AP Restructuring Eliminates 20 Journalists
• The Associated Press laid off 20 U.S.-based journalists on Friday, the union representing them said, part of a restructuring announced last month that is turning the news organization’s focus away from print journalism and toward visual journalism and other revenue sources.
In an email, Patrick Maks, AP’s Director of Media Relations and Corporate Communications, stated, “This is part of the restructuring we announced last month to align our operations with what our top customers need from us today. It’s never easy to part ways with valued colleagues — we are appreciative of their contributions to the AP and wish them all the best.”
AP declined to share specific numbers, but the News Media Guild, the union that represents AP journalists, said 20 guild-covered staffers had been laid off. The layoffs had been completed by the end of the business day Friday.
Tony Winton, the Guild’s administrator, said the union had received an email just before 10am Friday from an AP human resources official saying the company was planning to implement layoffs, and the last day of work was Friday. He said no other information was provided.
“Today’s cuts show just how directionless AP’s leadership has become,” said a statement from Kimberlee Kruesi, an AP reporter and the guild’s acting President. “The company touts that it is prioritizing visual journalism, yet among the 20 employees sacked today are experienced photographers.”
The layoffs, which had been expected, come about a month after AP offered buyouts to more than 120 U.S.-based journalists. About 40 subsequently volunteered and were accepted, according to the guild.
