Andrew Morse Steps Down as CEO of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Andrew Morse is stepping down as CEO of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) after nearly three and a half years. He will be succeeded by Paul Curran, a senior advertising executive with Cox Media, effective June 29. Morse cited family reasons for his departure, stating that he had been commuting from New York to Atlanta.
"We set a very ambitious goal. It's still very achievable based on the size of this market and the pace of our growth. What's changed is the timing."
— Andrew Morse
Key Developments
- Morse joined the AJC in January 2023 with a $150 million plan to transform the newspaper into a digital-first media company.
- The goal was to grow digital subscribers from 53,000 to 500,000 by the end of 2026. As of his departure, the paper had 101,000 digital subscribers.
- The AJC ended its print edition on January 1, 2025, making Atlanta the largest U.S. metro area without a major printed newspaper.
- Morse acknowledged that the digital subscriber goal is still achievable but will take more time than originally planned.
- The AJC has invested in newsletters, podcasts, social media, and subject-based beats, and recently won its first Peabody award for social media video coverage.
Background
Cox Enterprises, the parent company, stated it remains committed to the AJC's mission. The paper has been losing money for years, but Cox has subsidized it through profits from other ventures. Industry analyst Ken Doctor noted that the paper's digital transformation is a significant gamble that may require more time to succeed.
"The entire organization understands what it means to be a digital-first operation. It is now focused on 'How do we grow as fast as possible?'"
— Shereta Williams, Executive Vice President of Growth Operations at Cox Enterprises