AP says it will offer buyouts, part of pivot from newspaper journalism
AP News • • general
Key Points:
- The Associated Press (AP) is offering buyouts to an unspecified number of its U.S.-based journalists as it shifts focus from traditional newspaper journalism to visual journalism and new revenue streams, particularly through artificial intelligence partnerships.
- Newspaper companies now account for only 10% of AP’s revenue, down from a much larger share historically, with major publishers like Gannett, McClatchy, and potentially Lee Enterprises reducing or ending contracts with AP.
- AP aims to reduce its global staff by less than 5%, but U.S. cuts may be higher; the company is emphasizing rapid-response teams and video journalism while maintaining coverage across all 50 states.
- The AP has expanded partnerships with technology companies, including deals with OpenAI, Google, and Kalshi, and has launched new divisions like AP Intelligence to license data and support AI development.
- Despite these changes, AP leadership stresses maintaining high journalistic standards, increasing transparency, and combating misinformation by enhancing fact-checking and public engagement by journalists.
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