12/14/07

AP Press Release (en français)

AP announces proposal for its French-language news service to participate in new agency covering France

NEW YORK -- The Associated Press announced Friday the formation of a strategic partnership for creation of what would become a new news agency in France.

Under terms of the proposed agreement, the AP's French-language news service would become part of the new agency, covering France and continuing to translate AP's international report for newspapers, Web sites and other clients in France and other French-speaking countries. The AP's French Service traces its origins to the creation in 1944 of an AP Paris bureau, which translated dispatches into French for French newspapers. It moved into its current offices in central Paris in 1978.

The new French agency would also become the exclusive sales agent for the AP's English-language news service and photo service in France.

The majority investor and manager of the new French agency would be Bertrand Eveno, ex-CEO of Agence France-Presse (AFP). The Bolloré Group, a major French industrial group with holdings in the newspaper, television and advertising industries, would be the the minority owner. The new French agency has not yet been named.

"The partnership with The AP would position us strongly in the French market, enabling us to develop and grow and to serve our clients and generate new business," said Eveno.

Tom Brettingen, AP senior vice president and director of Global Newspaper Markets, said the partnership with Eveno would a "winning outcome for all involved, designed to guarantee the best possible future for all services and customers." He said: "AP would benefit from the competence and reputation of one of France's leading media industry entrepreneurs, ensuring a promise of growth for AP services as well as the future French Service run by Eveno. The new agency would benefit from a partnership with the world's leading newsgathering organization."

The agreement would take effect after consulations with Works Council members representing AP employees in France. Commercial terms were not disclosed. The deal would involve no interruption in service to clients.

The project would involve transferring all employees associated with the French Service to the new agency. The Paris AP bureau also operates a photo desk, an English-language news desk and a video production desk. Paris staffers assigned to those and other services at AP Paris would not be affected.

About The AP
The Associated Press is a global news network, delivering news from every corner of the world to all media platforms and formats. Founded in 1846, AP today is the world's largest source of independent news and information. On any given day, more than half the world's population sees news from AP.

Contact: Jack Stokes, AP Corporate Communications, 212.621.1720