Gannett and McClatchy, two major American newspaper chains, have announced plans to significantly reduce their business partnerships with The Associated Press, which supplies news articles and images to media outlets worldwide.
Gannett, the largest newspaper company in the U.S. and the publisher of USA Today, stated on Tuesday that starting next Monday, it will no longer utilize content from The A.P. in its numerous publications.
Kristin Roberts, Gannett’s chief content officer, mentioned in a company memo that they generate more journalism daily than The A.P. with USA Today and over 200 newsrooms. Despite this change, Gannett will still use The A.P. for election data and its stylebook, while also forming a partnership with Reuters for global news.
Lark-Marie Antón, a Gannett spokeswoman, stated that this decision allows them to invest more in their newsrooms.
McClatchy, acquired by hedge fund Chatham Asset Management in 2020, informed its editors that they will discontinue some A.P. services next month. McClatchy, which operates around 30 newspapers including The Miami Herald and The Kansas City Star, also mentioned in an email that they will cease using A.P. content after March 31, except for election results data.
The A.P. responded through spokeswoman Lauren Easton, stating that discussions with Gannett and McClatchy regarding their contracts are ongoing and productive.
The A.P., founded in 1846, plays a vital role in news coverage with reporters in every state and almost 100 countries. It supplies wire content to various media outlets globally and is crucial for U.S. election coverage.
The A.P. has evolved from relying on newspaper licensing fees to diversifying its revenue streams, including a news website and e-commerce platform. Losing Gannett and McClatchy as clients would not significantly impact The A.P.’s overall revenue.