According to AP, the new pricing structure will allow new personalized services and result in decreased costs for many newspapers, but editors argue that the changes will actually increase fees.

Under the current AP pricing structure, each paper pays for a package of AP stories based on the paper’s location and size. Under the new structure, members will receive all breaking news worldwide, as well as breaking news for sports, business and entertainment. Other non-breaking news would be available at an additional cost a la carte.

"The AP fees have been set by the board after careful structuring," said AP President Tom Curley, and "about 80% would get a cutback, 10% will remain the same and 10% would go up."

Editors from across the US have complained that AP carried out plans to change pricing without consultation of its members, at a time when most of these are shrinking budgets.

"The failure of Associated Press to cut its rates is especially mystifying given that AP itself seems to be expanding, most recently adding to its already robust, admirably strong foreign coverage, even as its newspaper members undergo rigorous and continuous belt-tightening," the letter states.

Another letter sent by Ohio editors and publishers also claims that AP may be competing with its members. "We are all members of AP, yet increasingly we find you are competing with us, your clients. Instead of moving stories we have produced, there are times when you have instead decided to 'match' our story and produce your own version."

The letter also complains about some of the AP’s editorial practices, such as delays in moving breaking stories on the wire, occasional failures to credit newspapers for their stories, and denying requests for coverage of state events.

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Full letter and details below. More info on our partner site, SFN Blog.

Source: Editor & Publisher