Associated Press Reporting Handbook

1
Associated PressReporting Handbook

• Anatomy of a Story
• Covering a Plane Crash
• Chapter 1

2
Breaking the Breaking News

• On what did the AP base its bulletin about a
  plane crash?
• Why did the bureau chief feel If there ever was
  a good time of day for a plane crash -- and there
  isnt -- this was it.?
• What was the First Priority?

3

• What was the Second Priority?
• Why is getting inside the perimeter critical for
  the reporter at the scene?
• What was the Third Priority?

4

• Why would you try to contact airlines and other
  businesses at the airport?
• What was the Fourth Priority?
• What was the Fifth Priority?

5

• Why is it important to make sure your staff
  zeroes in on the location?
• What would be a convenient option for getting
  your reporters to the scene?

6

• Why must you know where your reporters live?
• Why must you know who has experience with certain
  situations, like handling this type of accident?
• Why would you send some people home to rest?

7

• Wilson called in the story to the bureau.
• Wilson called AP Network News and was interviewed
  for radio.
• When he arrived back at the bureau, he gave an
  impromptu news conference for television and
  radio.
• Wilson then followed up by looking for crash
  debris and interviewing families of crash victims.

8

• The science writer became the main reporter on
  the technical aspects of the crash investigation.
• Another reporter wrote a sidebar on liability
  issues.
• Someone else took on the job of writing thumbnail
  sketches of the victims.
• Wilson covered the memorial service where many of
  the victims possessions were placed.

9

• That really sent a shiver up your spine. You
  realize that you distance yourself from it all or
  you cant do what you do. Same thing as the
  coroners office
• It was unbelievable. It was very emotional I
  got a lumpy throat, too.

10
Associated PressReporting Handbook

• About Writing
• Chapter 5

11
Words, details, accuracy

• Rene J. Jack Cappon, author of The Word, says
  Jules Loh is the best reporter hes ever known.
• What makes Jules especially good is his
  eyeballs. Loh sees, and what he sees, he
  describes.
• Reporting is the essence of good writing.

12

• Phrasemaking is really nothing. Its the
  reporting that really buttresses the story.
• Good reporting FOCUSES the story.
• Good writing depends on SPECIFICS.
• Good reporting helps you write with AUTHORITY.
• Authority gives you command of your story. It
  makes it yours.