The closure of the Australian Associated Press Newswire and Pagemasters production service will have a lasting impact on Australian media.
AAP has been a trusted news source for media outlets across the country since 1935.
The closure will be prompt, with the Newswire service closing in June and Pagemasters in August.
According to AAP, the major shareholders who own the service — including Nine and News Corp — believe they can source their news cheaper elsewhere, meaning they don't need to use AAP any more.
McPherson Media Group editor-in-chief Ross McPherson says many people might not be aware of the impact AAP has on newsrooms across the country.
“Few Australians would be aware of the quality reporting AAP has provided to us and multiple media outlets, with an unbiased, trustworthy news coverage of politics, crime, sports and events around the country over the past 85 years,” he said.
The Newswire service has been used by The News since the 1970s.
AAP doesn’t have a newspaper masthead, radio frequency or TV channel so it’s common for people not to realise a story they’re reading is from AAP — although it could be published by The News, Herald Sun or even Channel 9.
If a newsroom can’t write a particular story in time to keep up with the 24-hour news cycle demand, there’s a high chance AAP has it covered.
But it doesn’t stop at simply writing stories. Eagle-eyed readers would notice The News often relies on AAP for pictures.
AAP isn’t politically left or right. It doesn’t have an agenda or bias. It doesn’t sensationalise or ‘tabloid’ its stories or headlines.
Many journalists have left our newsroom and since joined AAP, who are at threat of losing their jobs.
Thankfully AAP said in a statement the major shareholders, including News Corp and Nine, would find ways to bring those journalists into their newsrooms to fill the content “they currently source from AAP”.
We remain hopeful the journalists who lose their jobs are able to quickly pick up work.
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