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March 1, 2005

Dear AP Sounding Board,

Does celebrity news coverage from the AP meet your needs in terms of volume, timeliness and focus?

Editors at 14 newspapers responded to a four-part query about the speed and quality of AP celebrity items, and cited examples of recent AP coverage that were especially good or fell short.

They also described their own policies on using unsourced, non-AP gossip items — and some pitfalls.

While not as freewheeling and "snarky" as some editors would wish, AP's celebrity items are widely seen as trustworthy and scrupulous on the facts. In a field where rumors and promotional hype abound, AP policy remains undeviating: we must be convinced of the accuracy before the item is transmitted.

Respondents raised fair questions and made solid suggestions to make AP celebrity coverage more useful — for example, how to provide more celebrity items on weekends; making sure that photos are offered for spot stories; earlier transmission of stories; trying for a lighter touch in writing. The AP entertainment desk will look closely at the critiques to see where adjustments can be made.

A summary of the responses follows, along with excerpts of comments. As always, kudos to those who took the time to respond.

— David Minthorn

1. An AP Sounding Board survey in 2003 showed a desire for more celebrity items. How do you think AP has done since then in:

a.) increasing volume: 10-yes; 3-no or little change

Comments: package is longer and more diverse (Austin, Texas); little or no difference seen (Lexington, Ky.); moving separate shorts, rather than waiting for the next People package, is an improvement (Madison, Wis.); if there are more, I haven't noticed (Seattle); have seen more volume (Cleveland); AP does move a satisfactory number of celeb briefs (Newark); could always use more, particularly on youth-oriented celebs (Appleton, Wis.)

b.) increasing the timeliness: 7-yes; 6-improvements requested

Suggestions: need more celeb items/photos on weekends (Austin); weekends still slow (Lexington); Hit or miss — sometimes great, sometimes takes 24 hours to match a story (Newark); most AP copy doesn't move until after 3 p.m., which is too late for our feature section (Cleveland); TV show reviews and profiles tied to movies often run too late for use in advanced planning (Tucson); if an unsourced tabloid item is wrong, we simply run a followup which becomes a continuation of the story (Spokane); People items are often dated by a day or more (Topeka); better, but we still miss stuff (Madison); would like to see celeb profiles/interviews that are tied to events (movie releases, new albums, TV shows) move earlier (Appleton)

c.) covering the right celebrities for your market: 9-yes; 5-improvements requested

Suggestions: Texas-oriented items about less-covered genres, such as Tejano, country and blues music. Literary items are also welcome (Austin); mostly yes ... celebs we're interested in can be identified by nine out of 10 teenagers at the food court in local mall, or have appeared in "The Sopranos" (Newark); lots of times I don't use items because they lack art (Tucson); items about a new conductor for a symphony on the East Coast won't work in the Midwest (Topeka); they often don't cover local celebs (Seattle); would like to see more from world of music — pop, rock, country, rap (Appleton)

2. Do you ever run unsourced gossip items from celebrity news outlets? If so, have you ever gotten burned?

5-yes; 9-no

Comments: got burned on item about Geraldo dating Darva Conger; wasn't true and we had to correct it (Austin); We've gotten scorched ... nothing is 100 percent reliable (AP moved two correctives last week). If it's a good story we'll use it (Newark); we run Liz Smith's gossip column on Friday and occasional Knight Ridder briefs ... prefer to stick to AP (Cheyenne); rather than run something unsubstantiated, we refer it to our own columnist for some reporting (Palm Beach); we credit the outlet. never gotten burned yet.(Madison); unsourced gossip is a credibility issue. We're trying to increase credibility, not lose it (Dothan)

3. Specific cases recently where AP met your celebrity coverage needs particularly well, or fell short?

AP's inclusion of Web sites with items proved handy on the Janis Joplin TV show contest item; AP was first major news service with a Paris Hilton phone hacking item; AP is always the source I use on any law enforcement item — court cases, celebrity arrests, etc. — when accuracy is extremely important. Awards show coverage usually good. No egregious failures that I can think of.
— Raeanne Martinez, Newsmakers column, Austin American-Statesman

The good: 2004 Super Bowl, AP was first wire service to send info on Janet Jackson and CBS. The bad: assistant features editor critical of story on Cynthia Nixon's relationship with another woman ("outing uncalled for ... story written tastelessly ... thought AP should have left that item to the tabloids").
— Managing Editor Tom Eblen, Lexington Herald-Leader

Bring back the weekly celebrity quotes ... We could really use that and we can't find it anymore.
— Jenifer Braun, "Jenny's Dish" gossip column, The Star-Ledger

I love the Premium Entertainment initiative. Timing could be better, more stuff coming in earlier. But overall, it is very good.
— Michael Norman, arts and entertainment editor, The Plain Dealer

Nothing in particular. We use these items as shorts and fillers mostly.
— Chris Hicks, features editor, Deseret Morning News

Often the AP is sort of behind ... It covers the big stars, but lesser known or edgy people tend to take a bit longer to catch up ... Lots of times I don't use good stories because they don't have art.
— Erin White, entertainment editor, Arizona Daily Star

AP material particularly useful for celebrity columns on Sundays and Mondays prepared in advance ... single subject profiles and Q&A features fit the format nicely.
— Rick Bonino, arts and entertainment editor, Spokesman-Review

Nothing specific.
— Ed Berthiaume, The Post-Crescent

Only complaint is with photo options. Make more file photos available when stories break for as many options as possible.
— Jake Sherlock, entertainment editor, Wyoming Tribune Eagle

People items of Feb. 17 were interesting and lively, and additional stories (Looney Tunes) were fun to read ... Coverage of awards shows (Oscars, People's Choice, Grammys) is always exceptional. The vignettes/quotes are always a hit.
— Kelly Adams, copy editor, Topeka Capital-Journal

AP has done a good job keeping us up to date on the Michael Jackson case — the celebrity story of the moment.
— Bill Rose, managing editor, Palm Beach Post

Some stories call for a more fun approach, not something I've ever seen come from the AP. Noticed some better reviews and movie-based stories in the past year or two, and some good entertainment stories from Nekesa Moody.
— Doug Kim, A&E editor, Seattle Times

The coverage of Michael Jackson trial has been good, and not blown out of proportion.
— Ken Tuck, managing editor, Dothan Eagle

4. Additional comments about AP celebrity coverage:

We might sometimes add more colorful, fun, scandalous item items, but AP is the base for which it all starts each day.
— Martinez

Tone and substance need improvements ... We like recognizable faces, not obscure has-beens ... Interviews — unless outrageous for some reason — aren't interesting enough ... People column routinely so dry it turns celeb news into a total snoozer. Praised Philadelphia Inquirer's and Miami Heralds Names columns as "fun and snarky" while maintaining journalistic integrity.
— Eblen and other editors

All complaints aside, AP does a great job and is our primary source for a full page of celebrity news items. We could not produce that without the AP feed.
— Braun

Our most successful celebrity coverage comes from snippets of information, Page 2A briefs called "People in the News." It gives readers quick bits of information about celebs and it's a popular read.
— Tuck

Just keep it up.
— Bonino

By and large satisfactory. The more celeb photos available, the better.
— Sherlock

Keep up the good work. Watch the timeliness of People items.
— Adams

Appreciate the diligence. The timeliness is better, but could be better still.
— Chris Juzwik, features editor, Wisconsin State Journal.

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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