The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Bold Digital transformation

When Andrew Morse joined The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) as CEO in 2023, he inherited a legacy institution at a crossroads.

Once the dominant news source in the South, AJC had the backing of Cox Enterprises, but faced the same structural challenges that have hollowed out local journalism nationwide. His response has been to reject the retrenchment that plagues much of the industry and pursue growth, tapping a reported war chest of $150 million to do so.

Under his leadership, AJC has been executing a multi-year growth plan to rebuild its business for a digital era – an approach Morse describes as playing offense rather than defense. The company is investing heavily in technology, marketing, and new editorial franchises to make AJC not just the leading news source for Atlanta, but for the entire region.

For Morse, the thesis is clear: Local news can thrive, but it needs to embrace risk.

“You can’t stand still,” he said. “You have to jump, even if the fall could kill you.”

The Print Exit-and What Comes Next

AJC’s boldest move came this summer when it announced it would end daily print publication by the end of the year, an almost unthinkable decision for a paper of its size.

Morse said the call reflected not a bet on the future, but an acknowledgment of the present. Print revenue had long subsidized AJC’s operations, but readership and ad demand were declining too quickly to justify the costs.

The company chose to reallocate resources toward digital growth rather than managing decline. Though the shift means parting with a meaningful revenue stream, AJC is betting that a fully digital focus will accelerate subscriber growth and strengthen long-term sustainability.

Still, Morse hasn’t ruled out occasional print products for specific audiences, like dining guides or high-school sports coverage.

Key Takeaways

• Strategic Investment: AJC is leveraging a meaningful $150 million investment to fuel its digital transformation.
• Proactive Approach: The leadership is prioritizing growth over simply managing decline in a challenging industry.
• Print Re-evaluation: The decision to end daily print publication is a direct response to declining readership and ad revenue.
• Digital Focus: AJC is betting on a fully digital future to drive subscriber growth and long-term sustainability.
• Flexibility Remains: The company isn’t entirely abandoning print, considering targeted publications for specific audiences.

Publication Date: 2025/11/06 07:07:54