We’re always there Around Australia. Around the world. Around the clock.
An eye on the world around us. How AAP delivers the big shots. Pages 14-15
Rewiring the media machine Australian Associated Press – for 78 years the news media that all media have turned to – has been quietly transforming itself to better serve publishers and broadcasters at all hours on all platforms. This SPECIAL REPORT shines a light on the trail AAP Newswire has been blazing and on the path forward.
When big stories break: How your news service will cover the things that really matter in 2013. Page 6
Every move they make: The dates, the places and the diary. It’s the ultimate news planning tool. Pages 8-9
Going Live! Dynamic, engaging, social and ‘now’. Page 3
Reporter’s take: The unique video that at puts the audience in n the shoes of journos s as they witness history. Page 10
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NEWSWIRE 24/7
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Gathering, producing and delivering breaking news is AAP’s around-theclock obsession. Formats are determined by the audience, the platform and the time of day. This graphic uncovers the peak times in AAP Newswire’s news production, synchronised to the demands of our subscribers’ audiences.
Radio 150-word stories written as a script.
Television 150-word stories in scriptstyle plus longer stories for background.
Formats
The delivery cycle AAP keeps a watch on the world while most Australians are asleep. At the same time we preview the stories to unfold that day, so subscribers can serve a hearty breakfast of news.
Website traffic comes to life and commuters get moving. The stories are short, sharp and frequently updated. Subscribers’ news platforms need to keep ticking over.
The mid-morning news cycle is the calm before the storm. Broadcast bulletins are refreshed as we await news developments to provide context to overnight and early-morning news breaks.
Targets: Radio, tv, websites, display screens
Targets: Mobile phones, radio, TV, websites
Targets: Radio, websites, display screens
00.00 to 06.00
06.00 to 09.00
Solutions for a fragmented media world A AP’s breaking news wire delivers 1200 news stories daily to all Australian media – filed fast, mostly first, updated frequently and streamed around the clock. While its content features prominently on all major news websites and publications around the country, the news agency’s senior editors ask: “is this enough?” AAP Newswire’s editor in chief Tony Gillies said the media industry’s seismic shift during the past 18 months had prompted
a rethink on the Newswire’s purpose and focus. “We’re in a fragmented media environment now and the demands are changing almost daily so AAP Newswire finds itself in a constant cycle of evolution,” he said. “We must engage with customers and listen carefully to understand the challenges and changes to our customers’ business in order to remain relevant.” So what does this mean for the 78 year-old news service? Media is now clearly focused
09.00 to 11.00
on digital platforms with a requirement for: Content wrapped in wellstructured metadata to drive online searches and seamlessly link related items; Content that has depth and many layers; Content that engages its audience; Content that constantly updates; Content that is delivered in a timely manner; and Content that is underpinned by strong journalistic rigour.
Gillies said these tenets form the roadmap to the future of AAP’s news operation. “We’re very pleased to advise that we are a long way down the track. “We’ve identified story formats suitable for various platforms at various times of the day and produce them to suit.” The majority of the news wire is aimed at web use. AAP Newswire stories are short, sharp stories, re-angled and refreshed often. They’re first pitched to web audiences where high
turnover is key. A menu of even shorter stories representing the top 25 stories of the hour is ideal for mobile publishers and radio and television broadcasters. This menu is refreshed hour by hour and around the clock. Updates and wraps are 500 words while features and analysis pieces cap at 800 words in length. These provide the context and take the story into the following day so are ideal for newspapers and tablets.
Contacts AAP Newswire Editor-In-Chief Editor Deputy Editor News Editors News Editor Foreign Editor Finance Editor Sports Editor Picture Editor Premium Editor AAPNewswire Exclusive NZNewswire Editor NZNewswire CoS Diaries & Advisories Data Manager
Tony Gillies Mike Osborne Joanne Williamson Bronwyn Walenkamp Paul Mulvey Sasi Nair Belinda Tasker Neil Harvey April Fonti Toni Mason Jenny Tabakoff Nick Brown Sean Martin Stephanie Flack Mohen Govender
02 9322 8500 02 9322 8616 02 9322 8071 02 9322 8610 02 9322 8611 02 9322 8720 02 9322 8738 02 9322 8756 02 9322 8707 02 9322 8290 02 9322 8296 02 9322 8606 +64 4 917 5100 02 9322 8570 02 9322 8533
tgillies@aap.com.au mosborne@aap.com.au jwilliamson@aap.com.au editors@aap.com.au editors@aap.com.au editors@aap.com.au financebureauheads@aap.com.au sportseds@aap.com.au piceds@aap.com.au premium@aap.com.au jtabakoff@aap.com.au nbrown@nznewswire.co.nz smartin@nznewswire.co.nz sflack@aap.com.au mgovender@aap.com.au
AAP Newswire Commercial Commercial Manager Amrita Sidhu Newswire Sales & Service Image Sales & Service Racing Business Manager Peter Klein Megaform
02 9322 8299 02 9322 8405 02 9322 8401 07 3834 9921 1800 811358
asidhu@aap.com.au newswire@aap.com.au imagesales@aap.com.au pklein@aap.com.au megaform@aap.com.au
Pagemasters Managing Director Group Managing Editor Managing Editor, Victoria
Peter Atkinson Antony Phillips Tim Campbell
07 3872 6222 02 9322 8307 03 8413 3209
patkinson@pagemasters.com.au aphillips@pagemasters.com.au tcampbell@pagemasters.com.au
Medianet & Newscentre Managing Director
Kylie O’Reilly
02 9322 8127
Production: Pagemasters; Design: Anita Belia
koreilly@aap.com.au
3 Mobile phone 50-word snapshots of stories.
Display screens 50-word snapshots of stories with images attached.
The lunchtime audience peak online and on mobile. News on tablets gets a refresh. Detail of key news developments unfold and reaction to morning bulletins and print editions emerges.
