by Moe Zilla

Created on: July 21, 2010

Here's why I hate the new changes to Google News. Now there's actually half as many news headlines as there used to be on the Google News page. Instead of the two columns of headlines - which almost guaranteed you'd find something worth reading - Google has eliminated that second column of headlines altogether. In its place is a series of weird smaller "sidebar" features like "Recent headlines", local weather forecasts and news, and something that's called "Spotlight." (Whatever the heck that is...) What ever happened to just showing us the news, Google?

In fact, Google doesn't really want to show you what's happening in the world. By their own admission, this site is designed to lure you into some privately-designed cul-de-sac where you shut out anything that conflicts with your world view. "This section will adapt to show news about your interests," reads an announcement on the page (where actual news headlines used to be). And this is a sensitive issue for me, because all the way back in 1993, I read a warning about a possible future in an article in the New Republic. What happens when people can customize not just their entertainment preferences, but even the very news from which they'll form their world view? They may ultimately be more loyal to Google News, since after all, Google is letting them block out anything that they don't want to hear. But at that point, it ceases to be a news site at all!

"Choose how often you like to read news from each section," the announcement continues on the site, "and add topics you follow." To be fair, there are situations where that can be a useful and educational tool. A general interest news site will never have the intense focus that you'd like to see on your specific hobbies. But just stop to consider what happens when Google swaps in a headline about some trivial recreational pursuit. They're pushing aside an actual news headlines about one of the most important news events of that day. Whether it's a hurricane, a terrorist attack, or a major financial catastrophe - there's a chance you won't even hear about it, because Google decided to "customize" your headlines behind-the-scenes for you instead.

It seems like today we're living in a world which faces one major catastrophe after another. It's a time when we need to be opening our eyes to what's going on in the world, instead of trying to trim world events down until they're small enough for a close-minded world view. Maybe what Google News needs is their own version of the famous slogan that's used by the New York Times. Only instead of publishing "All the news that's fit to print," Google News can just offer to show you "All the news that fits!"

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