So we saw how few news sites inked to rednoseday.com. But how well did they do with the launch of google street view? Nearly all the newspaper sites reported it – but how many provided a link to it?
To check, I looked at the most obvious news story (as opposed to, say, a gallery of pictures) returned with an on-site search for ‘google street view’ … (FT excluded as didn’t cover it). In that story, did the newspaper site link to google maps where you could access google street view? Or did they mention the service WITHOUT providing a clickable link to it?
The results were poor. The following DID NOT give a link: Sun, Mirror, Telegraph, Times, Independent, Mail, Express. Only the Guardian did give a link in its main news story.
The Sun
Google street view in UK. NO LINK GIVEN iN REPORT.
The Mirror
Google Street View allows you to have 360 degree close-up of where you live. NO LINK
Telegraph
Google Street View mapping service launched in UK. NO LINK.
Times
Google launches Street View despite privacy concerns NO LINK.
Guardian
Google launches Street View in UK LINK GIVEN! (Although the Guardian’s habit of linking keywords, like ‘google’, to its own pages rather than, in this example, the google home page, is REALLY ANNOYING).
The Independent
Google Street View launches in UK NO LINK.
Google Street View launches in 25 cities around Britain to give users a 360 degree close-up of where they live. NO LINK.
Express
‘VIRTUAL STROLL’ DOWN YOUR STREET NO LINK
Conclusion: very poor linking all round.
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