Shocker: Tribune Co. Gives Notice To Drop AP

E&P. ^ | October 16, 2008 | Joe Strupp

[george76]

Tribune Company has given a two-year notice to the Associated Press that its daily newspapers plan to drop the news service, becoming the first major newspaper chain to do so since the recent controversy over new rates began.

Tribune, which owns nine daily papers including the Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune, joins a growing list of newspapers that have sought to end AP contracts, or given notice of that, following plans to introduce a new controversial rate structure in 2009. The notice was given earlier this week.

AP Spokesman Paul Colford confirmed the cancellation notice, but said he had no more specifics.

The notice, of course, does not mean Tribune is cutting AP immediately. The news cooperative requires the two-year notice as part of its current contracts. Negotiations may lead to the termination not moving forward.

Tribune daily papers besids the flagship in Chicago affected include The Sun Sentinel of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; The Orlando Sentinel; Red Eye of Chicago; the Hartford Courant; The Baltimore Sun; The Morning Call of Allentown, Pa.; and The Daily Press of Newport News, Va.

"I think many editors are concerned about the new financial rate model that AP has rolled out,"

[Liz]

Hey, you lying bastard AP mediots, you will be unemployed soon. There's
not much of a job market for liars unless you are a Democrat politician.

Heheh----good one.

[Let's Roll]

“As long as they are reasonably credible, all kinds of news and information groups can be invited in, giving a much broader scope to the news.”

Yeah, they can still spike the stuff that doesn’t fit their agenda ... the way they do now. Most of the sheeple won’t know the difference ... the way they don’t now.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

Newspapers have always been biased. The best you can hope for is that they aren’t all biased in the same direction. Ironically, even trying to not be biased is a bias.

[MurryMom]

Yes, I'm still alive and today I'm all psyched about the Colin Powell endorsement on MTP this morning. I'm very pleased to see that so many Republicans are seeing the light this year.

But given that Sunday is America's day of secular football idolatry, let's take a quick look at the pigskin endorsements in two key swing states.

In FL, Miami Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga has announced his plans to pack up his toys and go home if Obama wins the election, saying that he'll sell the team because of Obama's tax policies. After 15 years of plodding mediocrity under Huizenga (no Super Bowl wins, AFC Championships, or even AFC Championship Game appearances, compared to 2 Super Bowl wins, 5 AFC Championships, and 7 AFC Championship Game appearances in the 27 years prior to Huizenga), Dolphin fans are probably ready to thank Obama for ridding them of their pathetic owner. And baseball fans will remember Huizenga as the guy who dismantled two separate Florida Marlin World Series championship teams to pad his wallet. Bottom line? If an Obama presidency can get Wayne Huizenga out of the sports biz, that's change Miami sports fans can believe in.

Meanwhile, here in PA, Steelers owner Dan Rooney -- possibly the most beloved guy in the city of Pittsburgh -- is campaigning for Obama in PA and OH with Ted Strickland and Steelworkers' President Leo Gerard.

Life is good.