Google has activated in Spain and other markets a A new way to personalize the news which are displayed in their search results. From now on, any user can indicate which media outlets they want to feature prominently, so that their news appears more frequently in the Featured News section and in a specific section dedicated to those publications.
This option, named as "preferred sources"This represents a further step in Google's strategy to offer news results more tailored to each user's interests. It's not about ignoring other newspapers, but rather about telling the search engine which media outlets deserve priority when looking for information on politics, economics, sports, or any current affairs topic.
What is Google's preferred fonts feature?
The company explains that the goal is "helping readers find their place" within Google Search, allowing users to explicitly choose the media outlets they trust most. When a user marks a publication as a favorite, the algorithm (after changes to its algorithm) begins to highlight it in queries related to current events, especially in the Featured News module.
This new feature fits with the movement that began some time ago with Google Discover, where it was already possible to follow specific topics and media outlets to receive a personalized news and video feedNow that model is extending more visibly to the search engine itself, which remains the main gateway to information for millions of people in Spain and throughout Europe.
The feature is available in Spanish and other languages, allowing European users to combine national and local sources with international publications. This means that a single Google account can prioritize, for example, a regional newspaper from Galicia or Aragon and, at the same time, a global business publication, without excluding other general-interest newspapers.
Once the sources are configured, the search engine displays a section called "From your sources" where only news published by the selected media outlets appears. It's a kind of quick filter within the results page itself, designed for those who prefer to focus on the newspapers they've previously chosen.
How news prioritization works in practice
The mechanism is relatively simple: when someone marks a news outlet as preferred, that outlet's news gains weight in the algorithm for searches related to current events. This means that when searching for a trending topic of the day, News from selected media outlets has a higher chance of success. to appear in Featured News or in the specific sources tab.
Spanish media outlets such as La Razón, 20minutos, Business Insider Spain, La Voz de Galicia, Mediterráneo newspaper, autobild.es, HobbyConsolas, and HOY ARAGÓN are already explaining to their readers how to use this tool to view their content more frequently. They all agree on one point: News from other media outlets continues to appearBut theirs gain visibility when the reader marks them as favorites.
In practice, this translates into a more controlled reading experience. A reader in Castellón might prioritize the Mediterráneo newspaper to follow local politics and events in the province, while maintaining access to national and international news from other newspapers. The same applies to those who live in Galicia and choose La Voz de Galicia as their go-to source for regional news, or those who want to closely follow the economic and technological news from Business Insider Spain.
The feature is also useful in very specific thematic areas. Motor enthusiasts who select autobild.es will see their car reviews and features more frequently in the news section, while those who prefer video game and digital culture content can prioritize HobbyConsolas to avoid missing new releases, reviews, and guides.
Steps to add a media source as a preferred source
To configure these preferences, Google has enabled a dedicated page for managing sourcesFrom any browser, simply use an active Google account and follow a process that is generally similar for all media outlets, whether national, local, or specialized.
The standard procedure includes a search bar where you can type the newspaper's name or its web domain. For example, by entering "La Voz de Galicia," "hoyaragon.es," or "autobild.es," the tool displays the corresponding publication and allows you to select it with a button or toggle switch. Once the selection is saved, the algorithm begins treating that publication as a priority.
In addition to manual configuration, Google offers another, more direct way: in the Featured News module itselfNext to the section title, a star icon appears. By clicking it while reading any current events article, the user can add that news source to their list of preferred sources without leaving the results page.
Many newspapers have published direct links that open their preferences page already filtered by their domain, so readers only need to confirm their selection. This is the case with general-interest newspapers like La Razón and 20minutos, regional publications like La Voz de Galicia and Mediterráneo, and regional digital newspapers like HOY ARAGÓN, which make it easy to add them to your favorites in just one or two clicks.
