The Clare Echo is one of seven Irish news partners that has signed an agreement with Google to support media in the country.
Google will license high-quality news content from these publishers for News Showcase, Google’s new product experience and licensing programme for news.
Seven publishers are currently taking part which represents almost 40 publications and a mix of local, regional and national news organisations from across Ireland. Google plans to roll out News Showcase to readers in Ireland in the coming months. The Clare Echo is only the media partner from Co Clare included.
Founded in 2017, The Clare Echo is now the most widely circulated local newspaper in the county while it is also viewed as the most active online outlet in Clare. A total of twelve people are employed by the Abbey St based newspaper.
Google News Showcase supports news publishers by giving them a new way to curate their high-quality content on Google’s News and Discover platforms, connecting their readers with the news that matters to them and a deeper storytelling experience. It is supported by Google’s $1 billion global investment in news.
Editor and Managing Director of The Clare Echo, Stuart Holly welcomed the investment of Google in local media. “As one of only two independent Irish regional publishers to have signed an agreement with Google, this is recognition of our excellent staff while this support will enable us to continue investing in keeping the people of Clare informed.
“While this signifies a step in the right direction, it is now imperative that the Government moves to support the many Irish publishers which provide an invaluable service to the public. I look forward to the launch of Google News Showcase, which I believe will greatly improve the reader experience, further inform the public on important issues and of course drive more traffic to our website,” the Ennis native added.
Nearly 1,000 news publications globally have signed deals for News Showcase since last year, in countries including India, Germany, Brazil, Canada, France, Italy, Australia, Czechia, Japan, Colombia, the U.K, Austria and Argentina, with discussions underway in a number of other countries.
Google is one of the world’s biggest financial supporters of news and Google News Showcase is the latest investment in its ongoing commitment to support journalism around the globe. In Ireland, Google supports news publishers in a number of ways, including innovation funding and training, as well as products like Google News and Search which send valuable traffic to news sites.
The full list of publications currently participating in Google News Showcase includes Donegal Daily, Clare Echo, Journal Media, IrishMirror.ie, DublinLive, Rsvp Live, Cork Beo, Buzz.ie, The Limerick Leader, Kildare Now, Derry Now, Offaly Express, Donegal Live, Dundalk Democrat, Longford Leader, Tipperary Live, Leinster Express, Carlow Live, Kilkenny People, Leinster Leader, Leitrim Observer, Waterford Live, Connacht Telegraph, Meath Chronicle, Anglo Celt, Westmeath Examiner, Westmeath Independent, Irish Times, Breaking News, Echo Live, Irish Examiner, Carlow Nationalist, Laois Nationalist, Waterford News and Star, Kildare Nationalist, Roscommon Herald, Western People
