not all websites carry the same weight in search rankings. Articles from major news organizations and industry sites send to rank higher and stick around longer than smaller blogs or forums. 

Start by focusing on articles from sites with high domain authority – since these are the ones most likely to show up on Page 1 of Google. 

2. Contact the news website for removal

After identifying the negative news article about you, the next step is to request removal from the news website. If successfully, this will completely remove the news article from the internet entirely. 

While most publishers are reluctant to delete articles, some may make exceptions – especially if the content is inaccurate, outdated, or violates your privacy. 

Find the right contact information

Reaching out to the right person is crucial if you want a response. 

Here’s how to find a news site’s contact info:

• Look for the journalist’s email: Most articles list the author’s name. Try searching for their email on the website’s “Contact Us” or “About Us” page.
• Use social media: If you can’t find an email, check Twitter(X) or LinkedIn, as many journalists list their contact info there.
• Check the site’s privacy or removal policy: Some news sites have formal removal request policies that allow people to request changes. 

Write a professional removal request

Once you have the right contact info, send a concise, professional email requesting removal.

Here’s a simple template: 

Subject: Request for Article Removal – [Article Title]

Hi [Journalist’s Name],

I hope you’re doing well. I recently came across your article, “[Article Title],” published on [Date] at [URL], and I’d like to request its removal.

The article contains [briefly state the issue—e.g., outdated, incorrect, or private information], which has been negatively impacting my personal/professional reputation.

Would you be open to removing the article from your site? If full removal isn’t possible, I’d appreciate any updates or edits to address these concerns.

Please let me know if we can discuss this further. I appreciate your time and consideration.

Best,

[Your Name]

[Your Contact Information]

If the journalist refuses, contact the publisher

Journalists may not remove an article due to editorial policies. If they decline your request (or don’t respond), escalate the request to the site’s editor, content manager, or legal department.

How to find the right contact:

• Search the “About Us” or “Editorial Team” page for an editor or managing director.
• Use WHOIS lookup tools to find site ownership details.
• Check for a legal or privacy contact email on their website. 

When contacting the publisher, emphasize:

• If applicable, how the article violates privacy laws or policies.
• How the content is outdated and no longer relevant.
• That you’re open to a compromise (such as removing your name or adding an update). 
• If applicable, how the content is slanderous. 

3. Request edits or corrections to the article

If the journalist or publisher refuses to remove the article entirely, your next best option is to request editors or corrections. 

Even small changes can help reduce the article’s visibility in Google search results and lessen its impact on your reputation. 

Ask them to remove your name

One of the most effective ways to weaken a negative article’s impact is to remove your name – especially from key areas like:

• The headline.
• The meta title and description (the preview text that appears in search results).
• The URL slug (e.g. changing newswebsite.com/your-name/scandal to newswebsite.com/business-investigation).

Google relies on keywords in these areas to determine what a page is about. If your name is removed, the article is less likely to show up when someone searches for you.

Correct false or misleading information

If the article contains false information or misleading claims, you’ll likely be able to request corrections or updates. 

Most reputable news outlets have a responsibility to publish accurate information, and many have editorial policies for handling corrections.

Strengthen your request by:

• Being specific: Point to exact sentences or claims that need correction.
• Providing evidence: Share documentation, official statements, or other proof.
• Remaining professional: Being polite increases your chances of cooperation. 

4. Ask for a no-index tag

If the news site won’t remove or edit the article, your next option is to request a no-index tag. 

A no-index tag is a small piece of code added to a webpage’s HTML that tells Google not to display it in search results. It looks like this:

<meta name=”robots” content=”noindex, nofollow”>

The article will still exist on the website, but it won’t appear when someone searches your name. 

This can be a good compromise since it preserves the news site’s content while reducing its visibility for you. 

• If the author/publisher will not remove or edit the article, ask them to add a no-index tag to the html
• This will prevent it from appearing in search results (but will not remove the article from the website itself)

5. Take legal action

If a negative news story contains false, defamatory, or illegally shared content, legal action may be an option.

While lawsuits should be a last resort, they can be effective in certain cases:

Defamation lawsuits

To prove defamation, you must show that the article:

• Contains false information presented as fact (not satirical). 
• Causes harm to your reputation or business.
• Was published with negligence or intent to cause damage.

Defamation lawsuits can be complex, but if successful, a court order can force a publisher to remove or correct the article. 

A cease-and-desist letter from an attorney may also be enough to prompt a takedown without filing a lawsuit.

Privacy violations 

If the article exposes private details (such as home addresses, medical records, or non-public financial data), it may violate privacy law.

