News Showcase is launching in Croatia

For more than two decades, Google has partnered with journalists and news publishers in support of a healthy, independent and diverse news ecosystem. We’ve also been dedicated to helping publishers in Croatia and across Europe find additional ways to connect with people and engage readers online.

Today we’re announcing the launch of Google News Showcase, our curated online news experience and licensing program, in Croatia. 24sata, Večernji list, Index.hr and Net.hr are among the media publishers that have signed on to Google News Showcase in Croatia.

Participating publishers in Croatia will create News Showcase panels, which provide more ways for readers to engage with the news, and direct them to full articles on news publications’ websites. This helps publishers deepen their relationships with readers and gives them more direct control of presentation and branding. News Showcase panels from our partners in Croatia have begun rolling out on Google News and Discover on Android and iOS.

Globally, we’ve signed News Showcase deals with over 2,800 publications. With the launch of News Showcase in Croatia, the product will be live in 31 countries, 10 of which are in the Baltics and Central and Eastern Europe.

From our partners:

• Marin Katusic, Director of Content Development, Index.hr "For the last couple of decades, digital journalism was all about the reach. We have all mastered the tactics of packaging our content in a way that increases the chances for it to surface across different platforms. And, to be honest, it was often not the highest quality content that users saw and converted on the most. That is why we were delighted to be part of the Google News Showcase launch in Croatia. It allows us to hand pick only the highest quality content we create, the one we want our brand to be associated with.
• Ivan Buča, editor-in-chief of 24sata, "In the era of digital information overload, News Showcase can really help publishers to present the best of their content to a wide audience. It could be a very powerful tool for our media to pick the most important and the most interesting topics of the day and to easily make them accessible to all our users on their smartphones."
• Dario Markas, deputy editor-in-chief of Večernji list, "Večernji list celebrated its 65th anniversary last year, and its mission from day one, to deliver accurate and verified information, is more important today than ever in this world of information warfare and social networks. In an era where even the adage 'trust only your eyes' no longer holds, tools like News Showcase greatly help us get to the facts and the real truth that often lies beneath the surface."
• Matej Lončarić, Chief Digital Officer of CME Adria, "This year, Net.hr celebrates 25 years as one of Croatia's oldest and most recognized internet brands, a true pioneer of digital journalism. Our mission has always been to innovate and adapt to the needs of our audience, delivering relevant and high-quality content. Participating in the News Showcase project allows us to deepen our connection with our users and explore new ways to enhance their experience."

Our partnership with the news industry in Croatia

The launch of News Showcase in the country is the latest example of our commitment to journalism and partnership with news organizations. Over the past few years, we’ve worked with a number of associations to support publishers, journalists and readers in Croatia. These include:

• Partnering with the Croatian Association of Digital Publishers (HUDI) to deliver a dedicated training program and series of events for the Croatian news ecosystem. These events covered topics like fighting misinformation, using AI for investigative journalism, product design and digital verification. They reached more than 240 journalists and publishing professionals from national and regional publishers.
• Holding an in-person AI Design sprint workshop for more than 40 news professionals, in partnership with FT Strategies. The workshop focused on AI product design and preparing publishers for implementing AI in their business strategy.
• Combating misinformation and promoting digital literacy by supporting HUDI’s DigitalPub Day 2.0 event. We also partnered with leading fact-checking organization Faktograf on a project called “Election Facts Hub” to address the challenge of misinformation and disinformation during election periods in Croatia.
• Collaborating with aspiring journalists at VERN University in building digital skills in data verification, research and reporting.

We look forward to continuing to work together with journalists and publishers in Croatia to help them fight misinformation, build new technology and grow reader revenue.