Ever Googled your name or business and noticed that negative stories show up first—even if they’re years old? You’re not imagining it. Bad news often outranks good news in search results, and there are clear reasons why.
Here’s why that happens—and what you can do about it.
Learn More: How to Remove a News Article from Google
1. Negative Headlines Get More Clicks
Bad news travels fast. People are more likely to click on:
- Scandals
- Arrests
- Lawsuits
- Public controversies
Search engines track click-through rates. When more people click a negative headline, Google assumes it’s relevant—and pushes it up the rankings.
2. Authoritative Sites Rank Higher
Most bad press lives on major news websites, like local newspapers or national outlets. These sites have:
- High domain authority
- Strong backlink profiles
- Frequent updates and engagement
Meanwhile, good news about you—like a blog post or a press release—might be published on a weaker site with lower authority. That makes it harder to compete.
3. Google Rewards Original Reporting
Original news content tends to rank better than syndicated or duplicate stories. So when a journalist covers a negative event in detail, that article gets search engine preference over short follow-ups or neutral mentions.
And once it starts ranking, it’s hard to shake.
4. Bad News Stays Online Forever
A positive article may get replaced or buried over time, but bad news—especially about criminal charges, lawsuits, or controversy—tends to stay live indefinitely.
That means:
- It keeps ranking
- It keeps getting clicks
- It keeps damaging your name
Unless it’s removed, redacted, or suppressed, the algorithm has no reason to lower its visibility.
5. Search Engines Don’t Judge Fairness
Google doesn’t care if a story is outdated or unfair. Its ranking system is based on:
- Relevance
- Popularity
- Authority
- Engagement
So even if the bad press is resolved, the search engine will keep showing it—unless you take action.
What You Can Do About It
You’re not stuck with a bad search result forever. Here’s how to fight back:
1. Request a Removal
If the article is false, outdated, or legally sensitive, you can ask the publisher to:
- Delete it
- Update it
- Remove your name
- De-index it from search results
2. Use Google’s Removal Tools
Google may remove search results that:
- Contain personal or financial data
- Are outdated and no longer reflect reality
- Violate specific content policies
Use Google’s Outdated Content Tool or file a legal request if applicable.
3. Suppress with Positive Content
If removal isn’t possible, publish new content that ranks higher than the bad press:
- Create a personal website
- Write blog posts or articles
- Get featured in interviews or PR pieces
- Optimise your LinkedIn and business listings
Google rewards relevance, so the more high-quality content you publish, the more control you regain.
Final Thoughts
Bad news ranks higher than good news because of how the internet—and human behaviour—works. But it doesn’t have to stay that way. With the right strategy, you can remove harmful content or push it down in search results where fewer people will ever find it.
Need help?
Reputation Flare helps individuals and businesses clean up their search results—fast, discreet, and with no upfront cost.
Get a Free Quote and take back control of your reputation today.