Google’s Top Stories feature has long been a powerful driver of traffic for publishers, but many site owners have treated it as a mysterious, invitation-only club. With Google’s latest documentation updates, that perception is changing. The search giant has clarified eligibility requirements, technical best practices, and optimization strategies—giving publishers of all sizes a clearer roadmap to visibility. If you’ve been overlooking Top Stories or assuming it’s only for major news brands, now is the time to rethink your strategy.
TLDR: Google’s new documentation reveals that more publishers can access the Top Stories feature than many realize, especially with proper structured data and strong content signals. Eligibility no longer depends on AMP alone, and quality, authority, and technical health play bigger roles than ever. By aligning with Google News policies, improving page experience, and optimizing for timely coverage, sites can significantly increase their chances of appearing in Top Stories. The opportunity is real—if you follow the guidelines carefully.
Understanding the Top Stories Feature
The Top Stories section appears prominently in Google Search results, usually for news-driven or trending queries. It often includes a carousel of articles, showing headlines, publisher names, and images—frequently above traditional organic results. Because of this premium placement, visibility here can dramatically increase clicks.
Top Stories appears on:
- Mobile search results (carousel format)
- Desktop search results (horizontal or block layout)
- Google Discover and Google News integrations
With Google’s updated guidance, it’s clearer than ever that inclusion is not strictly limited to traditional newsroom publishers. Instead, it depends on content quality, compliance with Google News policies, and strong technical foundations.
AMP Is No Longer Mandatory
One of the most significant clarifications in Google’s documentation is that Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) are no longer required for Top Stories eligibility. In the past, AMP was effectively a gateway for appearing in mobile Top Stories carousels. That created a technical barrier for many publishers.
Now, Google emphasizes page experience and performance instead of AMP specifically. This shift opens the door to more publishers—provided their pages meet performance expectations.
Key requirements include:
- Meeting Core Web Vitals performance thresholds
- Using HTTPS
- Avoiding intrusive interstitials
- Ensuring mobile usability
This means you can compete without implementing AMP, as long as your pages are fast, accessible, and technically sound.
Structured Data Is Essential
Google’s documentation strongly encourages the use of structured data, specifically Article, NewsArticle, or BlogPosting schema markup. While not an absolute ranking guarantee, structured data helps Google better understand your content.
At a minimum, your schema markup should include:
- Headline
- Image (high resolution, minimum 1200px width recommended)
- DatePublished
- DateModified
- Author
Google emphasizes accurate, consistent metadata. Mismatched dates, unclear authorship, or missing images can reduce your visibility potential. The documentation makes clear that transparency and clarity matter—not just technical correctness.
Content Quality and Newsworthiness Matter More Than Ever
Eligibility for Top Stories is about more than technical compliance. Google repeatedly highlights editorial quality, originality, and trustworthiness.
According to the documentation, content should:
- Provide original reporting or unique insights
- Be clearly dated and updated when necessary
- Avoid misleading headlines or clickbait tactics
- Demonstrate expertise and authority
Top Stories is designed for timely content. That means freshness plays an important role. If you consistently produce relevant content tied to emerging trends, breaking news, or industry developments, your probability of inclusion increases.
Google News Policies Apply
Another key takeaway from the documentation is that Top Stories content must comply with Google News content policies. You don’t necessarily need to submit your site to Google News manually, but the standards still apply.
These policies cover:
- Transparency about authors and publishers
- Clear contact information
- Avoidance of deceptive practices
- Proper separation of advertising and editorial content
This signals that Google views Top Stories as an extension of its news ecosystem. Publishers who operate transparently and demonstrate credibility gain an advantage.
Author Authority and Publisher Transparency
Google’s documentation increasingly references signals related to trust and authority. While it doesn’t reveal ranking formulas, it strongly encourages publishers to:
- Create detailed author bio pages
- Show editorial guidelines
- Provide business addresses and contact pages
- Maintain consistent branding across platforms
This aligns closely with broader ranking concepts related to Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness (E-E-A-T). If your content covers sensitive topics like finance, health, or politics, these factors become even more important.
Timeliness and Strategic Publishing
Appearing in Top Stories often depends on timing. Google’s systems detect trending queries and surface recent, relevant articles.
To capitalize on this, consider:
- Monitoring trending topics via Google Trends
- Publishing quickly when relevant news breaks
- Updating articles as stories develop
- Refreshing headlines when new data emerges
However, speed should never come at the cost of accuracy. The documentation makes clear that misleading or thin content can hurt long-term visibility.
Image Optimization Plays a Bigger Role
Images are highly visible in Top Stories. Google stresses the importance of high-quality visuals that meet size thresholds and can be properly indexed.
Best practices include:
- Using large, high-resolution images (at least 1200px wide)
- Allowing Googlebot access to image files
- Avoiding overly promotional or logo-heavy graphics
- Using relevant, descriptive alt text
Because images are prominently displayed in the carousel, strong visuals can improve click-through rates dramatically—even if rankings remain similar.
Technical Health and Crawlability
Google’s documentation reiterates technical fundamentals. Pages must be easily crawlable and indexable. Errors in robots.txt, noindex tags, or poor internal linking can silently block your eligibility.
Critical technical checks include:
- Ensuring news URLs are indexable
- Submitting updated XML sitemaps
- Maintaining logical internal linking
- Avoiding duplicate content issues
Fast discovery matters for timely content. Submitting news sitemaps or keeping standard sitemaps frequently updated can help Google find new articles quickly.
Why Smaller Publishers Now Have a Real Opportunity
The updated documentation signals inclusivity. By removing AMP as a strict gatekeeper and emphasizing quality over size, Google has leveled the playing field somewhat. Smaller publishers with niche expertise can compete effectively—especially if they provide focused, authoritative coverage.
This democratization means:
- Niche industry blogs can appear for specialized queries
- Regional publishers can rank for local trending stories
- Independent journalists can gain visibility with high-quality reporting
However, consistency is crucial. A single well-optimized article may not be enough. Google likely evaluates historical performance, engagement signals, and pattern-based quality indicators over time.
Common Mistakes That Block Top Stories Visibility
Even with clear documentation, many publishers make avoidable mistakes:
- Publishing opinion pieces disguised as news
- Failing to show publication dates clearly
- Over-optimizing headlines for keywords instead of clarity
- Using stock images that don’t match the story
- Neglecting mobile performance
Google’s message is consistent: prioritize users first. The algorithm rewards clarity, speed, relevance, and transparency.
Turning Documentation into Traffic Growth
The real opportunity lies in execution. Google’s updated documentation removes ambiguity, turning what once felt like insider knowledge into actionable guidance.
If you want more traffic from Top Stories:
- Produce timely, original reporting
- Optimize technical performance and Core Web Vitals
- Implement complete structured data
- Comply with Google News policies
- Use strong, relevant images
- Maintain transparency around authorship and editorial standards
The upside is substantial. Top Stories placements often appear above traditional blue links, increasing visibility and click-through rates. For publishers competing in crowded niches, this feature can drive meaningful, sustained traffic.
The Bottom Line
Google’s new documentation doesn’t introduce a secret loophole—it clarifies the path. By focusing on quality journalism, technical excellence, and transparent publishing practices, websites can unlock greater exposure in one of the most visible areas of search results.
The rules are clearer. The barrier to entry is lower. The standards remain high. For publishers willing to align with Google’s expectations, the Top Stories feature represents one of the most valuable—and achievable—traffic opportunities in modern search.
