Associated Press alienates bloggers all around the world
June 16, 2008 by Colleen Coplick
Filed under Social Media
Recently, the Associated Press threw down a gauntlet and started a great big hairy fight with bloggers. The gist of the matter is that they’re they don’t want bloggers to quote from their stories. They asked one blogger to take down seven posts from in which quotes from AP stories were used. The quoted pieces varied in length from 39-79 words.
Bloggers all over the world are up in arms about this, saying that it limits our ability to act as citizen journalists, that AP doesn’t understand what “fair use” actually means and that it’s just not fair.
Notorious internet hot head, Michael Arrington of Tech Crunch has called for a ban on using AP stories, but there’s a fatal flaw in that logic. A couple fatal flaws actually.
First, none of us are paying to use the Associated Press content. A couple of fewer links to AP will not damage them in anyway.
Second, attempting a boycott on the Associated Press would then entail also boycotting all 1,500 newspapers and news organizations that make up the Associated Press. When discussing this idea with Tris Hussey today, he told me he doesn’t read newspapers. I don’t either anymore – in hard copy. But by reading news online, and visiting the paper’s websites, you’re still giving them your business.They can still sell your attention and eyeballs to advertisers.
Oh, and while you’re at it, you may as well not consume any news whatsoever, in any form, because other people are going to be reading it, quoting AP stories properly, and re-broadcasting them. You may as well turn off your computer, walk away and go live entirely off the grid.
Associated Press will figure out what is considered fair use (and yes, they do get to decide what fair use is for their own content) and the angry bloggers will have to find something else to get their panties in a wad about.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but don’t other news sources quote AP? Meaning, a blogger can choose from any of these numerous other sites from which to quote; in turn, quoting AP vicariously.
Again, that was just my thought from reading this and not having known anything of the situation prior.
That’s not to say i agree with the AP’s actions, though.
Just tweeted and welcomed any comers to quote me, “The Associated Press can kiss my ass.”
I’ll quote whomever I want, whenever I want, so long as I give appropriate credit. I may just do a big AP quote story just to dare them to sue me. That’s complete and utter mismanagement of your brand, product and audience.
Nice job covering it C-Cop!
Ironically, while demoing the iPhone last week, the AP showed off their new app that displays their content to iPhone users. There is a way for those users to capture/report directly from within the app on the iPhone giving AP free content (photos and text). I would imagine users submitting content to the AP also give away any rights to it.