AFP, EFE and dpa as international news agencies

While earlier news agency studies have often concentrated on Reuters in the United Kingdom (now in Canada) and on the Associated Press in the United States as the leading international news agencies, there is less up-to-date research in English on international agencies outside the Anglo-American sphere. This article intends to help bridge that research gap and to analyse the recent development of Agence France-Presse in France, EFE in Spain and Deutsche Presse-Agentur in Germany. The article uses a case study approach, employing in-depth interviews with agency representatives. The results of the analysis show that all three agencies fulfil the criteria for an international agency. However, to do so, they all not only need a large domestic market, together with linguistic and cultural markets outside their home countries, but also state support, in case of Agence France-Presse and EFE. The findings emphasize the relevance of diversification and innovation in response to the changing structure and demands of national and international markets.