Andrew Morse Leaves Atlanta Journal-Constitution After Three-Year Digital Transformation Push

Andrew Morse, president and publisher of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, will leave the Georgia newspaper next month, concluding a three-year term dedicated to modernizing the state’s flagship publication through digital growth and the discontinuation of its print edition.

Morse announced his departure during a staff meeting on Monday. Paul Curran, an executive at Cox Media, Cox Enterprises’ media division, will assume the role of president and publisher at the end of June.

Curran’s Vision for the AJC

“The AJC is essential to how Atlanta and the Southeast stay informed, engaged, and connected. I’m thrilled to help advance Cox’s longstanding commitment to serving our communities through balanced, independent journalism. As we continue the AJC’s digital transformation, my priority will be empowering our journalists and evolving our products so even more readers turn to us for trusted news and understanding.”

Morse’s Digital Growth Goals and Departure

Morse joined the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2023 with a goal to expand its digital subscriber base from 53,000 to approximately 500,000 by the end of 2026. The newspaper ceased its print edition at the end of 2023 and currently reports over 100,000 digital subscribers, according to NPR.

“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.”

Morse explained his decision to step down was driven by a desire to spend more time with his family in New York, noting three years of commuting along the East Coast. “I needed to make a difficult personal decision to make a change,” he told NPR.

“We have been on a great journey with the AJC … trying to transform a really proud, storied daily newspaper into a modern media company. The decision for me is really bittersweet.”

Cox Enterprises’ Commitment to the AJC

Cox Enterprises CEO Alex Taylor emphasized the newspaper’s ongoing importance in a statement: “The Journal-Constitution remains an integral part of Atlanta’s story.”

“Good journalism makes us stronger as a community by holding public leaders accountable and helping all of us make sense of a changing world. We embrace our responsibility to carry that legacy forward and invest in the next generation of journalists and readers, and we know Paul shares this commitment.”