Australian Associated Press  Australian Associated Press (AAP) is an Australian news agency. It was established by Keith Murdoch in 1935. AAP employs more than 175 journalists who work in bureaus in all states and territories of Australia. It also maintains correspondents in New Zealand, Port Moresby, London, Jakarta and Los Angeles as well as using a network of contributors from the US, Europe, Asia and Africa. AAP's domestic news coverage is complemented by alliances with the major international news agencies. AAP launched a New Zealand Newswire (NZN) division in September 2011 with offices in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. NZN closed its digital news video team in September 2017. NZN, which was employing 14 journalists at the time, closed on 27 April 2018, although AAP retained two full-time journalists in New Zealand. AAP's main focus is on breaking news but is also known for its court reporting, sport, comprehensive political coverage, feature stories, and award-winning photographs. It also produces video and visual explainers. In the 1990s, AAP's telecommunications division was spun off as a telco, AAPT, and sold to Telecom New Zealand in 2000. It was sold again to TPG Telecom in 2013. Until June 2020, AAP was owned by News Corp Australia (47%), Nine Entertainment Co (45%) and Seven West Media (8%). Together these companies produce the vast majority of Australian newspapers. In March 2020, it was announced that the AAP would cease trading in June of that year. In May 2020, a consortium headed by former New Corp executive Peter Tonagh entered negotiations to buy AAP. The sale was completed in June 2020 with a relaunch set for August 2020. AAP is one of the few non-government newswires in the world and is a member of the MINDS global organisation of newswires.