14.00 to 18.00
AAP’s live digital curation platform delivers fast, engaging and relevant stories as they break
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Newspapers Deeper stories for context and angled for the next day.
updated stories provide instant context. The news threads are delivered to clients as iframe “widgets”. The content is hosted by AAP. These are as simple to implement as posting code on a page in a content management system. Newswire Live’s highly customisable look and configuration options also allow subscribers to offer their readers our developing news threads in a look that matches theirs. The agency is now close to offering an API publishing solution to allow for greater customisation by the client. News, by its very nature, can be unpredictable. The early minutes and hours of coverage can be critical, especially as your news site bids to lead the news agenda. AAP Newswire’s renowned agility and resourcefulness keep its digital customers ahead of the game.
Tablet devices Lead stories that provide depth and analysis. A magazine feel.
New developments have slowed. The who, what, where and when gives way to the why and how. Stories are longer as we record events of that day and what’s likely to happen the following day.
Targets: Mobile phones, radio, TV, newspapers, tablets, display screens.
Rolling coverage: It’s news now AP Newswire has been at the forefront of breaking news delivery since its inception in 1935, and its smart live news reporting solution continues this tradition. AAP Newswire Live is a multimedia news curation platform that harnesses text, images, video, graphics and social media in a single blogstyle form that unrolls breaking news the moment it happens. Reporters and photographers in the field and live news producers conduct coverage with an eye on witness reports, social media and related developments. AAP Newswire Live is a compelling way to tell a story. News text and multimedia is presented in short, sharp grabs, time-stamped and delivered as the event unfolds. Key points and wrapped and
WORLD NEWS
Stories of the day have taken shape and context to the early morning breaks evolves. Print editions are being prepared so analysis begins. Short sharp updates for commuters.
Targets: Websites, mobile, tablet devices, radio
11.00 to 14.00
Websites Frequently updated stories no more than 300 words.
Targets: Newspapers, tablet devices, late-night TV
18.00 to 00.00
Newswire Livestream
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AAP Newswire’s live reporting solution unfurls breaking stories in a dynamic and engaging way. The sessions harness observations from reporters in the field; take in images and video from our staff and from the public; and collect relevant social media elements.
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1 Live coverage Audiences are given easyto-grasp reference points. It offers compelling reasons to stay tuned to the coverage.
2 Wrap up For those unable to tune in from the start, the Wrap Up gives context and allows a user to catch up.
It’s fast, relevant, engaging and credible
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3 Live report The rolling coverage is displayed in blog style. Entries are time-stamped and presented in reverse chronological order. Reporters offer factual accounts bringing the credibility that comes with being a front row witness to the event.
4 Twitter Social media, such as Twitter, offers another perspective – a public pulse. We carefully select tweets that add to the telling of the story.
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5 Quotes & fact boxes Livestream’s diverse presentation includes easyto-read fact boxes to sum up a story, while relevant quotes from those making the news provide poignancy and gravitas.
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The ultimate planning tool
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planning, news monitoring and story analytics website is the centrepiece of AAP Newswire’s strategy to get even closer to publishers and broadcasters. Launched in April and available to the agency’s subscribers, AAP Agenda will detail diaries, newslists, multimedia galleries and summarise lead stories in all major newspapers, websites, radio and television newsrooms. The site packages the lead stories of the day, flags top trending topics online and enables subscribers to access real-time special requests and queries on delivery and story status. “This is the detail that editors, news directors and chiefs of staff need at their fingertips as they navigate fast-breaking news,” said AAP Newswire’s editor in chief Tony Gillies. “It’s another set of eyes and ears at a time when most newsrooms are trying to do more across multiple platforms with fewer resources.” Newly appointed diaries and advisories editor Stephanie Flack will keep the critical information flowing. “She’s hitting the phones proactively seeking out what chiefs of staff and pic editors
need from AAP Newswire day to day,” Gillies said. The higher level of communication with subscribers is another initiative to bring the agency closer to its subscribers, according to Gillies. “AAP’s news services are a part of many newsrooms in the country and we’re very proud of that. Though we’ve never taken that for granted,” he said. “Our relationship with media organisations goes back many years so we consider it critical that we’re not just a content provider but a solution provider as well. “It begins by being good at what we do, but by also continually innovating we remain relevant to customers in a turbulent environment.” The Newswire’s senior editors and commercial team work to understand the challenges of their customers, then work on initiatives that will make those customers more agile, more competitive and more efficient. Gillies said this service philosophy had spawned a suite of cost-efficient news services including: Auto-published digital content:
All stories and multimedia is delivered ready-to-publish. Many major news websites elect to have AAP’s news team publish
Pagemasters As the news publishing industry is undergoing massive transformation, an AAP company has provided a solution that has put managers, editors and proprietors at ease. Pagemasters – with the mantra “every time on time” – is a global provider of design, editorial, listings and imaging services to newspaper and magazine publishers. Much of its recent success lies in the pioneering establishment and operation of centralised subediting centres. Operations in Australia, New Zealand and the UK provide complete design, editing and production services for a range of metropolitan, regional and community newspapers and weekly and monthly magazines. A wholly owned subsidiary of AAP, Pagemasters has become not just a first-choice provider of outsourcing services but a catalyst for a growing number of major publishers choosing this path for their businesses. More information: www.pagemasters.com.au
the top breaking news to their site direct. We hit the “send” button on the command desk and stories show on customer sites 90 seconds later. Content ready to pull: News publishers can also access AAP Newswire’s own digital CMS to browse, select and extract text, images, fact boxes and video with one-click before publishing. Picture stream: The top breaking news stories have images attached forming a rich news stream that can be published automatically to websites, mobiles and display screens.
