Earlier this week, Google (NSDQ: GOOG) introduced “Google Web Elements” an easy way for people to embed Google products—like Google News headlines or Google Maps—on their sites by simply copying and pasting some basic code, just as they often do with YouTube videos. The arrangement obviously benefits Google, which gets to increase the distribution of its products. The New York Observer though notes a less obvious beneficiary: ailing newspapers.

The sample “Web Elements” for both Google News and YouTube News highlight New York Times content (See photo above). Moreover, the YouTube News element lets website owners select specific news providers, including the NYT and The Washington Post, whose videos they want to embed on their site. It’s easy to see how that could also soon be extended to the Google News element, especially since Google is talking to both the Post and the NYT to help the publications find additional ways to make money from their online content. There are no ads in the “Web Elements” (that I see) so news organizations aren’t getting direct money from this for now—but they are getting greater exposure for their content and brands, courtesy of Google.

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