How to set up structured data for author profiles in news articles

Structured data helps search engines understand the content on your website, including information about the authors behind your news articles. By implementing structured data for author profiles, you can enhance your site’s credibility, improve search rankings, and increase the likelihood of appearing in Google’s Knowledge Graph. This added transparency also helps users verify content authenticity, reinforcing the reliability of your publication.

Setting up structured data for author profiles helps:

• Improve E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) – Boosts credibility by verifying authorship and ensuring content quality.
• Enhance search visibility – Google may display author information in search results, giving more exposure to expert contributors.
• Provide rich snippets – Improves click-through rates by offering detailed author information directly in search results.
• Strengthen internal linking – Creates structured connections between authors and their published articles, reinforcing topical authority.
• Increase audience trust – Readers can confirm who is behind an article, reducing misinformation and building transparency.

Step 1: Define key author information

Before adding structured data, ensure each author has a complete profile with essential details that establish their authority and credibility.

Essential author details to include:

• Full name – Ensure consistent formatting across all articles and publications.
• Professional bio – A well-crafted summary highlighting the author’s expertise, industry experience, and credentials.
• Profile picture – A high-quality, professional headshot that aligns with branding.
• Social media links – Include relevant profiles such as Twitter, LinkedIn, or professional directories.
• Website URL – If applicable, link to the author’s portfolio, personal site, or academic page.
• Organization affiliation – Specify the publication, news agency, or company the author represents.
• Published works – Provide a list of previous articles or books that establish credibility.
• Awards or recognitions – Mention notable journalism awards or industry acknowledgments.

Step 2: Implement schema markup for authors

To add structured data, use JSON-LD, the format recommended by Google, which makes it easier for search engines to interpret and display information about your authors.

Example JSON-LD structured data for an author profile:

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Person",
  "name": "Jane Doe",
  "url": "https://example.com/authors/jane-doe",
  "image": "https://example.com/images/jane-doe.jpg",
  "description": "Jane Doe is an award-winning journalist covering global politics and human rights.",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://twitter.com/janedoe",
    "https://linkedin.com/in/janedoe",
    "https://example.com/author/jane-doe"
  ],
  "affiliation": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "Example News",
    "url": "https://example.com"
  },
  "worksFor": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "Example News",
    "url": "https://example.com"
  },
  "award": "Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Journalism",
  "jobTitle": "Senior Investigative Journalist"
}

Step 3: Embed structured data into article pages

Each news article should reference its author’s structured data to reinforce credibility and establish authority in search results.

Example article structured data with author attribution:

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "NewsArticle",
  "headline": "Breaking News: Major Event Unfolds",
  "author": {
    "@type": "Person",
    "name": "Jane Doe",
    "url": "https://example.com/authors/jane-doe",
    "image": "https://example.com/images/jane-doe.jpg"
  },
  "publisher": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "Example News",
    "url": "https://example.com",
    "logo": {
      "@type": "ImageObject",
      "url": "https://example.com/logo.png"
    }
  },
  "datePublished": "2023-09-01T08:00:00+00:00",
  "dateModified": "2023-09-01T09:00:00+00:00",
  "mainEntityOfPage": "https://example.com/news/major-event"
}

Step 4: Validate structured data

After implementing structured data, test it to ensure correct formatting and proper functionality. Errors in structured data can prevent search engines from correctly displaying author information.

How to test structured data:

• Google Rich Results Test – Test here to confirm eligibility for enhanced search listings.
• Schema Markup Validator – Validate here to check for syntax errors.
• Google Search Console – Monitor warnings and errors related to structured data within the Enhancements tab.
• Structured Data Testing Tool (Third-Party) – Useful for cross-referencing JSON-LD implementations.

Step 5: Monitor and maintain structured data

Structured data should be updated regularly to reflect changes in author information, employment status, or site structure.

Best practices for ongoing maintenance:

• Ensure consistency across articles – Author details should be standardized across all structured data implementations.
• Maintain static profile URLs – Changing author profile URLs frequently can result in lost SEO value.
• Regularly update images and bios – Keep author profiles fresh to reflect current achievements.
• Track structured data errors in Google Search Console – Quickly address any flagged issues to prevent search display problems.
• Test structured data after site redesigns – Ensure schema remains intact following website updates.

Final thoughts

Implementing structured data for author profiles strengthens credibility, enhances search rankings, and improves content visibility. By ensuring proper schema markup, testing for accuracy, and maintaining up-to-date author information, you can maximize the impact of author profiles in news articles. Google values transparency, and structured author data contributes to a more trustworthy, authoritative online presence.