Tribune Co. says it will drop the Associated Press, though it's obligated to give a two-year notice - plenty of time to work out a deal with the news service. That it's gotten this far illustrates a) how cost-conscious the industry is becoming; b) how controversial AP's new rate structure has become; and c) how willing Tribune is to break with the old ways of newspapering. From E&P:

"I think many editors are concerned about the new financial rate model that AP has rolled out," Earl Maucker, editor of the Sun Sentinel, said about the notice. "It is a natural approach for us to take a hard look at that. Are there other alternatives out there that would provide the depth and breadth of coverage we need?" In recent months, other non-Tribune papers have also given the required two-year's notice to drop AP. Those include: The Star Tribune of Minneapolis, The Bakersfield Californian, The Post Register of Idaho Falls, and The Yakima Herald-Republic and Wenatchee World, both of Washington.