Media pays AP for news content, but Gannett, McClatchy cut ties, save money

[KARAH RUCKER]

TWO OF THE NATION’S LARGEST NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS – GANNETT AND MCCLATCHY – ARE ENDING THEIR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ASSOCIATED PRESS – ONE OF THE WORLD’S LARGEST CONTENT PROVIDERS FOR NEWS ORGANIZATIONS.

WHILE THIS IS BIG NEWS IN THE MEDIA INDUSTRY –

I WANT TO SHOW HOW THIS WILL IMPACT YOU AS THE NEWS CONSUMER – THE READER OR VIEWER. 

LET’S BREAK DOWN HOW A MEDIA PARTNERSHIP WITH AP WORKS AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

THIS IS A STORY FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.

“HISTORIC COVERED BRIDGES ARE UNDER THREAT BY TRUCK DRIVERS RELYING ON GPS MEANT FOR CARS.”

AND THESE – ARE NEWS OUTLETS COVERING THE SAME STORY. WITH THE SAME HEADLINE. POSTED ON THEIR OWN WEBSITES – LIKE ON ABC, SPECTRUM, AND THE NATIONAL POST.

THIS IS ONE REASON WHY YOU’LL SOMETIMES SEE STORIES REGURGITATED IN THE MEDIA.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SHARES ITS CONTENT WITH COUNTLESS NEWS OUTLETS.

AND IT’S NOT JUST AP RUNNING A CONTENT FEED TO ITS PARTNERS.

REUTERS IS ANOTHER LARGE MEDIA WIRE.

AND IN LOCAL NEWS – YOUR CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX AFFILIATES HAVE THEIR OWN NATIONAL FEEDS TO PULL CONTENT ACROSS THE COUNTRY. 

THERE ARE PROS AND CONS TO A PARTNERSHIP LIKE THIS.

ONE – IT PROVIDES A NEWS AGENCY A WEALTH OF CONTENT – STORIES, PHOTOS, AND VIDEOS FOR ONLINE AND BROADCAST.

IT ALSO GETS IMPORTANT, BREAKING NEWS TO AN AUDIENCE MORE QUICKLY –

SINCE NEWS OUTLETS DON’T HAVE TO CREATE THE STORY FROM SCRATCH. THEY JUST GRAB IT FROM THE FEED AND PUBLISH.

THE CONS?

IT COSTS MONEY. IT’S UNCLEAR HOW MUCH THE PARTNERSHIP WITH AP COST GANNETT OR MCLATCHY. BUT RIGHT NOW – THE MEDIA INDUSTRY IS REALLY HAVING TO LOOK AT THEIR MARGINS AND TRIM COSTS WHERE THEY CAN. SAVING MONEY IS ONE OF THE REASONS GANNETT AND MCLATCHY ANNOUNCED THEY ARE DROPPING AP.

ANOTHER CON? YOU’RE OUTSOURCING SOMEONE ELSE’S REPORTING. WHICH COMES WITH RISKS WHEN IT’S NOT YOUR ORIGINAL REPORT. 

FOR TRANSPARENCY HERE.

WE HAVE OUR OWN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. BUT WE DO NOT REPRINT THEIR NEWS ARTICLES AND STORIES. WE USE THEIR PHOTOS AND VIDEOS TO COMPLEMENT OUR OWN CONTENT.

SINCE WE’RE A SMALL GROUP AND INDEPENDENT FROM A MEDIA CONGLOMERATE, WE DON’T HAVE STAFF AROUND THE WORLD TO TAKE PICTURES OF MAJOR EVENTS. THE AP DOES. SO THAT’S WHAT WE USE THEM FOR.

GANNETT ON THE OTHER HAND – IS A BIG COMPANY.

AND IT’S ANOTHER REASON THEY’RE LEAVING THE AP — THEY ALREADY HAVE A LARGE ENOUGH NETWORK OF THEIR OWN NEWSPAPERS AND STAFF AROUND THE COUNTRY TO SHARE CONTENT FROM WITHIN THEIR OWN COMPANY.

AND THEY SIGNED A DEAL WITH REUTERS – ANOTHER MAJOR WIRE – TO OUTSOURCE INTERNATIONAL NEWS.

FOR S-A-N – WE PARTNER WITH REUTERS FOR THE SAME REASON WE DO AP.

FOR PHOTOS AND OTHER MULTIMEDIA.

BUT OUR STORIES ARE OUR OWN – NEVER A COPY AND PASTE FROM A FEED.

GANNETT AND MCLATCHY WERE SAID TO BE IN CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE AP BEFORE NEWS OF THEIR PARTNERSHIPS ENDING.

THE AP RESPONDED – SAYING THEY UNDERSTAND FINANCIAL CHALLENGES THE NEWS INDUSTRY IS CURRENTLY FACING.