Headline tickers: AAP
Newswire’s digital team has created a news ticker service that can be streamed to large format display screens, to websites and mobiles. We can create a menu to suit any customer. Live news reporting: Dynamic news reporting that incorporates witness reports, images, video, facts, graphics and social media stream live as the event unfolds. AAP Newswire hosts this solution and provides an embedded link to customers’ websites. Exclusive content and tailored news services:
AAP Newswire has assembled
Medianet Medianet for Journalists is a free press release database offered exclusively to Australian and international journalists. Providing real-time, online access to press releases as well as 10 years of historical press release headlines, Medianet for Journalists is a valuable research tool and content source for every editorial organisation. This content and multimedia-rich database includes not only the latest press releases but high-res images, radio-ready audio grabs and broadcast-ready videos from Australia’s corporate, government and not-forprofit sectors. Medianet for Journalists’ email alerting service acts as a filter to ensure you receive only the press releases relevant to your area of interest. As a division of AAP, Medianet has the largest collection and ongoing contribution of press releases. To register for your free account, scan the QR code and complete the form. Alternatively you can email your contact details to medianet@aap.com.au
a roster of Australia’s leading writers to produce long-form features that are available to a single customer or network on an exclusive basis. This service has been extended to include the commissioning of exclusive stories, images and video for customers and event organisers. Gillies said there was a high level of trust between AAP Newswire and its customers which makes the above possible. “We’re a safe pair of hands, we’ve been doing this a very long time and our news customers respond to that.”
MRG Monitoring what is said about a company or organisation and what that communications means to its reputation is an essential part of the media mix. Enhanced by the freedom, depth and possibilities the internet brings, the growing but specialised business of media monitoring and analysis is a strategic awareness tool that keeps companies informed on key issues before and as they happen. The Media Research Group (MRG) was established in Melbourne in 1996 providing a client focused highquality media monitoring and analysis alternative. MRG’s acquisition by AAP in 2007 fuelled its expansion nationally. It undertakes media analysis, monitoring and related services to a diverse client roster that include some of Australia’s largest and most successful public and privately listed companies, government departments, not for profit organisations and Public Relations specialists. More information: www.mrg.com.au
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Exclusive? Just book it! The AAP service that delivers clients’ special requests
Mike Safe, who spent 20 years as a feature writer for The Australian, interviewing everyone from prime ministers to murderers.
content – feature articles and columns – from a stable of more than 25 high-calibre freelance journalists and columnists. The ideas are fresh and cover areas as diverse as health and humour, technology and lifestyle, sport and personal finance, science and pop culture. A key part of the value equation of the service is that AAP Exclusive content is primarily off-news cycle. It is
Jenni Gilbert, who specialises in beauty and lifestyle, is a former editor-in-chief of New Idea and a former editor of The Australian’s Wish magazine.
Our stable
not reactive journalism and commentary. It forges an agenda of fresh and unexpected ideas. This tailored approach delivers added value to publishers – on all platforms – in search of content with a serendipitous quality. On a practical level, AAP Exclusive takes the hassle out of commissioning original content. It is an end-to-end, ready-topublish service – from story idea
Charles Purcell, exSydney Morning Herald, is always willing to take on a challenge, whether it’s attending Santa school or a beginners’ burlesque class.
Charles Happell, sports lover and writer, has covered golf, cricket and two Olympic Games for The Age and written two bestselling books.
If a client has a specific content need, AAP Exclusive will provide complete management of the commission. This includes creating story ideas, assigning the most suitable journalist, complete editing and delivering within deadline. Examples of commissioned content include columns on personal finance, technology, well-being, sport, entertainment and motoring.
Asa Wahlquist, a Walkley and Eureka Award-winning journalist who specialises in environmental, rural and regional issues.
How it works
AAP Exclusive’s bureau of writers includes leading journalists, around the country and overseas, with expertise across a broad range of subjects. They include:
Letitia Rowlands, formerly of The Daily Telegraph, g p focuses on parenting, health and d relationship issues.
and structure, to commissioning and editing, and, finally, delivery within deadline. Feature articles and columns are typically commissioned as 1200 words and 800 words respectively. But all content is also available in a 500-word, web-edit version, ideal for online publishing. Additionally, AAP Exclusive also offers clients the opportunity to commission tailored content.
Margaret Rice, one-time medical writer for The Australian and The Sydney Morning Herald, specialises in health and science stories.
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reat stories, written by terrific journalists, delivered seamlessly to clients – that’s the core mission of AAP Exclusive. The recently launched AAP Exclusive is a freelance writers’ bureau designed to take the hassle out of finding and commissioning exclusive, quality journalism. Each week AAP Exclusive offers for sale a broad mix of
Bruce Elder, music and popular culture guru, who is a past winner of the Geraldine Pascall P Award for Critical C Writing. W Wr iting g.
AAP Exclusive is at www.aapnewswire.com. au/exclusive and it works like this: Each week, commissioning editor Jenny Tabakoff oversees the commissioning of 10-15 feature articles and columns from our stable of writers. A 200-word summary of each feature and column – the Schedule of Content – is posted on the website. The Schedule is published every Monday at midday. Content on the Schedule is offered on a first-come, firstserved basis.
Clients buy features and columns by contacting their AAP account manager. Content is offered on a two-tier, fixed word-rate for single geographic markets and for the national market. Associated multi-media packages offered separately.
Jenny Tabakoff, AAP commissioning editor has more than 30 years’ experience as a senior features writer and features editor on leading newspapers in Australia and Britain, including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Times and London’s Daily Telegraph.
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Looking ahead: news events to keep in your diary A Royal Baby It’s going to be another banner year for the royal family after the success of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year. Prince William and his wife Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, are expecting their first child who will be heir to the throne whether it’s a boy or a girl. The young royal couple has rejuvenated interest in the monarchy, and AAP’s London bureau will be paying a lot of attention to the royals. Coverage will include text, image, video and graphics outlining the royal succession.
