Sudden Opportunity   

Tom Curley leaves his presidency at USA Today for the president and CEO job at the Associated Press.

USA Today President and Publisher Tom Curley surprises many in the industry by deciding to leave Gannett after 31 years to become president and CEO of the Associated Press. He replaces Louis D. Boccardi, the AP's longtime main man, who retires June 1.

Curley, 54, was a key member of the team that created USA Today. Later, as publisher, he helped it shed its "McPaper" image by pushing for more substantive coverage. He was generally seen as next in line for Douglas H. McCorkindale's job as Gannett chairman and CEO--leading to speculation about the reasons behind his departure.

But Curley, whose brother John was McCorkindale's predecessor as Gannett chief, says internal politics didn't trigger the move--he just jumped at the opportunity of a lifetime.

"The AP job becomes available once in a generation," Curley says. "This opportunity came along, and I think it's just an incredible fit."

Burl Osborne, chairman of the AP board and publisher emeritus of the Dallas Morning News, agrees, saying the timing "was propitious for both the AP and for Tom.... The moons aligned."

In addition to the AP's "history, and the quality of journalism that it represents," Curley says, "it's got fabulous content, it's got all the types of...media platforms under [its] wing, and it's got the ability to take this content in any form."

Curley talks enthusiastically about the organization's ability to deliver information from around the world through newspapers, television and the Web. Under his leadership, USA Today was one of the first newspapers to treat the Internet not as an upstart competitor but as a means of reaching an audience.

Osborne notes that Curley combines a commitment to journalistic values with lots of experience in the business side of the industry. "He's somebody who has a really great grasp of both the news and the non-news parts of what the AP does," he says.

Curley says he has no specific mandates to fulfill, adding, "We'll work on that once I get there." But Osborne says the board of directors has some goals in mind.

For one thing, he says, there are "not enough" women and minorities in senior positions at the AP. Given Curley's reputation for promoting diversity, Osborne says, "I would be surprised if he didn't increase those percentages."

Curley says he will remain focused on USA Today until McCorkindale picks his successor. In the meantime, he's been meeting with people at the AP "as schedules permit" to smooth the transition.

"It's certainly very emotional to leave USA Today," he says, but "the reception at AP has been extremely warm and welcoming."