The Google News Blog announced that the leading article will contain the Google + profile information of the author, when available. This is being rolled out in the upcoming weeks to the English Google News portal.

Here is a picture:

Google said, “When reporters link their Google profile with their articles, Google News now shows the writer’s name and how many Google+ users have that person in their circles. For the lead article for each story, Google News also shows that reporter’s profile picture and enables readers to add them to their Google+ circles right from the Google News homepage.”

Craig from the Google News team said in a Google News Help thread:

Forum discussion at Google News Help.