Tribune newspapers dropping AP

Did you ever think you'd see the day that the Chicago Tribune, the Baltimore Sun, the Orlando Sentinel, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, the Hartford Courant, the Morning Call of Allentown, PA, and the Daily Press of Newport News, VA, would all drop the Associated Press?

It's happening on Jan. 1.

All Tribune Co. newspapers, except the L.A. Times, are cutting ties with AP. My guess is that it's the budget woes of the Tribune Co. that is the key driver for this move. But I am sure it also reflects on the advent of news online and the question many newspapers have about whether AP has become more a foe rather than a friend to newspapers online.

Still, seeing all those important newspapers exit AP in one move is startling.