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Dear AP Sounding Board:

Ten panelists responded to AP's multi-part question about use of a 50-state election glance in print and online. Half said "yes" and half said "no."

The 50/50 breakdown was repeated on the second question about planned use of the package this November.

Question 3 asked whether you'd use a package of 5-6 regional election results stories — and, if not, a story focusing on the big races in your geographical area.

Five said "no," two said "yes" and one "maybe." Of those answering in the negative, one would use a regional story, and one would consider using it.

Question 4 asked what other AP election-night offering have proven most useful:

• Four mentioned "roundups/main stories"

• Three said results tables

• One cited AP's race calls

• One said election analysis

As for what additional elements you'd most like to see in AP election coverage, answers to Question 5 ranged over:

• A summary story on every U.S. Senate and gubernatorial race

• More graphics

• More at-a glances and race-by-race summaries

• Look-ahead analysis

• Roundup of significant state issues; catchall of local election oddities

Here are summaries of each response. As always, AP thanks you for participating in this important survey:

— John Bartosek, managing editor, Palm Beach Post:

The Post does provide a 50-state at-a-glance on Nov. 3 and repeats it the day after with complete results ... we did the same in 2000 and 2002, as in previous years ... we don't run the AP file shown here as it is, but we do use the material you're providing in that report ... we don't need this particular file, but we need the info ... in past years, you've also presented this material in other tables, lists and charts ... so long as AP provides it in some fashion, and moves test files in advance, we'll be able to work with it ...

We would not use "regional" stories that offer a wrap of the southwest, northeast, midwest, etc. ...

What's useful: Those election-wire tables, charts, lists, etc., with frequent updates ...

What else we need: AP may do this, I just don't recall right now: A summary story on every U.S. Senate and gubernatorial race, including a bio box with each on the 2-3 main candidates, showing hometown, DOB, previous political experience ... the story with each will probably indicate how close the race is and what the significant issues are in the race ...

— News Editor Rick Quist, Los Angeles Daily News, via Dave Butler:

We have used the 50-state-glance every presidential election as long as we've had AP. We've usually given it a full page and it takes one full news desk shift to produce. It takes a lot of trimming to fit 50 states into one page. It's a quick and convenient way for former Illinois residents to see how Barack Obama does. We'd like it this year."

— Bill Betterton, news editor, The Arizona Daily Star, Tucson:

Yes, we used a portion of this, if not most of it. We used all of it online.

Yes, it provides lots of information in the smallest space.

No to all the regional stories!! We're being asked to cram more information into the paper without an increase in space. We need more at-a-glances, graphics and race-by-race summaries.

Election tables are most valuable.

More graphics are needed.

— Reed Eckhardt, Wyoming Eagle-Tribune, Cheyenne:

No (didn't use 50-state glance).

No plans to use in November.

Doubtful; might use the regional story for our region, but space is always a problem for us.

Mainbar story, analysis, tables proved most valuable.

Would like analysis to look ahead — what does the election mean — rather than looking back at what happened and why.

— Wayne Stewart, managing editor, Topeka Capital-Journal:

Not sure about Topeka, but I have used it at other newspapers.

Yes, would use in November.

Probably would use package of regional stories.

Yes, would use a story covering geographical area.

Tabulated results are most valuable.

— Steve Roberts, news editor, Dayton Daily News, via Steve Sidlo:

I don't believe we have ever used the 52 state roundup. Its problem is that it really requires an entire page be put aside to use properly and much of the information is of little use or interest to our readers. Editing it down to something we can use is pretty time-consuming, especially on election night.

I certainly see the value of a national roundup of significant elections and propositions and feel that the suggested package of 5-6 regional stories would be great.

— John Neville, assistant managing editor, The Buffalo News, via Steve Bell:

We did not use any part of the 50-state glance package, and have no plans to use it this year.

I don't think we're looking for a package of regional stories, either.

Given space limitations, we'll probably run just national roundups of the races for Congress and governor, and whatever other highlights crop up.

— Mark Bowden, editor, The Gazette, Cedar Rapids:

In 2000, The Gazette used an abbreviated 50-state rounded up, with names of winners; no descriptions. That's our strategy for November 3 editions.

We will publish stories about high(er) profile national races, graphics and photographs.

— Veteran wire editors at Richmond Post-Dispatch, via Louise Seals:

We haven't used the 50-state glance.

We have no plans to use it.

We'd be interested in 5 or 6 regional stories.

We're generally pleased with AP's election night packages — just PLEASE don't make any changes in tables on Election Day as has happened occasionally in off-years — and we count on you to call the races. We look for two calls on a race before we print that it seems decided, and AP's call is important.

— Rick Everett, managing editor, Star-Ledger, Newark, N.J.

Didn't use 50-state glance.

Probably would not use in any form.

Most likely to use a national roundup of significant state issues (governors and bond issues) and a catchall of oddities (Kansas bans jaywalking).

The recent Sounding Board Q&A on the election caused us to conclude that the 50-state glance as we've done it the last few years is too long to be of optimal use to you.

At the same time, most of you seemed to welcome the idea of a fixture that presented all the top results in readable form in one place.

So, we're going to modify the glance this November, cutting it basically in half by eliminating some of the less-essential elements.

We hope this will help it get better use in your newspapers and on your Web sites.

Below is an advisory that moved on the wire Tuesday about it.

We greatly appreciate your participation in the Sounding Board. This is just the latest example of how it provides useful feedback that helps us tailor our coverage.

Sincerely,
Mike Silverman

Editors:

We want to give you an early heads up about our plans for a 50-state glance on election night, in addition to the many roundups, separates and shorter glances we will be moving. We'll advise in more detail on our coverage plans in the coming days.

The 50-state glance, designed to provide one-stop shopping for readers seeking an overview of results in every state, will move in four takes arranged regionally: Northeast/MidAtlantic, South, Midwest/Plains, West.

Here's a sample of what the entry for one state would look like, before the winners are declared:

MISSOURI:

PRESIDENT (11) — President Bush solidified lead in recent weeks, with recent polls showing double-digit advantage. He won Missouri by 3.3 percentage points in 2000.

SENATE — GOP Sen. Kit Bond comfortably ahead in latest polls over Democratic challenger Nancy Farmer.

GOVERNOR — Democrat Claire McCaskill faced GOP Secretary of State Matt Blunt in hard-fought battle. Democratic incumbent Bob Holden lost in the primary.

HOUSE — Current: 5R, 4D. Russ Carnahan, member of the famous Missouri political family, sought seat vacated by former House Democratic Leader Dick Gephardt.

PROPOSITIONS — Ballot measure would change way Missouri tax money is spent on roads, a controversial topic in the state.

Note, this is about half the length the individual state items have run in recent past elections. We are streamlining the format to make it easier to use in full, and anticipate the total package will run to about 4,500 words.

Please call Kristin Gazlay, deputy managing editor for national news, with any questions at 212-621-1611 or e-mail her at kgazlay@ap.org.

Have a question the board should pose to AP? Send it to AP National Desk Editor David Minthorn at dminthorn@ap.org, who is coordinating the Sounding Board.

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