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Friday
06  December

MyNewtown signs landmark Google agreement

 
18/03/2023 @ 10:25
MyNewtown has signed a “game-changing” partnership with Google that will see us provide the online giant with quality local news from the area we serve.

Along with our sister site MyWelshpool, we are among 45 members of the Independent Community News Network (ICNN) to have signed up to the Google News Showcase to better connect with audiences.

The agreement will see us post stories to the platform every single day of the year, with the financial support provided by Google further cementing our long-term future in the local media sector.

We have worked closely with ICNN who are developing a public interest news gateway -  Ping News – and this agreement will create vital new revenue streams for the independent news sector.

“This is a watershed moment for MyWelshpool and MyNewtown and recognition for the hard work that we have been putting in since our launch in 2010,” said MyTown Media Ltd co-founder, David Williams.

“We would like to thank ICNN for negotiating this deal on our behalf and look forward to working with Google in the coming years to further develop the local news sector.”

Deputy Director of ICNN, Matt Abbott described the partnership as a “game-changer” for independent journalism in the UK. 

“Google News Showcase is an extremely important initiative that highlights the value of local news.

“By partnering with Ping News, Google is not only helping the independent sector become more sustainable but is acknowledging the enormous contribution hyperlocal journalism makes to public interest news in the UK.

“Additionally, Google's support of the Ping! platform – the Public Interest News Gateway – means regional and national publishers will soon be able to access rich multimedia content from every region of the UK on demand, from hundreds of professional independent community journalists.”

Vice President of Google and Managing Director of Google UK & Ireland, Debbie Weinstein said: “In uncertain times, having easy access to reliable information through trusted sources on the internet is more important than ever. That’s why for more than two decades we’ve focused on connecting people with facts and journalism they can trust. 

“Today, we’re excited to extend Showcase licensing deals to 45 smaller independent news titles thanks to a partnership with Ping News, a new public interest news gateway set up by the team at ICNN.”

The deal is set to be activated by early April, and is signed for an initial year with an option for two further years.