CNN Courts Newspapers With New Wire Service

By: Joe Strupp CNN is courting newspapers -- and possibly competing with The Associated Press -- with a new wire service the cable network plans to launch soon, with plans for an all-expenses-paid, three-day summit in December to show off its news gathering capabilities.

In a letter to numerous newspaper editors, CNN is boasting its new CNN Wire will "provide stories of interest to your newspaper and online readers -- breaking news, national, international, business, politics, consumer, medical, and more. We are talking to a variety of newspapers and newspaper groups, large and small, about this project."

The letter, sent last week from Joe Middelburg, CNN Newsource Sales' vice president of sales & affiliate relations, adds: "Like most major news organizations, CNN has its own internal wire service to provide original reporting on world news. With a worldwide staff of 3,800 people, 22 international bureaus, soon to be 15 domestic bureaus (including Seattle), 900 North American TV broadcast affiliates, a Web site, and a radio network, we are able to maintain a strong flow of up-to-the-minute stories. We now believe we have the base to offer this service to other news organizations."

Editors are being invited to the three-day event in Atlanta at CNN's expense. "This summit will showcase CNN's expertise in covering news, highlight on-air and online coverage, demonstrate the latest in newsgathering technology, and explain how the CNN Wire can become a valuable resource for your newspaper and associated Web sites," the invitation letter reads. "We would also like to hear your comments and suggestions about this initiative. We would like to invite you to the Newspaper Summit. Airfare, meals, and accommodations will be at CNN's expense. Please let me know if you are interested in attending."

Middelburg did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

Among those expected to attend the CNN summit is Martin Dunn, editor in chief and deputy publisher of the Daily News in New York. "I think it is a very interesting idea," Dunn told E&P about CNN Wire. "Like all newspapers, we want to keep our options open."

Newsday Editor John Mancini and Susan Goldberg, editor of The Plain Dealer in Cleveland, told E&P they too were invited. "I think we are interested in seeing what they have to offer," said Goldberg.

The newspaper summit comes as the Associated Press is dealing with fallout from its recent rate structure change planned for 2009, which has drawn complaints from a handful of newspapers and sparked several to give the required two-year notice to drop the service.

Most recently Tribune Co. revealed it had given notice for its nine newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune, to cut its ties to AP in two years. Since early 2008, newspapers in several states including Ohio and Idaho have launched content-sharing programs, while editors from several New York papers are planning to create such a program within several weeks.

Last week, AP announced it would further reduce rates under the new rate structure that would add another $9 million in savings to the $21 million savings AP had promised for member newspapers.

In addition, AP stated it would provide all text content to AP members regardless of which service they choose, as well as possibly eliminate the two-year requirement for giving notice to drop the service.

AP spokesman Paul Colford told E&P yesterday, "We also understand that a lot of newspapers are reexamining their strategies in this challenging economic climate. The AP has been working closely with its member newspapers to ensure that we continue to offer them an efficient and essential news service."