paidcontent.org reports extensively on a quite dramatic turnaround in AP’s plans how to charge it’s content to its membersin a series of posts that relate to a press release from AP titled “AP Board approves further rate reductions; AP to undertake review of membership structure“:
- AP Backs Down On Controversial Rate Plan: Cuts Rates, Gives Members All AP Text, Halts ’09 Increases
- AP’s Controversial Rate Plan: History In Links
- Interview: AP Execs Explain Strategic Change???And What It Might Cost The Co-Op And Its Members
- Editors React To AP Rate Cut: ‘A Good Starting Point’ Or ‘This Changes Nothing’
Some quotes from the press release and the posts (emphasis mine):
Press release:
“The Associated Press will reduce U.S. newspaper member assessments by another $9 million next year and immediately begin a re-examination of the AP membership structure.
By the middle of 2009, AP will complete a review of its pricing and governance structure, re-examining all current policies and rules, such as the two-year notice now required for leaving the news cooperative, and considering other potential changes, including the creation of different classes of membership and services.“
Interview post:
“I wrote earlier that AP is constrained by its need to deal with members equally. Brettingen: “For a long time, it was a strength. Maybe in difficult times, it’s not a strength. There are no better deals.” One solution being raised is the possibility of creating more member classes, allowing for greater differentiation. Each class would still need to be treated alike but more classes, more options. Cross hears two major threads: members who don’t want to have to make choices and members who want a minimal amount at a lower rate. But, she says, “Keep in mind the philosophy: [Members] all share equally in the costs of the reporting regardless of how much you use.” One of the questions that will have to be considered in the review: Does AP still function like a cooperative?“
Brettingen (AP’s chief revenue officer): “We have a lot to make up. We’ve been working on the revenue side; this undoubtedly is going to require some work on the cost side. For a company where the costs are primarily its people, it’s going to mean having to look at some positions.”
So it looks like the last weeks where quite some turmoil at the AP.
IMHO AP does the right thing by coupling a quick relieve to its members with a fundamental re-examination that offers the chance to re-structure its relations with its members. AFAIK AP already has a tiered rate plan in which the non-members (essentially the online only customers like Google, Yahoo etc.) pay a significantly higher fee than it’s members.
Hopefully none of my friends at AP will be affected by the expected staff cuts. Given that they all work in areas that AP considers essential for it’s future i think a notice to any of them is highly unlikely.