Amid the rise in AI Overviews and AI Mode, Google has also introduced Preferred Sources, a new feature giving users greater power over the media content they see in search results.
Here’s what you need to know about the development, and how to use it to see more reporting from The Irish Times in your search results.
What is a preferred source on Google?
Preferred Sources is a new tool from Google to allow people to receive more frequent search results from their favourite and most trusted news sources when browsing using their Google account.
It means you can now choose to see Irish Times content more often when using Google on mobile or desktop.
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You can add as many publications as you like as preferred sources using this feature, according to Google.
How does Preferred Sources work?
Choosing a publication as a preferred source means it will appear more frequently in the Top Stories section in Google search results when you are browsing while logged into your Google account, as well as in a “From Your Sources” section on results pages.
Although you will still see articles from other publications in Top Stories, articles from your preferred sources will appear more frequently and more prominently here - when those preferred sources have published timely and relevant content on the topic in question.
This change will allow you to see more of our award-winning news coverage, analysis and features when using Google.
How can I add The Irish Times as a preferred source?
The easiest way to make this change is by using this shortcut when logged into your Google account - simply tick the box for The Irish Times under Source Preferences.
Or you can follow these four steps:
(1) Search for any topic that’s in the news (make sure you are logged into your Google account when doing so, this will not work otherwise)
(2) Click the card icon to the right of the Top Stories logo that appears in the search results
(3) In the “Choose your preferred sources” box that subsequently pops up, search for “The Irish Times”, find the option that says “The Irish Times, irishtimes.com” and click the box on the right
(4) Click “Reload results” at the bottom of the “Choose your preferred sources” box, and get ready to see more from your favourite news source
