Newspapers may leave AP over changes

The executive editor of The Associated Press said Tuesday the news cooperative hopes to work through problems with a handful of newspapers who say they may leave the AP as it implements a new pricing plan that changes how papers get daily content.

Kathleen Carroll told a crowd of newspaper editors that cancellation notices from member newspapers are common but not usually public knowledge. She said in most cases, the news service and newspaper are able to work out the disagreement.

Carroll spoke at the Associated Press Managing Editors conference in Las Vegas, where leaders of the world's largest newsgathering organization were meeting with editors to talk about journalism industry issues and the relationship between the AP and its members.

AP's new pricing plan is centered on offering a core service of national, state and international breaking news, with options for adding other services or purchasing stories individually, instead of providing news feeds defined largely by the volume of news delivered -- large, medium or small. The plan was approved by the board in October.