The Ashes For the first time, two Ashes cricket series will be held back to back. AAP cricket writer Ben Horne will travel with the Australians to cover the English Tests at Trent Bridge in Nottingham (July 10-14), Lord’s (July 18-22), Old Trafford in Manchester (August 1-5), the Riverside Ground at Chesterle-Street (August 9-13) and The Oval (August 21-25) as well as all the team news and updates in between the matches. And back in Australia, AAP’s writers and photographers will cover the Tests on home turf in Brisbane (November 21-25), Adelaide (December 5-9), Perth (December 13-17), Melbourne (December 26-30) and Sydney (January 3-7) along with all the selection news, injury updates and tour matches.
From sport and showbiz to politics and royalty – AAP will be ringside This year is shaping as a big news year with a federal election, a new royal baby, back-to-back Ashes tours, not to mention the first Lions rugby tour in 12 years. And next year we have a Winter Olympics, soccer World
Cup and Commonwealth Games, the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of World War One, and the usual array of Australian stars lining up for entertainment awards. AAP, as always, will be providing well-written stories
covering all the major angles, some of the quirks, and the people and issues that make up the story. Plus we’ll provide factboxes, timelines, penpix, quotes series and other extras. But AAP is about more than
just words. We supply all the components to tell the complete story – both online and in print, including pictures, video, interactive graphics, and for digital clients, live coverage of breaking events. `
EVENTS FOR 2014
The Winter Olympics AAP sports writer Glenn Cullen will co-ordinate the coverage of the Sochi Games from February 7-23, 2014. After organising a comprehensive preview package, he will travel to Russia accompanied by colleagues with coverage to include text, factboxes, images and video. AAP’s daily Australian-angled coverage will be supplemented by partner agency coverage of the big international news and events.
Motion Picture Awards Season The highlight of the entertainment calendar starts with the Golden Globes and follows with the SAGS and BAFTAs before wrapping up with the Oscars. AAP’s LA correspondent Peter Mitchell is on hand to provide previews and news and then cover the awards with a focus on the high-profile Australians. AAP provides an all-encompassing interactive graphic that updates as the awards ceremonies conclude, and for the Golden Globes and Oscars there is live coverage for digital subscribers featuring the best pictures, quotes, social media, winners and stories from the red carpet and ceremony.
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Federal Election AAP will have reporters and photographers travelling with both the ALP and Liberal party leaders every day of the 2013 electoral campaign providing text, images, and video. We will be asking the hard questions and getting the colour and movement of a campaign, including a behindthe-scenes look at reporting on the road in an election. AAP will also focus on the major policy announcements, providing balanced stories and considered analysis – not just repeating what the leaders are saying, but talking to people in the electorates, speaking to those affected by policy, and
The Lions Tour
Spring Racing
It’s been 12 years since the British and Irish Lions ventured Down Under when the Wallabies triumphed by six points in the deciding Test in Sydney. This year’s month-long tour includes matches against all five local Super Rugby teams and three Tests against the Wallabies in Brisbane (June 22), Melbourne (June 29) and Sydney (July 6). Jim Morton will be leading AAP’s Test match coverage, which will include match previews and reviews, analyses, colour, and training updates from both sides.
The coverage begins in earnest around late September when many of the foreign horses start arriving and picks up pace for the Caulfield Guineas, then the Caulfield Cup, the Cox Plate and then the Spring carnival itself, starting with the Victorian Derby, Cup day, the Oaks and the Emirates Stakes. Co-ordinated by long-time racing editor Caryl Williamson, each of the major days are comprehensively previewed, and on race days there are snaps of group one winners, followed by updates and reaction from connections and quotes series on what the jockeys said.
This will be supplemented by weekly video reports voiced by rugby expert Gordon Bray.
experts in those fields. And we’ll be keeping track of those policies and promises, provided in regularly updated factboxes and graphics. On a daily basis, subscribers can expect breaking news, wraps from each leader, an overall wrap on the major election news of the day, and on-merit analyses, sidebars, backgrounders and colour. A daily factbox on the highlights of the day will also be provided, along with images and video. As the election gets closer, AAP will prepare backgrounders on the issues, profiles on leaders and parties, factboxes, plus other news features, as well as a
comprehensive interactive graphic on the election, the leaders, the critical seats and the policies that matter. On election night, expect continuous coverage followed by a full review in the following days. AAP will provide digital subscribers live coverage of the major debates through the campaign and on election night.
All the colour of the fashions and celebrities AAP’s celebrity writers and photographers will also cover the action in the birdcage and the marquees, and the fashions-onthe-field events. AAP’s interactive graphic on Spring Racing has all the action from past years, updates of current results and winners, a quiz on Cup facts and includes galleries on all the colour and movement of the fashions and celebrities.
The World Cup
Centenary of WWI
Brazil is ready to become the global sporting centre of attention – first for the World Cup from June 12-July 13, 2014, and then again at the 2016 Olympics. With Australia likely to qualify for the World Cup, AAP is already planning its coverage for text and multimedia, as well as previews including an interactive graphic looking at the tournament and Australia’s history at the event. Coverage of the event itself will include daily news updates, analysis of the tournament and comprehensive match reporting across text, images and video. And for digital subscribers – full live coverage of the Australian matches and finals.
Nearly 100 years ago on July 29, 1914, the world erupted into what became known as World War One. Throughout 2013 and early 2014 AAP will begin issuing a series of backgrounders and previews in text, image, video and graphic form on the centenary of the war and its major battles, including the 100th anniversary of Anzac Day on April 25, 2015. These will include why we went to war, why young Australian men volunteered, what Australia was like in 1914 and how Anzac Day changed Australia. AAP’s Australian-focused coverage will be supplemented by agency partner coverage.
Federal Budget On May 14, AAP will provide comprehensive coverage of the federal budget with a dedicated team of about 30 in the six-hour lock-up that ends at 7.30pm when the Treasurer rises to deliver his speech in Parliament. AAP’s Editor Mike Osborne and Deputy Editor Joanne Williamson will be in Canberra to co-ordinate the coverage. It will include stories outlining the major budget initiatives and why they matter, factboxes summarising the major features and winners and losers in the budget, images and video of the Treasurer’s media conference, and print and digital graphics.
