AP overhauls biz desk to focus on 12 core beats

The Associated Press announced a sweeping change to its business news operations on Wednesday in which the wire service will focus its future coverage on 12 core beats.

“Our goal is to improve everything we do so we can be more successful in an increasingly competitive market for business news,â€? said business editor Hal Ritter in a statement. “Building these beats will allow us to deepen our coverage of spot news, break more news and produce more outstanding enterprise.â€?

Reporters will be based in New York, Washington and 28 other domestic bureaus to provide authoritative coverage of companies and news sources on each beat. The teams will have five to 10 reporters each. Some two dozen business reporters in international bureaus will provide additional coverage of the beats.

Among the 12 beat editors are Joyce M. Rosenberg (financial markets), Patrick Rizzo (economy), Amy Finkelstein (retailing), Brian Bergstein (technology), Laura Impellizzeri (media, entertainment, leisure and lodging), Michael Lee (health care), Joseph Altman (autos), Greg Stec (airlines), Charles Sheehan (energy) and David Brinkerhoff (manufacturing).

Rounding out the 12 are Trevor Delaney and Noelle Knox, previously announced as the AP’s new editors for personal finance and real estate, respectively.

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