Google adds ads to Google News searches

Google has extended its AdWords program to Google News searches, delivering text ads on the right side of the search results page, just as Google has long done with regular Web search results.

Josh Cohen, a business product manager at Google, announced the move Wednesday in a company blog:

In recent months we've been experimenting with a variety of different formats, like overlay ads on embedded videos from partners like the AP. We've always said that we'd unveil these changes when we could offer a good experience for our users, publishers and advertisers alike, and we'll continue to look at ways to deliver ads that are relevant for users and good for publishers, too.

The ads are intended to be tailored to news search terms, but the two aren't always on the same page, so to speak. While the news search understood that "spring training" was related to baseball, for example, only one of the top three ads presented made that connection, as the example below illustrates.

Faced with a much tougher economy, Google is working harder to make money off more of its properties. In recent months, it's begun showing ads in Google Earth and Google Finance as well.

Google has begun placing text ads beside Google News searches.

(Credit: Screenshot by Steven Musil/CNET News)

[ThomasCrampton]

Doesn't this mean traditional media is dead? Google will be skimming ad money off content that traditional media paid money to produce.

If I ran a media company, I'd want a cut of Google's revenues on this.

[shanx24]

I use Firefox. I see none of this. Likewise, AdBlock for Safari and the "Block Content" in Opera allow me to see no ads. Period.

[kamchoor]

Wow! - What a Big Breaking new story this is.
Yeah, this is big news - Google adding Ads - I guess we can all go home now.

[stigmattaman]

@kamchoor
It is actually a big story, because Google News is a content aggregator - and many of the content makers it's funnelling are struggling and dying. This could have long-term ramifications.