The Commonwealth Games AAP will have about 30 staff for the Glasgow Games from July 23-August 3, 2014, covering the 17 sports and daily breaking news with words, pictures and multimedia, along with a results service and expected live digital coverage. Ahead of the Games, the London bureau duo of Julian Drape and Liam Fitzgibbon will provide all the news, while the sports desk specialists will provide preview packages a year out, six months out and just before the Games begin.
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Settle in, it’s going to get busy Whatever the event – sports, speeches or political sparring – AAP will be there April April – May Cricket: IPL Twenty20 tournament, India 6 Horse Racing: Golden Slipper, The
6 11-14 11-14
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17-21
19 AFL Grand Final, September 28 19
March 14-17
21-28 Melbourne Fashion Festival 22 AFL: Season starts 22-24 Rugby Union: Sevens World Series, Hong Kong
22-26 Cricket: Sheffield Shield final 23 Horse Racing: Coolmore Classic 23 24 25
26 26
20 20
World Bank/IMF annual spring meeting Soccer: A-League Grand Final Horse Racing: Doncaster Mile,
20 21
Basketball: NBA play-offs begin Rugby League: Country v City, Coffs
Australian Oaks, Randwick, Sydney
Motorsport: F1, Australian Grand
Prix, Albert Park, Melbourne 15 or 16 AFL: NAB Cup Grand Final 16 Horse Racing: Randwick Guineas, Randwick, Sydney 16 Athletics: Perth Track Classic 16-24 Surfing: ASP Women’s WCT, Margaret River Pro, WA
and Ranvet Stakes, Rosehill, Sydney Athletics: Brisbane Track Classic Netball: Trans-Tasman Championship starts
Kim Dotcom’s NZ extradition hearing to start in North Shore District Court First anniversary of Newman election in Queensland Soccer: World Cup qualifier, Australia
Championship selection trials), Adelaide Horse Racing: Schweppes Oaks, Sportingbet Classic, Morphettville, Adelaide; Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Sydney Cup, Champagne Stakes and All Aged Stakes, Randwick, Sydney
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May Basketball: WNBA season begins 4 Horse Racing: South Australian
June
July
August
Basketball: NBA finals 1 Horse Racing: Queensland Oaks,
APEC summit in Bali 1 First anniversary of the carbon tax and mining tax 1 30th anniversary of the High Court decision that stopped the Franklin River being dammed 6 Rugby Union: Australia v British and
Pacific Islands Forum, Marshall Islands 1-4 Golf: World Golf Championship,
4-26 7 11
11
Beach, Victoria
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March 27 – April 7 Surfing: ASP Men’s WCT, Rip Curl Pro, Bells Horse Racing: Rosehill Guineas and The Galaxy, Rosehill, Sydney; Dubai World Cup, Meydan Grandstand and Racecourse, Dubai
March 30 – April 1 Athletics: Stawell Gift, Stawell, Victoria 31 Baseball: US MLB season starts
Cadel Evans Australia’s own tour de force takes on Tour de France
Game One, June 5
When it comes to push and shove, we’re there
March 27 – April 1 Surfing: ASP Women’s WCT Rip Curl Pro, Bell’s
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State of Origin
Harbour
April 26 – May 3 Swimming: Australian Championships (World
v Oman, ANZ Stadium, Sydney
Beach, Victoria
BMW, Queen of the Turf Stakes, Storm Queen Stakes and George Ryder Stakes, Rosehill, Sydney; The Grand National, Aintree Racecourse, Merseyside, England Athletics: Melbourne IAAF World Challenge Meeting Golf: US Masters, Augusta National, Augusta, USA Athletics: Australian Championships/ World Championship selection trials, Sydney Olympic Park Horse Racing: ATC Australian Derby, TJ Smith Stakes, Sires Produce Stakes, Randwick, Sydney Surf Life Saving: Australian Championships, North Kirra and Tugun, Queensland Rugby League: Australia v New Zealand, Canberra Stadium
Derby, Morphettville, Adelaide; Triple Crown, Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, Louisville, USA Cycling: UCI WorldTour Giro d’Italia, Italy
Last federal budget before election Horse Racing: Goodwood, Morphettville, Adelaide; BTC Cup, Doomben, Brisbane Soccer: FA Cup Final, Wembley Stadium, London Horse Racing: Doomben Cup, Doomben, Brisbane; Triple Crown, Preakness Stakes, Pimlico Racecourse, Baltimore USA
22 25
Man Booker Prize Horse Racing: Doomben 10,000,
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Soccer: UEFA Champions League
Doomben, Brisbane Final, Wembley Stadium, London
26 May – 9 June Tennis: French Open, Paris
Eagle Farm, Brisbane
2 4
60th anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation Soccer: World Cup qualifier, Japan v Australia, TBC
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Game I, ANZ Stadium, Sydney 6-23 Cricket: ICC Champions Trophy in England and Wales 8 Horse Racing: Stradbroke Handicap, Eagle Farm, Brisbane; Horse Racing: Triple Crown, Belmont Stakes, USA 11 Soccer: World Cup qualifier, Australia v Jordan, Etihad Stadium, Melbourne 13-16 Golf: US Open, Merion GC, USA 15-30 Soccer: FIFA Confederations Cup, Brazil 18 Soccer: World Cup qualifier, Australia v Iraq, ANZ Stadium, Sydney 18-22 Horse Racing: Royal Ascot, England 22 Rugby Union: Australia v British and Irish Lions 1st Test, Brisbane
