The experimental feature is currently live on the US Google News site. Any person mentioned in a news item can submit a written response. Google employees verify response authenticity, either by direct contact or by checking author’s contact details against company information. Once author identity is confirmed, the response is posted on the same page as search results for the story.
The feature aims to help move Google News from news aggregator to interactive forum, where subjects and journalists can respond directly.
A Google spokesman said that the feature is still in testing phase, and there are no plans as yet to roll it out across Europe.
“Users can already post comments on most of the national news sites, such as bbc.co.uk and Guardian Unlimited,” said Google’s UK spokesman. “This is probably the first time a news aggregator has opened up to comment. Google is always looking to add innovative features.”
Google announced the feature in a blog posting. Since launching on Wednesday, a McDonald’s spokesman has responded to a story about preschoolers preferring food wrapped in McDonald’s packaging.
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