When you search Google for something like“what to do this weekend in Milan”or “traffic disruptions in the city,” or even“where to eat in the city,” or“where to have an aperitif”in Milan, the first thing you see isn’t just a list of results. At the top, there’s a featured section called Top Stories, which groups together the most recent and relevant articles from selected publications. It updates in real time and is designed to ensure you don’t miss any breaking news.
What you might not know is that you can now choose what content you want to see there. For example, “Secret Milano.”
What is Google’s “Top Stories” section?
Top Stories is a news panel that appears in Google search results when the topic you’re searching for is the subject of recent coverage and alerts. It works like a real-time news feed: Google filters the most relevant articles from trusted sources and puts them right in front of you, before any other results.
For those looking for local information (restaurant openings, cultural events, municipal notices, traffic alerts, or strikes), it’s the fastest way to access what’s happening in the city right now.
The new feature: you choose your favorite sources
Google has introduced a revolutionary feature: the ability to add news outlets as Preferred Sources. When you do this, articles from that outlet—such as Secret Milano—appear more frequently in the “Top Stories” section and in a dedicated carousel called “From Your Sources,” which appears directly on your personalized results page.
Once marked, Google will give your content greater prominence in search results.
Why it’s important for readers in Milan
Local media cover what the major media don’t: the opening of a new store in the neighborhood, a subway line disruption, or a weekend festival in a suburban park. However, this type of news competes in algorithms with major national and international publications and doesn’t always reach those who need it most in time.
Adding a local media outlet like Secret Milano as a favorite source ensures that its content appears first, without you having to actively search for it.
How to set it up, step by step
- Open Google in your browser or in the Google app on your phone
- Perform any search and locate the “Top Stories” section in the results
- Click on the three dots next to any article and select “Customize Top Stories”
- You can also go directly to google.com/preferences and look for the section dedicated to news sources
- In the source search field, type the name or address of the site you want to follow
- Select it and save your changes.
In short, enabling this feature isn’t just a technical exercise, but a way to regain control over your information diet. In a digital ecosystem often dominated by algorithms that favor national sensationalism, prioritizing Secret Milano ensures that the news truly useful for daily life—from the new restaurant around the corner to the public transit strike—doesn’t get lost in the background noise.
Just a few clicks today will give you an up-to-date guide to the city for months to come.
