Atlanta Journal-Constitution chief steps down as bold goals yield to tough realities
The owners of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution invested $150 million to reinvent the paper. The changes have been significant. Three years in, the payoff has been modest.
Andrew Morse had helped usher ABC, Bloomberg and CNN into the digital age. In January 2023, he turned his sights on Atlanta, with a $150 million plan to reinvent its leading daily newspaper.
In taking the reins of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Morse set an ambitious goal: to grow the number of digital subscribers from 53,000 to a half-million by the end of 2026. He laid out a new strategy, with new content and an infusion of new energy. The paper abandoned print at the end of last year to go all-in on digital innovation. The plan so far has achieved modest results: 101,000 digital subscribers.
Morse acknowledges falling short, but says the paper ultimately will reach what he calls its “North Star.” Morse won’t be there when it happens. After nearly three and a half years, he says it’s time for him to step aside.
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