Can you help me with my options on publishing others' news releases on my site?

[bizzer]

I wish to add a "News" section to a highly-read, highly ranked blog I have. The News pieces will not be in the same flow as my regular posts.  I'm contemplating what the best way to do this is, and would like some advice, please. I see these options:

Option 1. Pay textbroker type people to rewrite news releases and post them into the news flow. Pro: indexable content. Con: expense.

Option 2: Have a Submit News form on the site for vendors to submit their news stories. I would have to ask them to rewrite their stories to avoid dup content. Pros: Easy for me, no cost. Cons: Will still get dup content I bet, a lot of companies won't take the time to do it, and I will have no control over quality. (I really doubt this option will work).

Option 3: Post news releases from companies in their raw format, and mark them as no index (even if I don't noindex, they won't move up the SERPs anyway, so why not just noindex them). Pros: very easy, all the news I want. Cons: not creating any indexable content.

Bonus question: If I do Option #3, and I place an adsense ad on the page, will it work the same as if it was an indexed, non-duplicate content page?

Your thoughts?

[SEODinosaur]

You can use their actual article and trackback to their original (first indexed) post, this will avoid duplicate content and save you time. Google only punishes a site if the duplicate content without tracking back to it's original location.

PR sites are distributing every press release they get to as many news sites that will take it... However these sites are all tracking back (at least the ones who know what they are doing) to the original.

[RobertFisher]

Bizzer,

First, you have to answer for what purpose are you doing this. Then, if you just want some content that is fresh, but not a lot of it, you could really go with an RSS feed. (Especially if by not in the same flow as your blog means sidebar content.)

Also, as to textbrokers, etc. Here are some options:

AP has different levels of 'membership' with different cost levels. You can get the type that is just getting news or you can actually be a member and rewrite their content as the newspapers do. (Frankly, some of their writers seem to get content that isn't theirs... ).

You could simply hire a copywriter and give them a few parameters on what you want or don't and put out a couple of news pieces a week if cost is major consideration. You can find good copywriters who would do smaller pieces for hourly or less than big bucks.

Depending on the type of news you want, use a form for your vendors to "fill out" about the story where there is enough info that you are a copywriter could rewrite for them. Then, let them use it and link back to you. (Frankly, I like this answer a lot). So, you get some basic info on the "news" they have, e.g. Bob McBob is new head of IT at supercomputers is us! They put in how long with company, education, age, three bullet points about his previous and three about new role, and you write a 100 to 200 word release on it. Company gets a nice piece for their site, you get a link and some news for yours.

Well on 3 I would be curious as to where or how you are posting the news. And, you can use Adsense on a noindex page as long as it meets the other criteria for adsense. A caveat is the ads served may not be as relevant as on a followed page.

Best of luck,