24 June – 7 July Tennis: All England Championships, Wimbledon,
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10-14 Cricket: Ashes 1st Test, England v Australia, Trent Bridge, England
11 Queen’s Coronation Festival 14 or 15 Netball: Trans-Tasman Championship Grand Final
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Rugby League: State of Origin
Game III, NSW v Queensland, ANZ Stadium, Sydney 18-21 Golf: British Open, Muirfield GC, Scotland 18-22 Cricket: Ashes 2nd Test, England v Australia, Lord’s, England
9 July – 4 August FINA World Aquatics Championships, Barcelona, Spain 20 Soccer: Manchester United v A-League All Stars, ANZ Stadium, Sydney
23-28 World Youth Day, Rio de Janeiro
London
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Irish Lions 3rd Test, Sydney
Rugby League: State of Origin
Rugby League: State of Origin Game II, Queensland v NSW, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Rugby Union: Australia v British and Irish Lions 2nd Test, Melbourne
29 June – July 21 Cycling: Tour de France
Bridgestone Invitational, Akron, USA Golf: Women’s British Open, St Andrew’s, Scotland 1-5 Cricket: Ashes 3rd Test, England v Australia, Old Trafford, England 4 Rugby Union: Super Rugby Grand Final 8-11 Golf: US PGA Championship, Oak Hill CC, Rochester, USA 9-13 Cricket: Ashes 4th Test, England v Australia, Chester-le-Street, England 10-18 Athletics: IAAF World Championships, Moscow 17 Rugby Union: Bledisloe Cup/Rugby Championship, Australia v New Zealand, Sydney 21-25 Cricket: Ashes 5th Test – England v Australia, The Oval, England 24 Rugby Union: Rugby Championship/ Bledisloe Cup, New Zealand v Australia, Wellington, NZL
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26 August – 8 September Tennis: US Open, New York 28 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech 29 Cricket: 1st T20 International,
31
England v Australia, Rose Bowl, England Cricket: 2nd T20 International, England v Australia, Chester-leStreet, England
9
Calendar 2014 January
Tennis Serving up all the action, stats and colour
The Ashes tour from July 10
November East Asia Summit, Phnom Penh, Cambodia UN Climate Conference Nov or Dec – Golf: Australian Masters, Royal
Melbourne Fashion Festival from March 21
September
October
Cricket: Champions League T20 tournament, India 3 Cricket: ODI, Scotland v Australia,
CHOGM Sri Lanka ASEAN in Brunei Basketball: WNBA finals; NBL and WNBL
Edinburgh, Scotland
seasons start
G20 summit, St Petersburg, Russia Cricket: 1st ODI, England v Australia,
October-November – Cricket:
Headingley, England Rugby Union: Rugby Championship, New Zealand v Argentina, Hamilton NZL Cricket: 2nd ODI, England v Australia, Old Trafford, England
November-December – Rugby Union: Australian Wallabies Spring Tour, Europe 3-6 Golf: Presidents Cup, Internationals v
6
11
Trial of Rebekah Brooks, former head of News International due to start Cricket: 3rd ODI, England v Australia,
14 14
Federal election Cricket: 4th ODI, England v Australia,
11-13
Sophia Gardens, Wales Rugby Union: Rugby Championship, New Zealand v South Africa, Auckland Cricket: 5th ODI, England v Australia, Rose Bowl, England AFL: Brownlow Medal, Melbourne AFL: Grand Final, MCG, Melbourne
12
5-6 6 7
8 9
Australia tour of India (7 ODIs and 1 Twenty20 match)
USA, Muirfield Village, Dublin, USA
5
ANZ Stadium, Sydney
8
Edgbaston, England
14 16 23 28
Second anniversary of Rena grounding in New Zealand Rugby League: NRL Grand Final,
19 19 20 20 26
26
10 years since the engagement of Mary Donaldson and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark Motorsport: V8 Supercars, Bathurst 1000, Mt Panorama Horse Racing: Caulfield Guineas Day, Caulfield, Melbourne Rugby Union: Bledisloe Cup, New Zealand v Australia, Dunedin, NZL Horse Racing: Caulfield Cup, Caulfield, Melbourne Motorcycling Racing: Moto GP, Australian Grand Prix, Phillip Island Surf Life Saving: Coolangatta Gold, Coolangatta Beach, Queensland Rugby League: World Cup, England v Australia, Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales Horse Racing: Cox Plate, Moonee Valley, Melbourne
Melbourne; Australian Open, Sydney; Australian PGA Championship, Queensland 2 Horse Racing: Victoria Derby, Flemington, Melbourne 2 Rugby League: World Cup, Australia v Fiji, Langtree Park, St Helens 2-3 Tennis: Fed Cup, World Group Final 5 Horse Racing: Melbourne Cup, Flemington, Melbourne 7 Horse Racing: Oaks Day, Flemington, Melbourne 8 or 9 Soccer: AFC Champions League Final 9 Horse Racing: Emirates Stakes, Flemington, Melbourne 9 Rugby League: World Cup, Australia v Ireland, Thomond Park Stadium, Limerick 15-1 Tennis: Davis Cup, World Group Final
19
Third anniversary of Pike River mine disaster 21-25 Cricket: Ashes 1st Test, Australia v England, Gabba
30
Rugby League: World Cup Final, Old Trafford, Manchester
December 5-9
Cricket: Ashes 2nd Test, Australia v England, Adelaide Oval 6 Soccer: 2014 FIFA World Cup draw 13-17 Cricket: Ashes 3rd Test, Australia v England, WACA Ground, Perth 26 Yachting: Sydney to Hobart race 26-30 Cricket: Ashes 4th Test, Australia v England, MCG
