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The AP continues to listen closely to member newspapers’ concerns and has been working hard to address them.
At the same time, I would like to correct some comments in Mr. Solomon’s column.
Mr. Solomon says, “What we got instead was a two-tiered plan [from AP] with an offer to get less than what we are now getting for about $129,000 or an opportunity to pay more ($134,000) and get much more than we use now, and much more than we’ll ever need.”
Under the AP Breaking News option taking effect in 2009, newspapers will get vastly more than Mr. Solomon suggests -- including all state, national and international breaking news, plus all state premium news analyses, sports, entertainment, business and lifestyle coverage. Under a second option, AP Complete, there is additional content.
Mr. Solomon adds, “We could use some of the AP copy to flesh out the world and nation report on our Web site, but AP forbids newspapers from posting any AP material not previously published by the same newspaper in print.”
This is inaccurate. Member newspapers may post on their Web sites a selection of content from their AP service, whether or not it’s been published in the paper.
In addition, Mr. Solomon says, “Meanwhile, AP deals with ‘pure play’ sites such as Google, Yahoo and MSN ensure that all AP copy is available online long before it can be published in our newspapers.”
“All” AP copy is not available online. AP’s state wire copy – in New Hampshire, New Jersey, wherever – is not licensed to commercial customers.
The top of AP’s national, international, sports and business news -- almost entirely staff-reported -- are the only AP stories licensed for use by Google News, Yahoo News and hundreds of other Web sites.
Thank you,
Paul Colford
Director of Media Relations
The Associated Press
--------------
Hello again Mr. Colford,
Here is what some of the editors at The Telegraph believe, based on presentations by the AP Northern New England Bureau Chief, regarding the difference between AP Breaking News and AP Complete. Please pass this along to the person who can let us know if we are mistaken.
Lifestyle Editor: I was under the impression that the AP Breaking News would not include things like recipes and general lifestyle-type stories because those are not considered newsy, breaking-news-type things.
Sunday Editor: My understanding of the deal is that we will no longer get the following:
* Travel stories
* Much of the health,entertainment and lifestyle stories we regularly get. We'd get the stuff they move for the next day on studies being released, or entertainment people or fashion shows, but not the more useful in-depth stories.
* Things like best-sellers, box office and other lists
* Computer-related content like the "On the Net" column and product and software reviews
Entertainment Editor: What I will lose without the complete AP service:
* On the Net.
* Movie reviews.
* AP on TV.
* Now Hear This. The quotes that run on Page 28.
* Music Reviews and associated photos
* Upcoming DVD sales.
* Nielsens list for the Top 10 feature. May be able to get online.
Suppose you had two employees who would cost you $131,000 a year. Let's say that's $50,000 each in salary, plus benefits.
And those two employees would give you the following every day:
"two or three business stories, a small stock listing, coverage of professional sports, lottery results, and some celebrity news. We use more in our Sunday edition, especially in technology, travel and education sections."
Compared with the productivity of the staff already on hand, how is the AP not a bargain?
I think the discussion revolves around value not just productivity.
For the sake of argument - say 90% of what AP provides is national news that is available elsewhere on the Web - and we can get 95% of the state/regional and sports news via local cooperatives or other cheaper sources.
If that is true (and it may be) then replacing AP with two staffers could create a significant amount of local news, in print and online that is NOT available elsewhere.
Anyway - we have two years to figure it out and a lot could change before then.
thanks
Damon Kiesow
Managing Editor / Online
I see what you're saying, but you're arguing by moving the denominator around. Changing the base.
Dave described what AP copy he uses. How are you going to replace that?
You replied by saying, well, we don't use most AP copy. But what about the AP copy you do use? And you said, we can replace most of certain statewide AP copy. But how will you replace the rest of what you use?
Doesn't a local general-interest newspaper need to have what you're using now from AP: several national and international stories a day, briefs of national and international news, and ""two or three business stories, a small stock listing, coverage of professional sports, lottery results, and some celebrity news. We use more in our Sunday edition, especially in technology, travel and education sections."
You're not going to get those from local cooperatives, right?
So I'm asking: What alternative do you have? Where else could you get those?
Or are you proposing a local newspaper that has no national and international news?To say that it's available to your reader elsewhere is true, but nonresponsive. If you will have no national and internation news (not to mention, no celebrity news, no lottery scores, no business news outside of your region), are you going to sell papers only to readers who buy your paper and another paper? How exactly is this going to work?
Reuters, Getty, Bloomberg, Washington Post Syndicate all carry national news and photos - along with others. We would need to weigh the content and cost of those offerings with what we currently receive from AP. We also fully expect other additional sources to become available in the next two years.
Damon
Newspapers don't do that. They act as if they are the exclusive source for news.
The newspaper model of proprietary news seems so old-fashioned. Comments are nice, but until you guys link out to your other news buddies, your sites will seem self-contained, stuffy and dated. Get into the rough and tumble world of mutual links and watch your website grow and prosper.
As we improve our internal newsroom systems and technology in the next 6 - 8 months you will begin to see many more RSS feeds and links to other news sources.
thanks
Damon Kiesow
Managing Editor / Online