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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
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