Google's recent search and Discover updates since September have significantly impacted news publishers in the UK, US, and elsewhere, affecting traffic and revenue. Websites focused on scale and built with SEO strategies experienced the most substantial declines, while those with better user experiences and fewer ads, often subscription-focused, reported less impact. Updates, including a "helpful content update" and core updates in October and November, have led to drastic shifts in traffic and visibility. Publishers, especially in the US, reported disappearing from Google Discover and Top Stories, causing a substantial drop in ad revenue. Some attribute the changes to a shift away from ad-based sites and an emphasis on user experience. Publishers expressed frustration with the lack of clarity in Google's guidance and reported confusion despite making improvements. Google claims the updates aim to show helpful and reliable results, and some issues are being addressed.