Idaho Paper Rescinds AP Cancellation -- Will Others Follow?

By: Joe Strupp More than a year after giving its required two-year notice to cancel its membership with the Associated Press, the Post Register of Idaho Falls has rescinded that cancellation, according to a note sent to AP CEO and President Tom Curley from Publisher Roger Plothow.

The Post Register is among several newspapers that publicly gave notice last year of plans to not renew their AP memberships. AP requires members to give two-years' notice before canceling.

Most cited the new AP fee structure implemented earlier this year as the reason, while others added complaints about coverage.

Plothow stated in his note: "This new structure, while a significant improvement, is disappointingly restrictive. For a newspaper like the Post Register, near the boundaries of three adjacent states, the only realistic option is to select the full-service package. I hope that this new pricing plan will be refined over time to provide a more cafeteria-style approach.

"The net result of these events, however, is this note rescinding the cancellation of our membership. We will, with some reluctance, be signing a new contract with the AP."

Plothow told E&P he would not rule out future cancellation if it became necessary. "We are going to review it every year," he said.

Paul Colford, AP's director of media relations, welcomed the news. "We are obviously pleased by Mr. Plothow's decision and the encouraging actions of others," he told E&P. When asked if other papers had made similar moves, he declined to comment.

The entire Plothow note follows:

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Dear Tom:

As you know, some 14 months ago I quite publicly sent you notice that the Post Register intended to cancel its membership in the Associated Press. Our staff has spent the past year looking for alternatives to the AP -- what would essentially have required cobbling together a confederation of sources. In the meantime, of course, the AP announced its new fee structure to be effective next year.

This new structure, while a significant improvement, is disappointingly restrictive. For a newspaper like the Post Register, near the boundaries of three adjacent states, the only realistic option is to select the full-service package. I hope that this new pricing plan will be refined over time to provide a more cafeteria-style approach.

The net result of these events, however, is this note rescinding the cancellation of our membership. We will, with some reluctance, be signing a new contract with the AP.

As has always been true, I have nothing but the utmost admiration and respect for the journalists of the Associated Press and we would have regretted losing that long-term relationship. I do hope, however, that the management and directors of the AP will continue working toward a better fee plan that more fully leverages the alternatives made possible by existing and emerging technologies.

Warmest regards

--
Roger Plothow
Editor and Publisher
Post Register
Idaho Falls, Idaho