Google replaces In the News box section with Top Stories on desktop search results.
According to reports, the change is to combat fake news from fake websites circling around the Internet.
Last month, Google was accused of spreading fake news during the 2016 US Election when fake stories pop up on In the News section.
Business Insider obtained a screen shot showing results for the keyword ‘final election count’ pointing at 70 News website, which falsely claimed Trump wins versus Clinton with a margin of 700,000 votes, see here.
Google also announces that they will ban fake websites on Google ad network.
Will this affect websites included on Google News?
Based on our observation, Top Stories shows results from credible, popular and high ranking web publications — which are good.
Unfortunately, for midsize and small publications included on Google News, like ours — traffic plunges tremendously.