3-7 Cricket: Ashes 5th Test, Australia v England, SCG Tennis: Sydney International Horse Racing: Magic Millions, Gold Coast Tennis: Australian Open, Melbourne Cycling: UCI Tour Down Under, Adelaide Winter Olympics: Sochi, Russia Golden Globes SAG Awards
February Golf: Australian Ladies Masters, Royal Pines Resort, Gold Coast Gridiron: Super Bowl XLVIII Cricket: Allan Border Medal, Melbourne Rugby Union: Super Rugby season starts AFL: NAB Cup Round 1 Horse Racing: Blue Diamond Stakes, Futurity Stakes and Oakleigh Plate, Caulfield, Melbourne Horse Racing: Futurity Stakes and Oakleigh Plate, Caulfield, Melbourne Cricket: One-Day Cup final, venue TBC
BAFTA Awards Academy Awards
March March-April – Basketball: NBL finals Horse Racing: Australian Guineas, Flemington, Melbourne
Surfing: ASP Men’s World Championship Tour, Quiksilver Pro, Gold Coast; Surfing: ASP Women’s World Championship Tour, Roxy Pro, Gold Coast Rugby League: NRL season starts Basketball: WNBL, Grand final Motorsport: F1, Australian Grand Prix, Albert Park, Melbourne AFL: NAB Cup grand final AFL: Season starts Rugby Union: Sevens World Series, Hong Kong Cricket: Sheffield Shield final Netball: Trans-Tasman Championship starts Surfing: ASP Women’s WCT Rip Curl Pro, Bell’s Beach Victoria Surfing: ASP Men’s WCT, Rip Curl Pro, Bells Beach Victoria
Sydney to Hobart December 26 Formula One, March 2014
Oscars, February 2014
April April-May – Cricket: IPL Twenty20 tournament, India Horse Racing: Golden Slipper, The BMW, Queen of the Turf Stakes, Storm Queen Stakes and George Ryder Stakes, Rosehill, Sydney; The Grand National, Aintree Racecourse, Merseyside, England Golf: US Masters, Augusta National, Augusta, USA Surf Life Saving: Australian Championships Soccer: A-League Grand Final Horse Racing: Doncaster Mile, Australian Oaks, Randwick, Sydney Basketball: NBA play-offs begin Rugby League: Country v City Swimming: Australian Championships (World Championship selection trials), Adelaide Horse Racing: Schweppes Oaks, Sportingbet Classic, Morphettville, Adelaide; Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Sydney Cup, Champagne Stakes and All Aged Stakes, Randwick, Sydney
May Federal Budget Basketball: WNBA season begins Cycling: UCI WorldTour Giro d’Italia, Italy Soccer: FA Cup Final, Wembley Stadium, London
Horse Racing: Doomben Cup, Doomben, Brisbane; Triple Crown, Preakness Stakes, Pimlico Racecourse, Baltimore USA Horse Racing: Doomben 10,000, Doomben, Brisbane Tennis: French Open, Paris
10
Audiences get to see what we see AAP’s Reporter’s Take adds another dimension to storytelling
A
AP Newswire journalists have a front row seat to the most important and exciting news events in Australia – and now audiences can share the experience. Reporter’s Take – a 45-second video report embedded in the newswire’s breaking news service – enables our journalists to deliver the stories behind the stories. With entertaining anecdotes and sharp observation, journalists talk directly to the audience about how the story came together – the background, the process, eye-witness and personal accounts. It gives the story a heartbeat. “It’s all about what we see in the field on assignment in the pursuit of a news story and
we want to share that with our audience,” explained AAP editorin-chief Tony Gillies. “It is not about opinion or analysis. It simply draws the audience deeper into the story through letting them experience what we experience. “By fusing text with video, Reporter’s Take injects an extra dimension that enhances and enriches our storytelling.” The Reporter’s Take video vignettes are embedded in the text of the story sent on AAP wires and can be viewed on an opt-in basis. As media companies innovate and respond to audience demand, video is playing an increasingly important role in online news publishing. “Audiences want and expect dynamic, multi-dimensional
With the heat of the story still pumping through her veins, reporter Elise Scott adds another layer to her yarn with a 45-second video vignette that recounts a gem she’s just witnessed.
news content online,” Gillies said. “Reporter’s Take adds value to the story – for both the audience and the publisher.” It also plays an important role in underpinning the authority and profession of journalism. “With the rising tide of bloggers, it is essential for media organisations to delineate between professional journalists and people who are in the slip-
stream of the profession,” Gillies said. “Our reporters are trained and experienced. Their work is put through rigid and robust processes to deliver accurate, fair and balanced reporting. “And our reporters attend thousands of news events every year. They are on the spot, witnessing and reporting on these events. “Reporter’s Take puts our experience and our
professionalism on show.” AAP will produce between 20 and 25 Reporter’s Take videos each week from its bureaus in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Canberra, before rolling it out across its network in the coming months. Reporter’s Take videos will be available for news publishing online, mobile and tablet. “Storytelling is overdue an update,” Gillies said.
