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AP: from telegraph to WIRE No other organization has had a greater impact on modern journalism than the Associated Press (AP). The AP, now the world's largest news-gathering organization, was founded in 1848 when six New York City newspapers began to share news that was carried over telegraph wires. The resulting organization soon had a sizable list of members from many states. During the Civil War, the AP continued to serve newspapers in both Union and Confederate states and began to develop the basic tenets of modern journalism, such as the value of objectivity. By the 1920s, AP began covering sports, financial, and public interest stories. During WWII, it made great advancements using transatlantic cable and radio-teletype circuits to deliver news and photos. The news service introduced a radio network in 1974, a television channel in 1994, and an online service called The WIRE in 1996. PC Magazine recognized the WIRE news in its top 100, calling AP online a "no-nonsense" site with the "most direct access to news stories and photographs". AP online Over the past year, the Associated Press has been forming partnerships to bring its services to the web. In the most recent deal, made in May 2000, AP will provide AudioBasket with news updates, business reports, sports news, and more. AudioBasket is a premier provider of customized audio news and information on demand, and now customers will be able to access AP updates according to their tastes throughout the day. Just a month earlier, FasTV, Inc. licensed Internet video and intellectual property rights from AP, making AP content available on the FasTV site. Both these ventures are in addition to the first deal AP ever made with a nontraditional news organization, Cnet Inc., in January 2000. Under the agreement, AP distributes the work of Cnet News.com as part of its overall financial news. Round the clock coverage Today, the AP is a source of information for 1,700 U.S. newspapers, 6,000 U.S. television and radio stations, and 8,500 other news outlets in 110 countries. Associated Press bureaus operate 24 hours a day in every U.S. state capital and nearly 100 other major cities across the country. On the international front, the AP has 3,500 staff members, more than any other news organization, and transmits more than 20 million words a day. Round the world recognition For its efforts, the AP has received 43 Pulitzer Prizes, journalism's most prestigious award. Through its commitment to accurate, balanced stories, the AP logo has become a trusted symbol to the more than 1 billion people that the news organization reaches each day. Milestones In 1991, AP correspondent Terry Anderson was freed after spending nearly seven years in prison as a hostage in Beirut. The AP commemorated its 150th anniversary in 1998 by honoring 23 journalists who died on assignment. This same year, AP got permission to reopen its bureau in Havana, Cuba. The office, which closed in 1969, will be the agency's 95th international bureau and its 240th overall.
The Associated Press employs more than 3,000 workers and offers positions in reporting, photography, administration, programming, and engineering. Applicants for full-time news or photography positions should have at least 18 months of full-time experience at either a daily newspaper or a broadcast station. Applicants for news positions - which require a vocabulary and news writing test - should apply to the AP bureau at which they wish to work. Candidates who lack the requisite prior experience can be hired as temporary editorial workers, usually for 10 months. Applicants interested in broadcasting positions should apply directly to AP Broadcast Services, 1825 K Street N.W., Washington, DC 20006-1253. "AP has a very successful minority intern program for editorial employees and expressly worded protections in our contract that go far beyond federal discrimination guidelines," a source says. The AP web site, at ww.ap.com, can also be a big help with information on how to apply and where the nearest AP bureau might be, among other useful tidbits.
Fame not fortune The Associated Press is one the "oldest and largest" news organizations in the world, and employees say "that alone can make it an exciting place to be." Says one contact: "I can't think of a better place to start your writing career." While AP's "unblemished" reputation is "unmatched" in the news world, the pay is low on the editorial side. "In the beginning, the pay is not great and the hours will be long. If you are getting in it for the money, you will be disappointed," a contact says. In addition, employees advise to be prepared for "ballooning hours" as "the news operation goes on full blast 24 hours daily and 7 days a week." However, "the opportunities for advancement are tremendous" as "the jobs from top down are filled from within the ranks." In addition, a contact says, "Writers, particularly, have a great opportunity to become well known in the newspaper industry." Ego check-in Because the organization provides great visibility for organizations, reporters for the AP are often invited to cover posh fundraisers and other events, insiders say. Editorial employees call journalism a "profession of love" and comment that the "cooperative" corporate structure at AP facilitates its practice better than any other. "Few corporations have such a dedication to fairness," says one employee. Another adds: "There is no feeling quite like being in the middle of a big story and knowing an editor has placed his or her confidence in you to get it fast and get it right." However, workers advise to check their "egos at the door" as "recognition for a job well done is rare" and that "most of what you write will be in the garbage by nightfall." Notes one employee: "You have to have a thick skin when you are criticized for things you write, or when it seems that no one noticed the great job that you did in getting the story." Dressing to match the occasion Finally, although the AP is viewed as a "conservative" place, there is no stated dress code, except to dress "appropriately" for the occasion. Says an insider: "If you're going to be interviewing the mayor, you shouldn't be wearing shorts. But if you're interviewing a farmer, you shouldn't be wearing a tie either."
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