MediaNews Group CEO and AP Chairman Dean Singleton began his keynote highlighting the wire service’s decision to concentrate on working with portals that protect its news content. On the use of online sites appropriating AP content and not providing any revenue back to the organization, Singleton channeled Howard Beale from the movie Network: “We’re as mad as hell and we’re not going to take it anymore.”

He then went through general housekeeping issues. He’s now discussing the virtues of the AP’s Member Choice rate plan. While the plan has led to a small revolt among some members who are already desperate to rein in costs, Singleton said that the it has a number of different options that allows them to tailor the news they receive.