UPDATE: AP Returns to 'Star-Ledger' After One-Day Test or Protest?

At least a few readers of Wednesday's The Star-Ledger of Newark, N.J., might have noted that the paper carries no Associated Press copy, quite unusual for the Advance Publications daily that ordinarily relies on AP for many things. It is unclear if this was a protest of AP's controversial new rates.

Thursday's editions saw a return to AP content, but with no explanation for the one-day change.

Several sources at the paper said the single-day move was planned, either as a protest or a way to see if the daily can put out an issue without the world's largest newsgathering source, a possible prelude to dropping AP service to save money as the paper seeks cost-cutting options.Editor Jim Willse did not return calls seeking comment.

But the lack of AP stories was obvious in the Wednesday edition of the paper, which included reports from staff members, as well as the Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, McClatchy-Tribune News Service and several smaller Advance Publication papers in New Jersey.

Another omission: no AP reports in the sports section, which relies heavily on wire copy for out-of-town games and scores. Sportsticker was used predominantly in that section, along with staff reports. Box scores and other sports agate was listed without attribution.

Paul Colford, AP spokesman, sent this response to E&P: "We understand that The Star-Ledger and the media industry as a whole are facing difficult financial challenges and that in this environment many newspapers are experimenting with news priorities and with their presentation of news. The Associated Press has been working with all members of the cooperative, including The Star-Ledger, to determine their needs and to ensure that the AP news report retains its value to them and their readers. Member Choice, the content and pricing initiative rolled out this summer, was in fact developed as a response to member requests for simpler content and pricing options.

"We believe AP news is a critical ingredient for all news reports, both directly and as a foundation for many other sources of news.  Breaking news from AP journalists around the world and in the United States, for example, serves as the origin for stories pursued by both AP members and many other news organizations.   AP will continue to work with all members of the cooperative to ensure we are providing the most efficient, valued and essential news service for newspapers so that their own reporters and editors can focus on local coverage."

The paper's Web site, www.nj.com, includes some AP copy, but none listed as appearing in the Star-Ledger. The Web site, operated by AdvanceNet, is compiled by a different newsroom and includes content from other Advance publications.   See more via the jump below.   

Is the Star-Ledger's move the latest protest by a newspaper in reaction to AP as the news service implements a rate change beginning in January?

In recent months, several newspapers have announced plans to drop the news service, with at least one -- The Spokesman-Review of Spokane, Wash. -- challenging AP's two-year notice requirement. Other dailies that have already given notice to AP are The Bakersfield Californian, The Star Tribune of Minneapolis, The Post Register of Idaho Falls, and The Yakima Herald-Republic and Wenatchee World, both of Washington.    

The recent decisions to drop AP service follow the planned AP rate structure change, which was announced in 2007 and takes effect in 2009. The rate change has already prompted complaints from numerous newspapers, including two groups of editors who wrote angry letters to AP to complain in late 2007 and early 2008.

One group included editors from Ohio, while the other spanned The Boston Globe, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Philadelphia Inquirer, among others.

Under current AP policy, each newspaper buys a package of general news created by AP based on that paper's location and circulation. The package usually includes breaking news, sports, business, and other national, international, and regional news relevant to the client's market, including its state AP wire. 



Under the new structure, AP member newspapers will receive all breaking news worldwide (including items from other state wires), as well as breaking sports, business, and entertainment stories. In addition, a package of premium content — made up of five types of non-breaking stories including sports, entertainment, business, lifestyle and analysis — will be available at an additional cost. 



When the new structure was announced in 2007, AP promised a combined savings of $5.6 million across newspaper member budgets, which increased to $14 million —and, finally, $21 million just days before the April annual AP meeting.

AP Executive Editor Kathleen Carroll addressed the rate issue during the Associated Press Managing Editors conference in Las Vegas (see earlier post here), telling a group of newspaper editors there, "We certainly hope that the basic fundamentals of the economy and the marketplace will firm up enough so that the pressure is off some of the people who own the AP."  -- Joe Strupp