In 1846, five NYC newspapers funded a pony express route to bring news of the Mexican War north faster than the U.S. Post Office.
AP was then born as the world's oldest news agency. Nearly 200 years later, AP appears to be another global non-profit on the financial ropes.
The US news cooperative evolution reportedly reaches almost 250 locations in nearly 100 countries relaying breaking news, covering war and conflict, and producing enterprise reports that tell the world’s stories.
The world's oldest news agency appears to be yet another global non-profit journalism organization on the ropes.
A significant restructuring at The Associated Press is underway, which is offering buyouts and preparing to lay off employees in an effort to reduce its workforce by 8 percent. This move is part of a broader strategy to shift to a more digital-first model, which has been a common trend across media organizations as they adjust to changing industry dynamics.
The announcement follows a pattern of similar actions in the past, such as the 2008 staff reduction, which was part of the AP's ongoing efforts to streamline operations and cope with the evolving challenges of the news industry, including shrinking revenues from traditional advertising and print subscriptions.
The News Media Guild is working to secure dues payments from all new employees represented by the union, including those in editorial positions. This could be an attempt to ensure financial stability for the Guild, especially as the AP and other media companies face significant workforce reductions.
This is a challenging time, especially for those impacted by the layoffs or buyouts. The uncertainty surrounding these transitions is never easy, and it raises questions about the future of journalism, job security in the industry, and the role of unions in protecting workers’ interests during such transitions.
If you would like to discuss how this might affect the media industry or explore any specific details about the AP’s plans?
digitaldemocracytoday@gmail.com
AP and philanthropy share an interest in ensuring the public has access to accurate news about issues that threaten our society, whether a pandemic, economic turmoil, climate change, or inequality. This mission has never felt more urgent.
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