Forum Topic

What exactly does AP want in regard to stories and photos?

What will be considered as usable, and therefore payable for?

What about comments on AP stories? Do they want them or not? I know some of that will not necessarily be wanted as payable news/photos, but some just cry out for a comment.

Rachel Nixon

at 15:58 on February 20th, 2008

Hi Rene

The AP are primarily interested in original photos and video from a news event. Here's their guide to what makes a good photo and the kind of images they have used in the past, which I think explains things well.

Comments are absolutely fine on these stories, and can often lend another perspective to the main news event. We had some great comments for example on the Castro story yesterday.

Thanks!

René

at 18:08 on February 20th, 2008

Rachel, the reason I asked, is that the whole story about the FEMA trailers has gotten so chopped up that people, reports, and new announcements sometimes do not make total sense.

I have posted a story, analysis, I created, with links, some quotes, but with my commonsense from experience living here, and observing what is happening. No One looked at them or had comments.

But they have pertinent info and observations, some might call opinion. But... the housing market has so radically changed here since Katrina, that others across the country might not understand how bad things are here for retired, underpaid workers (most), and others.

http://www.nowpublic.com/fema-and-deathly-trailers-pt-2

Many locals feel that the money spent on the trailers would have more long-reaching and beneficial effect if they had just rebuilt the houses. So much spent on a single trailer. $120,000 and more sometimes: costs of moving, setting up, labor, plus the way-overpriced cost of trailer. this from locals posting about this on local blogs.

If they are only interested in photos, why are you indicating they might want more? that is so misleading. is that what NowPublic is now?

ryan

at 02:19 on February 21st, 2008

Let me jump in here for a moment.

The AP is primarily interested in footage of news events. However, they have in the past used NowPublic contributors as sources for news stories they are working.

The relationship with AP is only one aspect of NowPublic. So no, that is not what NowPublic is now.

As to the attention, or lack there of, that your story received, it's hard to say why that was the case. However, in future I'd suggest dropping a comment with a link to your story in the AP story.

I hope this had clarified some things.