Google has considered buying a newspaper or using its charitable arm to support news businesses seeking non-profit status, but is now unlikely to pursue either option, Eric Schmidt, chairman and chief executive, told the Financial Times.
His comments, in an interview set to appear on FT.com, will cool speculation that the deep-pocketed search engine operator might save franchises such as the New York Times that are struggling with debts and declining advertising revenue.
Google had looked at buying a newspaper but was “trying to avoid crossing the line” between technology and content, Mr Schmidt said. It was instead working with publishers to make their websites “work better” for online advertising.