AP to help fill growing gap in Washington coverage by regionalizing reporters, serving 28 more states

We've reported a good bit this year on the declining number of reporters covering Washington for regional newspapers. Now The Associated Press says it will beef up its coverage of congressional delegations and issues of regional and state interest. "The restructuring will provide AP regional Washington coverage for 28 states that now are not represented," the wire service said in a press release.

AP says it will reorganize its regional reporting staff in Washington into four regional teams, along the lines of the four regional editing desks it is creating around the country, "and answer to news managers in each of them," the release said. "The first desk, in Atlanta, was established earlier this year, followed by the East Desk, in Philadelphia. Locations of the two other regional desks have not been announced yet. Until they are, the Washington regional teams for the West and Midwest will report to regional managers to be named."

"One wonders if this isn't in part a reaction to Politico's recent partnering up with numerous papers nationwide in order to share content and ad sales," Glynnis writes on MediaBistro. (Read more)