Media News: AP Expands Content-Sharing With Nonprofit News Outlets

The Associated Press (AP) is broadening its content-sharing initiative, partnering with nonprofit news organizations like The Texas Tribune (Left-Center) and, more recently, CalMatters (Left-Center) and others in Nebraska, South Dakota, Montana, and Hawaii (All Left of Center). This collaboration allows AP to distribute partner content across state and potentially national platforms, while the partners gain access to AP’s comprehensive election coverage and other pertinent stories.

AP operates as a cooperative, reinvesting profits into the company rather than distributing them to shareholders. Josh Hoffner, AP’s U.S. news director, emphasized the significance of these partnerships, stating, “As local coverage shrinks, content sharing agreements… are more important than ever… These agreements are exciting opportunities for AP journalism to reach new audiences in an election year.”

Neil Chase, CEO of CalMatters, highlighted the arrangement’s benefits, explaining that it enhances distribution efficiency, allowing news to reach a wider audience without being confined to their website. This comes as major publishers like Gannett and McClatchy have severed ties with AP, signaling a potential shift from AP’s traditional newspaper affiliations.

Julie Pace, AP’s senior vice president and executive editor, reiterated the organization’s dedication to local news, especially in underrepresented areas, stating, “It’s our role as a news cooperative to do all we can to support local outlets.”

The move reflects the evolving media environment, where partnerships with nonprofit digital sectors are becoming increasingly necessary for comprehensive news coverage.