How to Get Featured on AP News
The Associated Press is one of the most trusted names in news, which is exactly why "get featured on AP News" is sold so aggressively.
Here is what actually happens, and what it costs.
What AP News is
The Associated Press is a not-for-profit news cooperative founded in 1846. Its journalists supply reporting to thousands of member outlets worldwide, which is why an AP story can appear in hundreds of publications at once.
That reach is real, and it is the reason the name carries weight.
AP News vs the Associated Press
People search both. They refer to the same organisation — the Associated Press is the news cooperative, and apnews.com is its consumer-facing site.
The distinction that actually matters is not the name. It is what kind of content you are looking at on the page.
The two ways content appears on AP News
| Earned AP coverage | Distributed press release | |
|---|---|---|
| Who writes it | An AP journalist | You, or someone you hire |
| Who decides | AP's newsroom | The wire, within its guidelines |
| Cost | Cannot be bought | Wire distribution fee |
| How it's labelled | AP byline | Marked as a release; AP staff not involved |
| What it signals | A journalist judged it newsworthy | You had something to announce |
Both are real. They are not interchangeable, and any provider blurring them is selling you the reputation of one while delivering the other.
How to submit a press release to AP directly
You can pitch AP's newsroom yourself, at no cost. AP maintains desks by subject — business, sports, entertainment, lifestyle and features — as well as regional bureaus and an official news-tips channel.
No membership is required. It is entirely at AP's discretion, and most pitches to any national newsroom go unanswered. But it is free, and if you have genuine news it is the honest route.
Which wire services place releases on AP News
Releases reach the apnews.com press release section through wire distribution. The major services include Business Wire, PR Newswire, GlobeNewswire, EIN Presswire and ACCESSWIRE.
What matters is the tier. Not every distribution package includes apnews.com, so confirm it explicitly before paying — this is the single most common place people are overcharged for something they did not receive.
How much it costs to get a press release on AP News
Third-party distribution tiers that include apnews.com commonly run from roughly $100 to $500, with premium newswires higher.
Separately, AP runs its own content and advertising programs. Those are a different product at a materially higher price, and they are not what most agencies are selling when they say "AP News."
If a quote does not name the wire and the tier, it is not a quote.
How long it takes — and how long it stays live
Distributed releases typically appear within 24 to 72 hours, depending on the wire and tier. Direct newsroom outreach has no timeline at all.
Retention varies by wire agreement. Some releases remain indexed indefinitely; others are removed after a period. Ask before you buy, and capture the live link when it publishes.
AP style press release format
Wires reject on format more often than on substance. The specifications that matter:
- Headline 80 characters or fewer, with the brand name early
- 300–600 words total
- Standard dateline, inverted pyramid structure
- At least one quote from a named person
- Boilerplate at the end
- Multimedia where relevant
Do AP News press release links help SEO?
Be careful here, because this is where the sales claims break down.
Press release links are routinely marked nofollow or sponsored, and Google's guidelines treat paid-distribution links as not passing ranking credit. That is by design, not a flaw.
The value is real but different: a recognised name, an indexed page, and something credible that appears when someone searches you. Buy it for that.
Why wire editors reject press releases
- No actual news — an update nobody outside the company needs
- Promotional language instead of facts
- Word count well over the limit
- Missing dateline, quote or boilerplate
- Previously published material submitted as new
- Ignoring the wire's own published guidelines
How to verify your release actually published
Nobody covers this, and it takes two minutes:
- Search the exact headline in quotes and confirm an
apnews.comURL. - Check the page for the release label — it should say AP staff were not involved.
- Save the live URL and an archived capture on the day it publishes.
- Re-check after a few weeks to see whether it is still live.
Ask your provider for the direct link, not a screenshot.
How to get featured
- Earn it. Pitch the relevant AP desk with genuine news. Free, slow, entirely their call.
- Distribute a release. A professionally written release through a wire tier that includes apnews.com. Predictable, priced, and honest about what it is.
What to expect from the process
We write the release to wire standard, confirm the tier includes apnews.com before anything is paid, and send you the live link when it publishes. You approve the copy first.
We do not sell guaranteed AP editorial coverage, because no one can deliver it.
Frequently asked questions
Is a press release on AP News the same as AP coverage?
No. A distributed release appears on the domain but AP journalists were not involved in writing it, and the page is labelled accordingly. Earned AP coverage means an AP reporter chose to write about you.
How much does it cost to get a press release on AP News?
Third-party distribution tiers including apnews.com typically run from around $100 to $500, with premium newswires higher. Always confirm the specific tier includes apnews.com.
How long does it take to appear on AP News?
Distributed releases usually appear within 24 to 72 hours. Direct pitches to AP's newsroom have no timeline and most go unanswered.
Does a press release stay on AP News permanently?
It varies by wire agreement — some remain indexed indefinitely, others are removed after a set period. Ask before buying and save the live link when it publishes.
Are AP News press release links dofollow or nofollow?
They are routinely nofollow or sponsored. Paid-distribution links are not intended to pass ranking credit, so buy the placement for credibility rather than SEO.
Can AP editorial coverage be guaranteed?
No. It is an editorial decision by AP's newsroom. Anyone guaranteeing it is selling something they cannot control.
Do I need to be an AP member to get on AP News?
No. You can pitch AP's desks directly at no cost, and wire distribution does not require membership either.