Examples of use in Spanish and regional media
The implementation of this feature is being strongly felt in the Spanish press, where various publications are encouraging their readers to take advantage of it to not to miss the news they consider essentialEach medium directs the explanation towards its role within the information ecosystem.
La Razón emphasizes that, by being selected as a preferred source, its political analysis and international coverage will appear more frequently when users search for national or international news. The message is clear: anyone wanting to closely follow the political landscape and general news can boost the newspaper's presence on their search results page with a single click.
20minutos, for its part, emphasizes its role as a leading source of fast, accessible news, both online and in its print edition and social media. By marking it as a favorite, readers ensure that its news, features, and entertainment content receive greater prominence in the Featured News section, without having to give up other publications they also consult daily.
At the regional level, La Voz de Galicia points out that it already had loyal followers through Google Discover and that now it is possible prioritize even more Its coverage of Galicia, Spain, and the world is directly accessible through Google Search. Its aim is to reduce information overload and provide faster access to key information about the Galician community.
A similar situation exists in Aragon, where HOY ARAGÓN emphasizes that this tool allows them to bring their local and regional coverage closer to those who want to stay informed about what's happening in Zaragoza, Huesca, and Teruel. The publication stresses that major national newspapers cannot always offer the same level of detail and local focus on purely regional issues, and that setting a preferred source is a way to maintain that closer perspective.
Local and specialized media: from Castellón to the motor press
The preferred sources feature is also being used by local newspapers and thematic publications that see it as a opportunity to strengthen the bond with your audienceIn Castellón, for example, the Mediterráneo newspaper encourages residents of the province to mark it as their favorite source for news, local festivals, cultural events, and municipal affairs.
They explain that activating this option is especially useful for those who want their local news "voice" to avoid being buried under major national or international headlines. This way, when someone searches for information about Castellón or related topics, news from the Mediterráneo newspaper will tend to gain visibility compared to more generic sources.
In the automotive world, autobild.es explains that, by being selected as a primary source, its test articles, comparisons, and industry news will appear more frequently in the Featured News section and in personalized sections such as "From Your Sources." Readers interested in cars and mobility can combine this with other publications in the same field or with general-interest newspapers for a tailored mix of content.
The same applies to media outlets specializing in technology, economics, and digital entertainment. Business Insider Spain emphasizes that the tool allows users to access its market analyses, economic reports, and innovation content sooner, while HobbyConsolas points out that marking it as a favorite helps users stay up-to-date on video games, consoles, and gamer culture—a field where news moves at breakneck speed.
Personalization without losing information diversity
One of the keys to this function is that It does not block or hide News from sources not marked as preferred is not included. Google insists that the rest of the press still appears in the results; the difference is that the selected sources gain relative priority when it comes to current events.
This allows for a more refined news consumption without sacrificing a diversity of sources, something especially relevant in the European context, where media pluralism and the presence of outlets from different regions are crucial. Users can, for example, prioritize a regional newspaper and a national one, and still receive content from other regional newspapers or major international news agencies.
Another important aspect is that preferences can can be modified or deleted at any timeFrom the "Featured News" panel, next to the star icon, you can review which media outlets have been marked, deactivate those that are no longer of interest, or add new ones as reading habits or information needs change.
The media themselves emphasize that this flexibility prevents personalization from becoming a rigid filter. Readers maintain control over their preferred sources, but always within an environment where other voices, editorial approaches, and different news stories are still present.
In an era where the volume of content is constantly growing, this ability to adjust what appears first can help reduce the noise, especially for those who frequently consult very specific topics or seek close monitoring of their immediate surroundings, from a neighborhood or province to an entire autonomous community.
All this activity by Google points to a a more direct relationship between readers and media Within the search engine's ecosystem, users can indicate which news sources they consider essential, and the algorithm responds by giving them greater visibility without excluding the rest. From major national newspapers to local papers and specialized media, the preferred sources option opens the door to a more organized news consumption, tailored to each person's priorities, while maintaining a wide range of voices available in every search.
