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Local news and best-of lists.What AI reads there.

A publisher that AI assistants may draw on. What is documented, who it matters for, and how to fix your listing. Cost: Earned coverage is free. Paid placements must be disclosed as ads.

The short answer

Updated

Local news stories and best-of lists are independent mentions that customers, search engines and AI assistants can find. Google says it leaves editorial decisions to publishers and doesn't accept payment to improve news ranking. If you pay for a spot on a list, FTC rules say the connection must be disclosed clearly, and Google treats paid links without a sponsored tag as spam.

Does AI use it?Only what's documented.

Each row links to the maker's or the platform's own words. Where nothing is published, we say so.

Google News
Google says Google News doesn't accept payments to expedite or improve a site's search appearance or ranking.Source · checked Oct 31, 2026
Google spam policies
Google lists paid articles with links that pass ranking credit as link spam, unless the links are marked nofollow or sponsored.Source · checked Oct 31, 2026
FTC
FTC rules say a material connection between an endorser and a seller, including payment, must be disclosed clearly and conspicuously.Source · checked Oct 31, 2026
ChatGPT
Nothing published that we could find.
Perplexity
Nothing published that we could find.
Google AI Overviews and AI Mode
Nothing published that we could find.
Gemini
Nothing published that we could find.
Microsoft Copilot
Nothing published that we could find.
Grok
Nothing published that we could find.
Claude
Nothing published that we could find.
Meta AI
Nothing published that we could find.
Apple Siri and Apple Intelligence
Nothing published that we could find.

Claim and fix it.5 steps.

Steps from the platform's help pages.

  1. 01Find who covers your areaList local reporters, community sites and best-of lists that cover your trade.
  2. 02Offer real storiesMilestones, community work and expert comment on local problems, with facts they can check.
  3. 03Never buy undisclosed placementPaid spots must be labelled as ads under FTC rules.
  4. 04Correct facts politelyAsk editors to fix a wrong name, phone or address.
  5. 05Link to coverageMention genuine coverage on your site, with a link.

Match these exactly.To your Google profile.

Assistants compare sources. Small differences make them less sure it's the same business.

  • Business name
  • Town
  • Website
  • Owner's name and role

How we handle it.What our team does.

On Growth and Authority, our team asks best-of list writers to consider your business, and on Authority, local editors too, with facts they can check. We never pay for placement and never write reviews.

Questions people ask.Short answers.

Is it fine to pay for a best-of list?

Only if the payment is disclosed. FTC rules require clear disclosure of paid connections, and Google treats paid links without a sponsored tag as spam.

Do AI assistants read local news?

We found no engine that documents local news specifically. Google says Search includes news surfaces, and AI answers cite pages they can find.

Can I run my own best-of site?

Not as if it were independent. The FTC's rule bans misrepresenting a site you control as providing independent reviews or opinions.

Sources

  1. Google: How news works · checked Oct 31, 2026
  2. Google Search Central: Spam policies · checked Oct 31, 2026
  3. FTC: Native advertising guide for businesses · checked Oct 31, 2026
  4. 16 CFR 465.6: Company-controlled review websites · checked Oct 31, 2026

By Shakhawat Ullah Badhon, Founder, Damex Digital. Published Nov 1, 2026, updated Nov 1, 2026.