The Associated Press said Monday that it is cutting less than 5% of its global workforce amid shrinking newspaper readership and advertising declines — the latest cuts to hit the struggling news industry.
The changes will mostly affect the US news team, as well as a small number of jobs in other US-based reporting units, executive editor Julie Pace said in a Monday memo to staff, citing shifts in the turbulent media landscape.
Pace said that the AP’s customers have changed, citing a shift from print media to broadcasters, digital outlets and non-media companies.
“Even though we’ve evolved in the US over the past few years, too much of our operations are still tied to large U.S. newspaper groups, who make up less than 10% of our business. Now is the time to be bolder about making this transformation,” she wrote.
The news honcho did not detail how many jobs would be slashed, but the Marketing and Media Alliance estimated that the AP has 3,700 employees — which could translate to less than 185 jobs getting hit.
An AP spokesperson declined to address the number of jobs that will be lost.
“AP’s business is stable and profitable. We are making strategic decisions to ensure we’re set up to meet the needs of our top customers – the global leaders in broadcast and digital, and the world’s largest technology companies,” the rep told The Post.
“Like any media organization in today’s environment, we are continuing to evolve to ensure we’re reaching people where they get their news and information today.”
The restructuring comes amid broader cuts across the media industry as news outlets continue to grapple with falling advertising revenue, dips in readership and shifts in how people get their news.
The Washington Post slashed roughly a third of its workforce in February, including hundreds of newsroom staffers, as it restructured operations and cut back coverage areas.
Other major outlets going through cuts include CNN, CBS, NBC and Business Insider, as the outlets pivot to digital-first and video-centric strategies.
AP laid off about 8% of its workforce in late 2024 in a similar move to modernize its business.
This time around, the company said it will seek voluntary departures from unionized employees before it makes the broader cuts.
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