What to do about an arrest article on my first Google page

[How to Remove Article from Online Newspaper]

John Ryan Doe asked: 

When my name is searched on Google, an old news story about an arrest that took place years ago all of a sudden started showing up on the first page of Google results for my full name (First Middle Last) or my first and last name.  

Why would this article start appearing at the top of my Google results, and what can I do to get it removed from the news site all together, deleted off Google and other search engines, or at very least push it way far back past the first page of results for my name?

[CL]

John, I'm sorry your reputation is being sullied by an old and unfavorable article online.  This sort of thing happens all too much, and can be very distressing for the people whose online presence is tarnished by such negative news articles.  Fortunately there are some things that can be done.  Unfortunately, online news articles are one of the most difficult categories of content to get completely and permanently removed.  That being said, I will try to answer your questions the best I can below.

Why would this article start appearing at the top of my Google results?

What can I do to get it removed from the news site all together?

What can I do to have it taken off Google and other search engines, or at very least push it way far back past the first page of results for my name?

[CL]

To continue my answer above, let me address the three bolded questions I intentionally left unanswered.

1. Why would this article start appearing at the top of my Google results?

Articles appear at the top of Google results based on factors such as relevance, search engine optimization (SEO), and recency. If the article includes your name or closely associated keywords, Google’s algorithm may prioritize it due to user interest or recent activity around the topic. Additionally, the website's domain authority, the number of people clicking on the article, and external links referencing it can boost its ranking.

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2. What can I do to get it removed from the news site altogether?

To have the article removed from the original news site:

• Contact the publisher: Politely reach out to the editor or webmaster of the site and explain why you believe the article should be removed (e.g., factual inaccuracies, harm caused, privacy concerns).
• Request corrections: If removal isn’t possible, request a correction or update if there are inaccuracies.
• Legal action: If the article is defamatory, violates your privacy, or contains unlawful content, consult an attorney about pursuing legal action.
  Keep in mind that publishers are often reluctant to remove content unless there is a compelling legal or ethical reason.

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3. What can I do to have it taken off Google and other search engines, or at very least push it way far back past the first page of results for my name?

If removal from the original site isn’t feasible, you can take the following steps to address its visibility:

Removing Content from Google

• Request removal via Google: Use Google’s content removal request tool if the article violates Google's policies (e.g., sensitive personal information or legal issues).
• De-indexing requests: If successful, this stops the article from appearing in search results, though it remains live on the news site.

Suppressing the Article

• Create new content: Publish blog posts, articles, or social media updates that optimize for your name or keywords. These can outrank the negative article over time.
• Leverage platforms with high domain authority: Create profiles or content on LinkedIn, Twitter, or other authoritative sites to dominate the search results.
• Hire SEO services: Professional services can help push unwanted results down through strategic content creation and link building.

These actions require persistence, as improving your online reputation is a gradual process.

Find more strategies and detailed information in Defamation Defenders comprehensive guide on How to Get Negative Articles Removed from Google.