Old news can feel like a permanent stain on your name—especially when it still ranks on Google. But here’s the truth: you can take action, and you don’t need a court order to do it. Below are five legal and proven strategies to get rid of outdated, harmful news articles the right way.
Learn More: How to Remove a News Article from Google
1. Request Removal from the Website
This is the most direct—and often most effective—way to remove a news article. Simply ask the journalist or editor to delete the story.
When it Works:
- The story is outdated and no longer relevant
- You were cleared of any wrongdoing
- The article is causing personal or professional harm
- The story involves minor incidents or juveniles
How to Do It:
- Find the contact info of the journalist or editor
- Write a respectful request explaining the harm caused
- Provide supporting documents (like expungement papers or court dismissals)
Many sites have internal policies about unpublishing, especially if the story no longer serves the public interest.
2. Ask for Anonymization or Redaction
If a publisher won’t remove the article, ask them to remove or replace your name.
Why It’s Legal and Effective:
- The content remains intact, preserving the public record
- Your name no longer shows up in search results
- It protects your privacy while avoiding editorial pushback
What to Say:
Request that your name be replaced with “an individual” or similar language, and explain why that change matters. Once it’s done, you can use Google’s tools to clean up the old search result.
3. Request De-Indexing from Search Engines
If the site refuses to remove or change the article, the next best step is to hide it from search results.
What Is De-Indexing?
It means the article still exists online, but Google removes it from its search index—so it’s nearly impossible to find unless someone already knows where to look.
How to Request It:
- Ask the website to add a “noindex” tag
- If they refuse, submit a removal request to Google based on their content policies (e.g., outdated, misleading, or harmful content)
- Use Google’s Legal Removal Request Tool for privacy-related takedowns
This is legal and common for situations involving outdated mugshots, expunged cases, or sensitive personal info.
4. Use Google’s “Remove Outdated Content” Tool
Even if an article is deleted or changed, the old version might still appear on Google. That’s where this tool comes in.
When to Use It:
- The article has been taken down
- Your name has been redacted or replaced
- The content has been updated, but the search result still shows the old version
How It Works:
- Visit Google’s Outdated Content Tool
- Submit the outdated URL
- Google will review and remove it if the content no longer matches
This step is fast, simple, and totally free.
5. Hire a Content Removal or Reputation Management Service
Sometimes, your best option is to bring in professionals who know how to get results. Legal removal experts specialize in handling complex cases across hundreds of news sites.
Why It’s Legal:
- They use negotiation, documentation, and platform policies—not loopholes or threats
- No shady takedown tricks—just proven strategies and persistence
- Some services (like ours) only charge if the content is successfully removed
This is a smart move if you’re dealing with high-profile stories or stubborn publishers.
Final Word
You don’t need to live in fear of a bad headline forever. With the right approach—and a little patience—there are multiple legal paths to remove or bury outdated news articles.
Need help fast?
Reputation Flare removes news articles legally, discreetly, and with no upfront cost.
Get a Free Quote and start reclaiming your reputation today.