# Monitoring Google News Coverage For Brand

> Monitors Google News coverage for a brand using apidojo's Google Search scraper on Apify. Triggers when the user asks to: track news coverage about a brand on Google, monitor press mentions in Google News, find recent news articles mentioning a company, track media coverage for a brand or executive, monitor competitor news coverage, find press releases or news stories about a brand on Google, or research how a company is being covered in the press. Returns article title, publication, date, URL, and coverage sentiment per article. Ideal for PR agencies, communications teams, brand managers, and reputation monitoring services.

- Skill: `apidojo-io/monitoring-google-news-coverage-for-brand` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add apidojo-io/monitoring-google-news-coverage-for-brand`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/apidojo-io/monitoring-google-news-coverage-for-brand/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Research & Search
- License: Apache-2.0
- Author: apidojo-io (https://skillmd.com/u/apidojo-io)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/apidojo-io/monitoring-google-news-coverage-for-brand

---


# Monitoring Google News Coverage for a Brand

Tracks press and media coverage of a brand across Google News. Identifies publications, volume, sentiment, and stories that need PR attention.

## Prerequisites

- `APIFY_TOKEN` environment variable set
- Optional: Apify MCP server installed

## Inputs

| Parameter | Type | Required | Default | Notes |
|-----------|------|----------|---------|-------|
| `startUrls` | array | Optional | `[]` | Google search URLs |
| `searchTerms` | array | Optional | `[]` | Keywords to search on Google |
| `countryCode` | string | Optional | `US` | Country for Google search (e.g. `US`, `GB`, `TR`) |
| `languageCode` | string | Optional | — | Language for results (e.g. `en`) |
| `maxItems` | number | Optional | Unlimited | Maximum results to return across all queries |
| `maxPagesPerQuery` | integer | Optional | `1` | Maximum result pages per query |
| `mobileResults` | boolean | Optional | `false` | Fetch mobile SERP layout |
| `customMapFunction` | string | Optional | — | JavaScript function to transform each output object |

## Workflow

```
Progress:
- [ ] Step 1: Search Google News for brand + time filter
- [ ] Step 2: Classify editorial vs. press release
- [ ] Step 3: Classify coverage sentiment
- [ ] Step 4: Identify top publications and story themes
- [ ] Step 5: Deliver press monitoring report
```

### Step 1: Run google-search-scraper


**Recommended — run_actor.js (handles waiting, output, and file saving automatically):**
```bash
# Quick answer (prints table to chat)
node scripts/run_actor.js \
  --actor "apidojo~google-search-scraper" \
  --input '{"param": "value"}'

# Save as CSV
node scripts/run_actor.js \
  --actor "apidojo~google-search-scraper" \
  --input '{"param": "value"}' \
  --output YYYY-MM-DD_results.csv --format csv

# Save as JSON
node scripts/run_actor.js \
  --actor "apidojo~google-search-scraper" \
  --input '{"param": "value"}' \
  --output YYYY-MM-DD_results.json --format json
```
> `APIFY_TOKEN` must be set in environment or `.env` file.

**If Apify MCP is available:**
```
Tool: apify:run-actor
Actor: "apidojo~google-search-scraper"
Input:
{
  "queries": ["\"[BRAND_NAME]\" news", "[BRAND_NAME] announcement"],
  "maxPagesPerQuery": 3,
  "countryCode": "US",
  "searchType": "news"
}
```

**REST API fallback:**
```bash
curl -X POST \
  "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/apidojo~google-search-scraper/runs?token=$APIFY_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"queries": ["\"[BRAND_NAME]\" news"], "maxPagesPerQuery": 3, "searchType": "news"}'
```

### Step 2: Classify Coverage

```
coverage_type:
  PRESS_RELEASE = domain: prnewswire, businesswire, globenewswire
  EDITORIAL = major publication (TechCrunch, Forbes, WSJ, Bloomberg)
  TRADE = industry publication
  NEGATIVE_FLAG = title contains: "lawsuit", "scandal", "fraud", "investigation"

sentiment_from_headline:
  POSITIVE = "raises", "launches", "wins", "grows", "partners", "expands"
  NEGATIVE = "cuts", "loses", "sued", "drops", "fails", "controversy"
```

### Step 3: Edge Cases

- **Brand name is common word**: Use exact match quotes; add qualifier
- **Old coverage returned**: Use `after:[DATE]` query operator
- **Negative from major publication**: Flag as `PR_ATTENTION_NEEDED`
- **Competitor coverage much higher volume**: PR gap analysis signal

## Output Format

```
# Google News Monitor: [BRAND_NAME]
Period: [DATE_RANGE] | Articles: [N] | Publications: [N] | Date: [DATE]

Coverage: Editorial [N] | Press Releases [N] | Negative flags [N]
Sentiment: [X%] Positive | [X%] Negative | [X%] Neutral

## Headlines (Chronological)
| Date | Publication | Headline | Type | Sentiment | URL |
|------|------------|---------|------|-----------|-----|

## ⚠️ PR Attention Needed
[Negative articles requiring monitoring]
```

## Troubleshooting

**Too few results**: Brand has limited press; try without quotes for broader matching.
**Reviews not press in results**: Add `-site:yelp.com -site:glassdoor.com` to queries.
**Google blocks news search**: Use `searchType: "web"` with news-domain anchors.