The Associated Press completed a workforce reduction on Friday, cutting an undisclosed number of journalists based in the United States as part of an organizational shift away from traditional print media toward visual storytelling and alternative income streams.
Patrick Maks, a company spokesman, confirmed the staff reductions in an email statement, explaining they were part of a previously announced restructuring effort designed to better serve the organization’s primary clients.
“This is part of the restructuring we announced last month to align our operations with what our top customers need from us today,” Maks stated. The director of media relations and corporate communications declined to provide specific numbers or confirm whether additional cuts would follow.
“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,” Maks wrote.
The workforce reductions had been anticipated following the news organization’s offer of voluntary departure packages to over 120 U.S.-based journalists approximately one month ago. The News Media Guild, which represents AP staff, reported that roughly 40 employees accepted those voluntary buyout offers.
Union representatives said they were not informed of the exact number of journalists affected by Friday’s layoffs, which marked the final workday for those let go.
Tony Winton, who serves as the guild’s administrator, said union officials received notification from an AP human resources representative shortly before 10 a.m. Friday announcing the implementation of layoffs with that day being the last day of employment. No additional details were shared, according to Winton.
“The Guild has asked the AP for details,” Winton said. “We will stand by our members and ensure that all contract rights under our collective bargaining agreement with AP are protected.”
In a previous interview, Julie Pace, who holds the positions of executive editor and senior vice president, indicated the organization aimed to reduce its worldwide workforce by under 5%. The company does not publicly disclose its total number of journalists.
Pace emphasized last month that the AP “is not in trouble.”
“We’re making these changes from a position of strength, but we’re doing so now to recognize our changing customer base,” she said.
The news organization has experienced a 25% drop in newspaper revenue over the past four years. Major newspaper companies Gannett and McClatchy ended their AP subscriptions in 2024.
The organization’s client base now consists primarily of broadcast outlets, digital platforms and technology firms. Kristin Heitmann, senior vice president and chief revenue officer, reported last month that income from technology companies had increased by 200% during the same timeframe.
