'Atlanta Journal-Constitution' CEO steps down as bold goals yield to tough realities

Media 'Atlanta Journal-Constitution' CEO steps down as bold goals yield to tough realities May 11, 202611:14 AM ET David Folkenflik Andrew Morse is stepping down as publisher and chief executive of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution next month. Morse had aimed to achieve 500,000 paying digital subscribers by the end of 2026. He now says the goal is attainable, but will take more time. Paras Griffin/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Paras Griffin/Getty Images 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. Sponsor Message 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. "We have been on a great journey with the AJC ... trying to transform a really proud, storied daily newspaper into a modern media company," Morse tells NPR. "The decision for me is really bittersweet." Morse says family concerns drove his choice: "I've been living in Atlanta for three years, but my family lives in New York, so I've been commuting. I needed to make a difficult personal decision to make a change." He will be replaced by Paul Curran, a senior advertising executive with Cox Media, a joint venture in which the newspaper's parent company retains a large minority stake, the company said. The appointment takes full effect June 29. A closely watched experiment Morse's eff...