Four Letter Word Makes it to the Front Page of Google News

If you were reading the Google News front page early this morning or late last night, you may have seen a highlighted article with a news headline containing a four letter word. The article came from the Village Voice Blog, not the main news site, but the blog and was features on the Google News home page for a bit of time.

At least three people came to Google News Help Forums to complain.

Google's Inbal replied to their concerns, explaining:

Thanks for bringing this inappropriate content to our attention. We'll contact the Village Voice following your alert.

As you my know, Google News is highly unusual in that it offers a news service compiled solely by computer algorithms without human intervention. There are no human editors at Google selecting or grouping the headlines and pictures, and no individual decides which stories and images get top placement. This automation is what makes Google News a valuable source of information on the important issues of the day. We are always working to improve our service, and your feedback will help us in this process.

Now, if you even search for the full phrase in Google News, you won't get that four letter word in the title anymore. It will show in the description. Here is a picture:

I am not sure how big a deal it is to have this word on a news site, but I am not sure.

Forum discussion at Google News Help Forums.

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posted rustybrick in Google Search Engine at September 14, 2009 8:48 AM Comments (5)

Comments

From a journalism perspective: it's not necessary. There are hundreds of words the author could have used other than the F bomb.

Sure, it's silly that people would get so upset, but that's reality. When you're in a professional setting, you should keep a professional tongue. Unless, of course, you work for an awesome company like Uncrate.

Posted by Tanner Christensen at September 14, 2009 09:33

That's just wonderful.

Posted by Luke Jones at September 14, 2009 12:43

haha. I think it's funny. I really don't think it matters one way or the other, we are all adults. I'm not offended by the word FUCK. It's a very universal word. I don't know if it is necessary in journalism...but I might actually read this article because of the title. Otherwise the topic would not have interested me.

Posted by stacie frost at September 14, 2009 18:40

Right Fucking On!

Posted by Neil Pineschi at September 15, 2009 10:20

Last time i checked, "fucking" was 7 letters, not 4. Just saying.

Cheers!

Posted by Morkl at December 7, 2009 14:45