Two major American newspaper chains, Gannett and McClatchy, are planning to significantly reduce their business relationships with The Associated Press, a source of news reports and images for outlets worldwide.
Gannett, the largest newspaper company in the United States and the publisher of USA Today, announced on Tuesday that starting Monday, it will no longer use articles, photos, and videos from The AP in its numerous publications.
Kristin Roberts, the chief content officer of Gannett, stated in a company memo that they produce more journalism daily compared to The AP, and will still rely on The AP for election data and its stylebook while partnering with Reuters for global news.
Lark-Marie Antón, a spokeswoman for Gannett, mentioned that this decision allows them to further invest in their newsrooms.
McClatchy, recently acquired by Chatham Asset Management, informed its editors that they will cease some AP services next month. McClatchy, operating about 30 newspapers including The Miami Herald and The Kansas City Star, will continue to use The AP for election results data.
Kathy Vetter, McClatchy’s senior vice president of news and audience, conveyed in an email that they will no longer pay for content serving a small portion of their readers, seeking alternatives for state ‘wires’ content.
The AP, with reporters across the U.S. and globally, plays a vital role in news coverage, including U.S. election reporting. They have adapted to diverse revenue sources beyond newspaper fees and state that losing Gannett and McClatchy would not significantly impact their revenue.
