Technically, no one has quit the AP yet. Their current contract contains a two-year notice period. But, a number of papers have given their notice (7% this year vs 4% last year according to AP) and last month the Spokesman-Review indicated they plan to try and break the two-year clause.
And then late this week AP announced it was cutting rates an additional $9 million in ’09 and eliminating the new two-tiered service structure in favor of giving members access to every text story the wire service produces. They also announced an intent to pursue what may be a complete restructuring of their menu of services and fee schedule.
So – maybe that is good news. In the meantime I have been curious as to how many papers have given their notice. Seven percent would be somewhere around 100 – but below is the best I can figure that have announced publicly. If I am missing any you know of – please leave a comment and I will add it to the list.
Papers that have given AP their 2-year notice:
- Minneapolis Star Tribune
- Spokesman-Review
- The Columbus Dispatch
- LA Times
- Chicago Tribune
- Baltimore Sun
- Sun Sentinel
- Orlando Sentinel
- Hartford Courant
- The Morning Call
- Daily Press (Hampton Roads, VA)
- The Telegraph (Nashua, NH)
- The Bakersfield Californian
- The Post Register (Idaho Falls ID)
- Yakima Herald-Republic
- Wenatchee World (WA)
- The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, IA)
- New York Daily News
- Lewiston Sun Journal (Lewiston, ME)
A list of articles and posts referencing the above cancellations:
- Preparing for a Post-AP Era
- The New AP
- What Would Happen if Newspapers Divorce AP
- Tom Brettingen, Chief Revenue Officer, AP: ‘Returning $20 Million To The Industry’
- Steve Buttry’s letter to AP
- Strib tells AP: we’re canceling
- Dispatch gives notice of cancellation to AP
- Some Papers in Financial Trouble Are Leaving the A.P. to Cut Costs
- US regionals turn away from AP to focus on local reporting
- Newspaper Chain Refuses to Renew AP Contract
- Shocker: Tribune Co. Gives Notice To Drop AP
Hi Damon,So where do you see this going? Any ideas what papers/online will use to fill the void? And maybe for local outlets that not really an issue aside from learning to walk without the AP crutch. My experience recently is that AP locally is more of a competitor than ever, rewriting stories from local news websites and moving them on their wire sometimes within an hour of a post.
Well – many of the papers that have given notice have begun to outline some 'replacement' options:1) Regional sharing cooperatives2) Alternative syndicates (probably several to fill the void)3) Reducing wire content and tightening the newsholeI would guess all of the above will happen. On the other hand, if AP does drastically revamp their fee schedule who knows. I don't think anyone wants to have to make this work without AP so there is a lot of incentive for papers to work it out if they can.
The New York Daily News was one of the first that I heard about giving notice, but I haven't seen it mentioned lately.
Hi Damon,
So where do you see this going? Any ideas what papers/online will use to fill the void? And maybe for local outlets that not really an issue aside from learning to walk without the AP crutch. My experience recently is that AP locally is more of a competitor than ever, rewriting stories from local news websites and moving them on their wire sometimes within an hour of a post.
Well – many of the papers that have given notice have begun to outline some 'replacement' options:
1) Regional sharing cooperatives
2) Alternative syndicates (probably several to fill the void)
3) Reducing wire content and tightening the newshole
I would guess all of the above will happen. On the other hand, if AP does drastically revamp their fee schedule who knows. I don't think anyone wants to have to make this work without AP so there is a lot of incentive for papers to work it out if they can.
The New York Daily News was one of the first that I heard about giving notice, but I haven't seen it mentioned lately.
True enough – they gave notice in February. I have added them to the list. Thanks.
True enough – they gave notice in February. I have added them to the list. Thanks.