In such cases, you can: 

• Request removal directly from the website based on privacy policies
• File a Google removal request for personal identifiable information

Filing a DMCA notice

If the article contains your copyrighted content (such as images, videos, or written material), you can file a DMCA takedown request with Google and the news site itself.

While you can file a DMCA notice yourself, if the website refuses to comply, an attorney can escalate the case with legal action. 

6. Refresh outdated content on Google after deletion

If you have successfully gotten a news site to take down a negative article about you, it can still linger in Google search results for days, weeks, or even months. 

That’s because Google caches pages and stores old versions in its index.

To ensure the deleted article disappears as quickly as possible, you need to manually refresh Google’s index.

• Google your name and see if the article still shows up.
• Head over to Google’s Remove Outdated Content tool.
• Copy & paste the URL of the article. 
• Follow the prompts.
• Recheck search results after a few days to confirm the article is gone. 

7. Use content suppression tactics

Many times, directly removing a newspaper article is just impossible. Most papers just won’t agree to do anything that undermines their journalistic integrity. 

But, that doesn’t mean you’re stuck with it at the top of Google search results forever.

When removal isn’t possible, content suppression is the next best strategy.

(And often, it’s a better strategy because it gives you a level of protection against any future negative news that might pop up about you.)

Instead of trying to erase individual articles, the goal of suppression is to push all negative news about you down in search rankings by creating and promoting positive content about yourself.

How it works:

Google prioritizes fresh, relevant, and high-authority content, so to suppress a negative news article, you need to:

• Publish new content on platforms that rank well: This includes your personal website, LinkedIn, Medium, and industry blogs.
• Optimize your content for SEO: Use your full name in titles, meta descriptions, and URL slugs to ensure your new content ranks higher.
• Leverage social media: Regularly post on Twitter(X), LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, etc to increase engagement and credibility. 
• Get featured on high-authority websites: Writing guest blogs, issuing press releases, or securing media interviews can help create positive news coverage.
• Build backlinks to your positive content: The more trusted websites link to your content, the higher it will rank in Google search results. 

The challenge here is competing with high domain authority news sites – which is why a DIY approach may not be enough. 

While creating positive content can help, competing against major media outlets in search rankings often requires advanced SEO, PR, and reputation management tactics. 

8. Seek help from a PR team

A public relations (PR) team can help you deal with negative publicity by shifting the narrative by generating positive media coverage and increasing your visibility for the right reasons. 

They can help with:

• Press releases and media outreach: A PR team can craft press releases and pitch your story to news outlets, blogs, and industry publications to generate positive coverage.
• Guest blog & interview opportunities: They can secure guest posts on reputable websites, podcast interviews, and speaking engagements, helping you establish expertise while creating fresh content.
• PR crisis management: If facing ongoing media scrutiny, a PR firm can help you navigate public perception, craft strategic responses, and ensure accurate information is being shared. 

PR alone won’t remove negative articles, but it’s a proactive way to bury damaging content, reshape your public image, and control the conversation. 

9. Hire an online reputation management company

Where a PR team can help tell your story, an online reputation management company ensures that story is what people actually find in search results. 

Learn more about the differences between PR and reputation management. 

At Reputation911, we have over 15 years of experience helping individuals and businesses remove damaging content and push down negative articles so they no longer define your online presence. 

If negative press is costing you opportunities, we can help you take back control and navigate a reputation crisis. 

Call Reputation911 at (866) 697-3791 for a free consultation and start repairing your reputation today.

Summary: Removing Negative Articles in Google Search Results

Removing negative articles from Google isn’t always easy, but it is possible. While direct removal requests may work in some cases, most publishers are reluctant to delete content.

If removal isn’t an option, strategies like requesting edits and asking for no-index tags can help reduce visibility.

For articles that can’t be taken down, content suppression tactics, PR efforts, and online reputation management can push negative content lower in search rankings. 

By leveraging SEO, fresh content, and strategic media coverage, it’s possible to regain control over your online presence and minimize the long-term impact of negative press. 

FAQs:

Why do articles rank so well in Google?

News sites have high domain authority, receive lots of backlinks, and publish fresh, engaging content  – all factors that Google prioritizes in search rankings.

How long do news articles stay online?

Indefinitely. Unless a publisher removes or updates an article, it can remain online and in search results for years. If the page stops getting updated, it may eventually fall off the first page, but even outdated articles can rank if they continue getting traffic and links. 

Can I get a news article about me removed?

Yes, but it depends. You can request removal or edits, file a DMCA notice, or ask for a no-index tag. If direct removal isn’t possible, content suppression can push negative articles down in rankings. 

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