Andrew Morse Steps Down As AJC President and Publisher

Andrew Morse

Andrew Morse, the former CNN executive who led The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s ambitious shift from a traditional print newspaper to a fully digital news organization, is stepping down after a three-and-a-half-year tenure.

Morse announced his departure Monday during a staff town hall. His final day will be June 30. He will be succeeded by Paul Curran, a veteran Cox Media executive, effective June 29.Morse joined the AJC in January 2023 with backing from parent company Cox Enterprises, including a reported $150 million investment to transform the 157-year-old publication. 

Under his leadership, the AJC ended its print edition at the close of 2025, pivoted fully to digital, expanded coverage of sports, politics, and Southern culture, launched podcasts and newsletters, and earned a Peabody Award.

Paul Curran

The company set an aggressive goal of reaching 500,000 paid digital subscribers by the end of 2026. It has achieved more than 101,000 so far. The transition included staff reductions, including about 50 job cuts earlier this year.

Morse, who previously helped guide digital strategies at ABC News, Bloomberg, and CNN — where he served as executive vice president and chief digital officer — cited personal and family reasons for his exit, noting the challenges of commuting from New York.

“I needed to make a difficult personal decision to make a change,” Morse said.

Paul Curran, who has held senior advertising and media leadership roles within Cox Enterprises’ portfolio, will continue driving the AJC’s digital transformation and focus on local journalism, community impact, and sustainable growth.