Associated Press is the network created in 1846 to share articles amongst newspapers in the days before the Internet. If a particular newspaper pays to subscribe to the Associated Press, it can reprint articles from other AP papers.
The news agency, Associated Press, has grown from a regional New York group to a multinational, non-profit news agency. It is still based in New York City and is a co-op—owned by those media—newspapers, TV stations, and radio stations which send stories to the AP and use stories written by staff journalists.
News collected by the AP is published and republished by more than 1,700 newspapers, in addition to more than 5,000 television and radio broadcasters. The photograph library of the AP consists of more than 10 million images. The Associated Press operates 243 news bureaus, serving at least 120 countries, with an international staff worldwide.
Associated Press also operates The Associated Press Radio Network, which provides newscasts twice hourly for broadcast and satellite radio and television stations. The AP Radio also offers news and public affairs features, feeds of news sound bites, and long-form coverage of major events.
This allows news to spread far and fast. Some authors have used this to let the world know about their books. For instance, Marianne Schlegelmilsch sent us a list of places her books had been reviewed or printed articles about her and her books. The list was long, and some links were as far away as France.
And that’s all due to the networking done by the Associated Press and its member papers.
So take note, and send your press releases to as many AP papers in your area as you can. Get your name printed and posted where it can be picked up. It’s an efficient way to spread the word about your books and events.
You can also contact regional Associated Press offices and send information directly to them. For instance, if you are an author in Minnesota and your book concerns Texas, you would send a press release tailored to the Associated Press office in Dallas and one for AP Minneapolis.