The Strange World of Google News
Google News is Google’s automated news polling machine. It will
display whatever it thinks is important today based on what other news
sources write. The fact that it’s automated may make it more objective
(even though the included sites are still picked manually, and in the case
of China, the local government has a word to say in it too), but at times,
the Google machines get it wrong. They put the false image next to a
news story, or the snippet doesn’t fit with the headline – or the story’s a
hoax, like when Google News in November 2003 announced that
Google Inc had been bought by food giant Nestlé (“Nestlé says Google
will be renamed NesGoogle and have a recipe section added to its main
page”). I’ve collected some of the examples of the past here – it’s good
the Google computers don’t have human feelings, because they sure
would feel guilty now.
End Notes
1. Via Stéfan Sinclair. (www.stefansinclair.name)
2. Via Craig S. Cottingham. (xcom2002.com/doh/)
3. Via Caspa.tv. (www.caspa.tv)
4. Via SecurityTribune. (securitytribune.com)
5. Via Kennry. (www.55fun.com/28.5)
6. Via Eric Lebeau. (zorgloob.com)
7. Via Dr. Web. (drweb.de)
8. Flickr. (www.55fun.com/28.8)
9. Via Grant Shellen. (www.55fun.com/28.9)
10. Via Jennifer. (jennifermonk.com/blog/)
11. Goodle. (www.55fun.com/28.11)
12. Aberson. (www.55fun.com/28.12)
