Inside Google: What Googlers Are Reading

Some observers think Google is a stoic participant in the online community, but anyone who knows a Googler understands that’s just not the case. Google managers and employees are very interested in what the world thinks of their company.

“We love to read about Google,” Matt Cutts told me at SES San Jose. “When somebody criticizes us we take it very seriously.”

Cue the Google PR team. Every day, a Googler collates news about Google and sends the news to the the staff. According to sources, there are multiple different internal listservs. Some of the e-mails contain news about specific Google products. Below, the contents of one e-mail sent on the industry news highlights list.

When I asked Google about these e-mails, I was hoping they’d finally admit they’d built a huge brain that sucks up planetary data with prehensile tentacles and looks like the end boss in Metroid.

Alas, they said it’s simply standard practice for large companies to send data like this to employees.

An example e-mail is below. I’m happy to report Google Watch is listed from time to time in these e-mails. (As is former Google Watcher and current Marketwatcher Ben Charny.)

“—–Original Message—–From: XXXXXX [mailto:XXXXXX@google.com]Sent: Thursday, September 07, 2006 2:30:00 PMTo: google-coverage@google.comSubject: Google Coverage – September 7, 2006Please find below Google and industry news highlights for September 7, 2006.-XXXXXX——————–Newspapers/Newswires——————–“Don’t Keep All Your Data in One Stash” – The New York Times, Damon Darlin.http://www.corp.google.com/corpcomm/pressarchive2006q3to4/060907nyt.html”I Spy; Doesn’t Everyone?” – The New York Times, Stephanie Rosenbloom.http://www.corp.google.com/corpcomm/pressarchive2006q3to4/060907nyt2.html”The Google & ChaCha column” – USA Today, Kevin Maney.http://www.corp.google.com/corpcomm/pressarchive2006q3to4/060907usatoday.html”Factoring in the human element” – The Mercury News, Elise Ackerman.http://www.corp.google.com/corpcomm/pressarchive2006q3to4/060907sjmerc.html”Google says may launch video service in Japan” – Reuters.http://www.corp.google.com/corpcomm/pressarchive2006q3to4/060907reuters.html———————Industry Publications———————“Google Seeks Help with Recognition” – Business Week, Catherine Holahan.http://yahoo.businessweek.com/print/technology/content/sep2006/tc20060907_732714.htm”Google: Brazil compliance isn’t new” – CNET News, Anne Broache.http://news.com.com/2061-10812_3-6113107.html”Google: The Devil Wears Nada” – eWeek, Steve Bryant.//blogs/google_watch/archive/2006/09/07/13055.aspx”Google Open Sources OCR Code” – InformationWeek, Laurie Sullivan.http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=192600040————-International————-“Google’s free books may hit companies” – Financial Times (UK), Chas Maloney.http://www.corp.google.com/corpcomm/pressarchive2006q3to4/060907ft.html”Google decides old news is good news” – The Age (AU).http://t/dcusOriginal URL:http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/google-decides-old-news-is-good-news/2006/09/07/1157222264200.html”Google: More content – and services” – The Royal Gazette (Bermuda), Amed ElAmin.http://www.theroyalgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060906/BUSINESS/109060145——————————-Google Stock & Financial Issues——————————-“Google Gains as Ads Slow” – TheStreet.com, Jonathan Berr.http://www.thestreet.com/_yahoo/newsanalysis/technet/10307542.html”Honey, it’s a Google ad on the phone” – MarketWatch, Ben Charny.http://t/dcuuOriginal URL:http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Story/Story.aspx?guid=%7BBE8599A4%2D2E05%2D45CD%2DB104%2DBF8EB45612F9%7D&source=blq%2Fyhoo&dist=yhoo&siteid=yhoo”Google Searches the Past for New Opportunities” – Motley Fool, Jack Uldrich.http://biz.yahoo.com/fool/060906/115757219624.html”Honey, it’s a Google ad on the phone” – MarketWatch, Ben Charny.http://t/dcuwOriginal URL:http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/story.aspx?guid=%7BBE8599A4-2E05-45CD-B104-BF8EB45612F9%7D————–Industry Watch—————Sun Microsystems-“UPDATE 1-Sun Micro early investor John Doerr to leave board” – Reuters.http://www.corp.google.com/corpcomm/pressarchive2006q3to4/060907reuters2.html“