From Paul Colford, AP Director of Media Relations:
Mr. Boriss’ commentary about the Associated Press contains a number of inaccuracies. Permit me to address some of the more glaring ones, starting with his belief that the AP was founded “to get news from Europe faster.”
The AP dates its founding to 1846, when the heads of six New York newspapers agreed to share the cost of gathering and transmitting by telegraph the news from the Mexican War.
Mr. Boriss also writes that “the AP has used their [newspapers’] fees to mushroom into a huge, full-service news outlet.”
As the AP reported on its wire last year, “In recognition of the challenges facing the media, the AP froze its basic rates for member newspapers and broadcasters this year [2007] and already has committed to keeping fees at the same level next year [2008].”
In addition, last month the AP announced at its annual meeting in Washington $21 million in assessment reductions for 2009.
Mr. Boriss writes that “last September … the AP made a deal with Google News to feature the AP’s version” of stories on Google News.
The AP did not make a new deal with Google last September. On Aug. 31, Google started to host AP stories on its site under an existing agreement with the AP. The agreement gives Google the same rights to use AP content that the AP extends to hundreds of other commercial customers.
These commercial agreements are crucial to helping the not-for-profit AP pay the enormous costs of covering vital breaking news around the world, including the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, deadly hurricanes and tsunamis, and other conflicts as they occur.
AP’s commercial licensing policy was approved by, and is periodically reviewed by, the AP’s board of directors, whose members are elected by the AP’s 1,500 U.S. daily newspaper members.
Mr. Boriss writes that a new program to make AP stories available on iPhones is “preempting its members’ necessary efforts.”
As AP President and CEO Tom Curley explained at last month’s annual meeting, “The formation of the Mobile News Network positions members [newspapers] to capture opportunities on high-growth mobile platforms … The Mobile News Network will provide a national platform for smart-phone users to get local content from brands they trust. Members can participate by providing local news that will appear alongside their logos. The network also offers a new outlet for members to sell local advertising to the mobile audience.”
Mr. Curley’s remarks can be read here: http://www.ap.org/pages/about/pressreleases/pr_041408d.html.
Thank you.
