Google will soon provide readers with free access to paywalled stories in News Showcase, a service that supports news publishers by paying them to curate high-quality content. The announcement is part of a broader commitment from Google to help the public find quality news.

Google said it will pay participating partners to provide readers with limited access to paywalled content for News Showcase users. “In return, users will register with the news publisher, providing a way for the publisher to build a relationship with the reader,” Google said. When Google’s News Showcase program launched, the search giant said it would pay $1 billion to news publishers in licensing fees.

 

News Showcase is also introducing a new type of panel, which will include a list of important articles selected daily by their favorite publishers. For example, if you follow a news outlet that covers local stories, the new panel will show daily updates on the most important local stories as selected by that newsroom. It’s a way for users to find valuable content from the news organizations they trust.

National and local publications will also now be shown within the For You feed. Google is also adding a dedicated area to discover new News Showcase publications with Newsstand on Google News. As part of a way to reach more people, Google said News Showcase will soon come to news.google.com and Discover.

Google also announced that since launching News Showcase in October, the number of publications that have signed on has doubled. There are now close to 400 news publications in countries such as Germany, Brazil, Argentina, Canada, France, U.K., and Australia, Google said. The search giant said there are ongoing conversations to sign even more publications from other countries.

“As 2020 comes to a close, it is heartening to witness the progress of News Showcase and the enthusiasm from both publishers and readers around the world,” Google said.