Readers of The Independent can now take direct control of their Google news feed, ensuring they never miss our essential reporting. Google's Preferred Sources feature, which allows users to handpick their favourite news outlets, has expanded from a limited trial in the US and India and is now fully available in the United Kingdom and across the globe.
What is Google's Preferred Sources Feature?
This innovative tool from the search engine giant lets you personalise the Top Stories section that appears in search results. By selecting specific publications as your preferred sources, you instruct Google's algorithm to prioritise content from those outlets when they publish fresh, relevant articles.
"When you select your preferred sources, you’ll start to see more of their articles prominently displayed within Top Stories, when those sources have published fresh and relevant content for your search," Google explained in an official statement.
A Simple Guide to Adding The Independent
Making The Independent a staple in your daily news diet is a straightforward process. By following a few simple steps, you can guarantee our breaking news coverage, incisive political analysis, and essential reports on crime, culture, and lifestyle are front and centre.
Here is the quick, five-step method to add The Independent as one of your preferred sources on Google:
- Begin by searching for any current news topic on Google.
- Locate and click on the small settings icon positioned to the right of the Top Stories header.
- In the search bar that appears, type either "The Independent" or "independent.co.uk".
- Find The Independent in the list and check the box to its right to select it.
- Finally, refresh your original search results to see The Independent's coverage integrated into the Top Stories section.
Once completed, articles from The Independent will feature more prominently not only in the main Top Stories carousel but also in a dedicated From your sources segment.
Tailoring Your Personal News Landscape
The beauty of the Preferred Sources feature lies in its flexibility. Users are not limited to a single outlet; you can add multiple trusted publications to create a bespoke news feed that perfectly matches your interests. Furthermore, these selections are not permanent and can be adjusted or removed at any time, giving you complete control over your digital news consumption.
This global rollout, confirmed as of Tuesday 16 December 2025, marks a significant shift towards user-curated news discovery. It empowers readers everywhere to ensure they consistently see high-quality journalism from their most valued sources, like The Independent, right at the top of their search results.
