How odd of Google / to choose the news

June 11, 2005 By

As part of my regular duties at this blog, I was scanning Google News the other day, when it struck me: You’ve got Top Stories, World, U.S., Business, Science and Technology, Sports, Entertainment, Health, and More Top Stories. What’s missing?

True, Google News highlights plenty of religion stories — no complaints there — but it does not separate them under their own category. Now the question I have for GetReligion readers is, Is that a good thing?

On the one hand, creating a Religion category would make sure that such stories are continuously called to people’s attention. But separating religion stories out of the regular lineup would also likely lower some of those stories in said lineup and make them easier to gloss over for many readers.

Put another way, Should Google get Religion?

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Filed Under: Journalism, Social Issues, Web/Tech
  • Viator

    The same goes for the New York Times web edition. On the left hand side one can choose from over 40 categories, of which Religion is not one.

  • http://clientandserver.com dw

    Actually, you can get religion on Google News if you click on “Customize This Page” and set up a custom religion section.

  • http://blog.jlleblanc.com Joseph LeBlanc

    I wouldn’t expect them to with the way categorization is moving these days. After all ontology is overrated: http://www.itconversations.com/shows/detail470.html

  • Deacon John M. Bresnahan

    Google should “Get Religion” because the stories they cover now are only the big headline stories for the most part. Usually it takes a separate section to produce some depth. And even with a separate section major religion stories (like the death of a pope) will makes the “reguar” news.

  • Stephen A.

    I was going to say what dw said. When it became available, I set up a customized ‘relgion’ labeled section, and moved it right up under ‘top stories.’

    It does corral a few “Religion Notes” sections from papers (who’s playing the cello at which church this Sunday) but the net does haul in some good religion stories too, and a good deal of religious variety.

  • http://amywelborn.typepad.com Amy Welborn

    Yeah, I did a “Catholic” section on my customized page.

    Problem is that 75% of the stories are sports scores.

    But I can get through them pretty quickly.

    But I think you’re right – a built-in religion section would be good.

  • http://IndyChristian.com IndyChristian

    God categorizes us. We don’t categorize Him. :)

    Like in the Book of Esther, God is so pervasive that He doesn’t even need to be specially mentioned. Hopefully the same would be true of the spiritual pervasiveness in our everyday lives together.

    I’ve customized my GoogleNews by adding a section for Indianapolis+Christians. By using the plural form of Christian(s), it weeds out most of the sports. Works for me.

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