You've probably seen their names at the top of almost every major news story. Whether it’s a breaking update on a global conflict or the latest economic data from D.C., the bylines usually read "AP" or "Reuters." Because they are everywhere, people naturally assume they’re owned by some shadowy billionaire or a massive media conglomerate like Disney or News Corp.
Honestly? The truth is way more boring—and way more interesting—than the conspiracy theories suggest.
Understanding who owns the Associated Press and Reuters isn’t just about corporate charts. It’s about how the world’s information pipe actually works. If these two entities were to go away tomorrow, the entire news ecosystem would basically collapse into a heap of unverified tweets.
One is a weirdly structured cooperative that’s been around since the days of the pony express. The other is a massive, publicly traded tech giant controlled by the richest family in Canada.
The Associated Press: The Cooperative That "No One" Owns
When people ask who owns the Associated Press, the technical answer is: nobody. Or, more accurately, its customers do.
The AP is a not-for-profit news cooperative. It’s headquartered in New York City, but it doesn't have a "boss" in the traditional corporate sense. Think of it like a credit union or a farming co-op, but for journalists. It was founded in 1846 by five New York City newspapers who wanted to share the cost of getting news about the Mexican-American War. They realized it was too expensive for one paper to send a reporter, so they pooled their cash.
How the Co-op Works in 2026
Today, the AP is owned by its American newspaper and broadcast members. When a local paper in Iowa or a TV station in Miami signs up to use AP stories, they aren't just customers—they become part of the collective.
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- The Board of Directors: They are elected by the members. Right now, the board is chaired by Gracia Martore, and it includes big names from places like The Washington Post and Hearst.
- No Profits, Just Reporting: Because it’s a non-profit, the AP doesn’t hand out dividends to shareholders. Any money they make from selling their news feeds to Google, Apple, or international broadcasters gets plowed right back into the operation.
- The 501(c)(3) Shift: Recently, the AP has even started leaning into philanthropy. In 2024, they launched a specific nonprofit arm to help save local journalism, aiming to raise $100 million.
It’s a scrappy, massive, and slightly confusing way to run a global news agency, but it’s kept them independent for nearly 180 years. They don't have to answer to a hedge fund that wants to gut the newsroom for a quick profit.
Reuters: The Thomson Family Empire
Reuters is a completely different beast. While the AP feels like a community-owned utility, Reuters is a high-performance engine inside a global data machine.
Reuters is owned by Thomson Reuters, a massive Canadian multinational. If you want to get specific, the majority of Thomson Reuters—about 70% of it—is owned by a private holding company called The Woodbridge Company.
Who owns Woodbridge? The Thomson family.
The Richest Family You’ve Never Heard Of
The Thomsons are essentially the "royalty" of Canadian business. David Thomson, the 3rd Baron Thomson of Fleet, is the chairman. They didn't just stumble into news; they’ve been building this empire since Roy Thomson bought a tiny newspaper in Ontario back in 1934.
In 2008, the Thomson Corporation bought the British-based Reuters Group. That deal was a massive $17 billion merger that changed the media landscape. But there was a catch.
The Reuters Trust Principles: The "Golden Share"
You might be thinking: "Wait, if one family owns it, can’t they just tell the reporters what to write?"
Actually, no.
When the merger happened, they had to keep the Reuters Trust Principles. This is a set of rules established in 1941 to ensure Reuters remains independent and unbiased. There is literally a separate entity called the Reuters Founders Share Company that holds a "Founders Share." This share has the power to veto any move that would compromise the integrity of the news.
Basically, the Thomsons own the business, but they aren't allowed to mess with the journalism.
Comparing the Two Giants
It’s easy to lump them together, but their DNA is totally different.
The Associated Press is focused almost entirely on the news. They are the ones at every courthouse and every sporting event. Their revenue comes from memberships and licensing. They are the "boots on the ground" for the entire industry.
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Reuters, on the other hand, is a financial data company that happens to have one of the world's best news agencies. Most of the money at Thomson Reuters doesn't come from selling news stories to newspapers. It comes from selling high-end software, legal data (like Westlaw), and tax tools to professionals. News is a prestigious part of their brand, but it's only a small fraction of their $7 billion-plus annual revenue.
Why Ownership Matters for Your Daily Feed
So, why should you care about who owns the associated press and reuters?
In a world of "fake news" and "alternative facts," these two are the primary sources for almost everyone else. If a story appears on a local news site or a major portal, it likely started as an AP or Reuters wire report.
Because the AP is a cooperative, it stays focused on objective "just the facts" reporting to satisfy thousands of different members with different political leanings. Because Reuters is bound by the Trust Principles and owned by a family interested in long-term stability rather than short-term political wins, they maintain a similar standard.
Actionable Insights: How to Use This Knowledge
- Check the Source: When you read a sensational headline, look for the "AP" or "Reuters" tag. If it's there, the core facts have likely been triple-checked by career journalists who don't have a political axe to grind.
- Understand the Bias: These agencies aren't perfect, but their ownership structures are designed to prevent "top-down" bias. If you see a bias, it's usually a result of individual reporting rather than a corporate mandate.
- Follow the Money: If you're interested in the business of information, watch the Thomsons. Their shift toward AI and professional data services (like their recent $600 million purchase of SafeSend) tells you where the future of "news" is headed—it's moving away from ads and toward high-value data.
The next time someone tells you that "the media" is owned by one single person, you can set them straight. One is a giant club of local newsrooms, and the other is a Canadian family business that's legally barred from telling its reporters what to say.
The reality is actually much better than the rumors.
To dig deeper into how the media business is changing, you can look into the latest 990 filings for the AP’s nonprofit arms or check the annual investor reports from Thomson Reuters on the Nasdaq. Knowing who signs the paychecks is the first step in being a savvy news consumer in 2026.
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If you want to see how this ownership affects specific coverage, you should compare how the AP and Reuters cover a single major business event. Notice the AP’s focus on the general public impact versus Reuters’ deep dive into the financial data and market implications.