Google News Showcase expands to the Baltics

Google today announced the launch of News Showcase in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. This program aims to support publishers and enhance the user experience for news consumption within Google products.

News Showcase is a curated online news experience and licensing program offered by Google. Participating publishers create special panels within Google News, allowing readers to engage with news content and navigate directly to full articles on the publishers' websites. This approach grants publishers more control over content presentation and branding while potentially deepening reader relationships.

News Showcase Features in the Baltics

• News Showcase Panels: News organizations in the Baltics will participate by creating News Showcase panels within Google News. These panels will be accessible on Google News for Android, iOS, and web platforms, as well as Discover on Android and iOS devices.
• Limited Paywall Access: Some publishers have opted to include a feature where Google pays for a limited amount of access to paywalled content. This allows readers to discover more articles from a publication and potentially incentivizes subscriptions.

Benefits for Publishers

• Monetization Opportunities: News Showcase offers publishers a potential revenue stream through licensing agreements with Google.
• Enhanced Reader Engagement: News Showcase panels allow publishers to showcase their content and branding within Google News, potentially leading to increased reader engagement.
• Direct Audience Relationships: Readers navigate directly to publisher websites for full articles, fostering a stronger connection between publishers and their audience.

Google's Commitment to Journalism in the Baltics

The launch of News Showcase is part of Google's broader commitment to journalism in the Baltics and Central and Eastern Europe. Here are some additional initiatives undertaken by Google:

• Supporting Investigative Journalism: The Google News Initiative (GNI) provides training and resources to journalists in the Baltics, including digital verification skills and advanced research tools to support investigative efforts.
• Combating Misinformation: The GNI partnered with Delfi, the largest online news publisher in the Baltics, on the "Debunk" project. This initiative uses AI and a volunteer community to tackle online misinformation.
• Media Literacy Programs: Google has partnered with NGOs to invest €1.3 million in media literacy programs across Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. These programs aim to build public awareness and resilience against misinformation.
• Knowledge Sharing: Google and YouTube recently hosted a conference in Warsaw, bringing together media literacy experts from Central and Eastern Europe to share strategies for combating online misinformation.

The launch of News Showcase in the Baltics signifies Google's continued efforts to support the news industry and enhance the user experience for news consumption within its platforms. The success of this program will depend on factors such as publisher adoption, user engagement with News Showcase panels, and the effectiveness of Google's initiatives in supporting journalism and media literacy in the region.

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