How customers have extracted value from AAP “News Limited newspapers and websites have been working closely with AAP for decades to meet our immediate publishing needs for news and results. In recent years we have also forged a close relationship around multiple-platform sports content. AAP is now providing HTML multimedia products for big sporting events such as the Grand Prix and Australian Open tennis and gives us the freedom to tailor the look to suit our sites. They have also given us the ability to break out relevant content to stand alone on our sites.” Toni Hetherington Network Sports Editor – News Ltd
“AAP’s news feed provides credible content to users and is an important part of the Local Today structure. It enables users to be informed of the top stories as they occur 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The AAP digital news feed and premium lifestyle content has allowed Local Today to create various sections on the home page … and has allowed quality content to be segregated by location and category. This enables users to view content that is relevant to them.” Rob Hardy Local Today
“I believe it is hard to overstate the importance of a centralised, rigorous source of news on the fragmented digital frontier of journalism. Every news organisation faces pressure to publish/broadcast in an ever-tightening timeframe. This heightens the need for information that has been fact-checked. My interaction with the editorial leadership team at AAP assures me they are aware of the pressure being experienced by traditional and new media houses. The roll-out of digital news products is but one example of this awareness being turned into action.” Steve Speziale Southern Cross Austereo Group News Director – Radio
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Quality news and a safe pair of hands AAP photographer captures the drama of Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s ‘rescue’ from protesters … and a top award
I
t’s rare for news agencies to win awards of any kind because their content is used so widely, by so many subscribers, on so many platforms. Which makes it extra special to win one of the highest accolades in Australian media – a Walkley Award. Canberra-based photographer Lukas Coch was covering the 2012 Australia Day events in Canberra when protesters stormed a restaurant in Canberra hosting PM Julia Gillard and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott. Lukas’s images of a shoeless Gillard being escorted away by her security detail, with Abbott in tow, were used widely in Australia and overseas. They won the Walkley for best news photo of the year and also took out the PANPA news
picture of the year. Another multi-award winner was Darwin correspondent Xavier LaCanna who scooped the pool at the Northern Territory media awards – taking out journalist of the year, best news coverage, and best feature for his body of work in the NT throughout 2012. Melbourne-based sports writer Roger Vaughan won the media prize at the Cycling Australia annual awards event for his coverage in 2012, which included the Tour Downunder, the Cycling World Championships, Cadel Evans’ failed Tour De France title defence, the Olympic Games cycling events and of course the fall from grace of Lance Armstrong. Still on sport, Sydney-based Darren Walton was a finalist in the Australian Sports Commission media awards for
“As Australia’s leading learning company, Pearson brings learning solutions to students of all kinds. As part of that, we rely on AAP to help provide real-world, real-life examples, which help make learning come alive. Fast, reliable, with exceptional service and a huge collection that spans many eras and regions, AAP is one of our preferred providers.” Megan Retka Tidd Pearson Australia Re: images
best individual coverage of sport. Darren covered the four grand slam tennis events in 2012, plus the British Open golf but was also recognised for his excellent writing and coverage across all sports. Canberra reporter Lisa Martin was runner-up in the Wallace Brown award for the Federal Parliament’s young journalist of the year. Lisa’s much-deserved effort is a double for AAP after the late Peter Veness was also runnerup in this award in 2011. And Michelle Henderson, now a medical writer, had a small victory at the Victoria Law Foundation’s Legal Reporting Awards for her previous role as Melbourne court reporter, being highly commended in the best online report category for a feature.
When we all saw this image of a vulnerable Julia Gillard being bundled out of harm’s way during an angry protest, we thought Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston in the movie The Bodyguard. The image went global and resonated with many news award judges too. It had everything.
“AAP has proved to be an indispensable resource to us for the last 10 years. It has enabled us to provide up-to-the-minute, concise yet thorough coverage of events as they happen. When news breaks, Chinese people first turn to us for information and this would not be possible without the assistance of the AAP. Thanks to your services.”
“Our relationship with AAP is essential and it is vital for us to show our readers the good quality articles/images relating to Australian news that illustrates our features. Working with AAP is a breeze. They are very helpful, understanding and easy to work with” Robyn Hynes Photo Editor, Marie Claire – Pacific Magazines
Karol Qi Australian Chief Editor – Epoch Times
“Great combination of voice of authority and social media to provide a dynamic product and valuable resource for the community... We had some really good audience results for the day and the AAP content was an important component...” Chris McAsey Group Manager News & Finance, Telstra BigPond Re: Livewire feed on heatwave
12
The full Newswire menu News of the day
Newswire Live
Politics
Business & Finance
Sport
Racing
AAP Newswire provides
AAP Newswire Live is a
Federal politics often drives
AAP brings together the talent
Sport is at the core of AAP’s
AAP’s stand-alone daily
comprehensive and diverse
multimedia news curation
the news cycle, so it’s a critical
and resourcefulness of its
content offering, providing
racing news service provides
news coverage of Australian
platform that harnesses text,
part of AAP’s general news
own domestic reporters along
news coverage across all
the latest breaking news
and International affairs
images, video and social
service. Our Canberra news-
with the scope and depth
football codes, cricket, golf,
on trainers, jockeys, horses
around the clock. From its
media in a single blog-style
room serves up a stand-alone
of agency partners to create
motorsport, tennis, swimming,
and the racing industry
own resources and that of its
form that unrolls breaking
parliamentary news feed
a well-rounded business
athletics, as well as other
personalities.
international agency partners,
news the moment it happens.
along with key movements
and finance news and data
major and minor sports.
in and out of the ministerial
service.
the wire ticks over more than 1200 stories a day.
Bringing together AAP
coverage of the spring an
come thick and fast but it’s
autumn racing carnivals.
text, images and video with a
portfolios. We remain one of
The business news file
broad range of social media
the few media organisations
ticks over general finance
not just about match day.
crime, conflict, disasters,
commentary and the most
attending all parliamentary
news, markets and exchange
We’re there for the training,
entertainment, the
relevant and engaging content
sessions, ensuring nothing
information, interest rates
the recovery sessions and the
environment, science, sport,
from the web, Newswire Live
is missed. And, of course, as
news and analysis, company
mid-week announcements.
health … it’s all in real time
is fast and compelling. AAP
the election date has been
announcements across all
and it sets the news agenda.
hosts and curates the live
set, the logistics of covering
sectors, and offers context
teams are on the world stage,
Politics, the economy,
And while the agency is
And when our national
feed and offers customisation
a coast-to-coast offensive by
through features and
we’re there too. When it
renowned for its fast-breaking
on the look and feel of this
the key parties has been set in
backgrounders.
comes to the big events, AAP
news, it also provides context
product to produce a unique
motion. Expect even-handed
and analysis to the lead
embeddable product for each
and quick-fire coverage and
there’s a flood of news and
content, event planning and
stories with features and
subscriber.
analysis of the promises, the
information.
delivery logistics.
sharp backgrounders. The depth and scope of
Any big breaking story is ripe for the Live treatment,
But come reporting season,
comes into its own on preview
wins and the losses. Each of the news agency’s
It also offers in depth
The stories and scores
Finance Extra
Image service inquiries 02 9322 8401
the Newswire across all
however events such as
city bureaus is committed to
For those who demand a richer service for their audiences,
categories enables clients
elections, awards shows,
state parliament coverage
AAP Newswire offers an enhanced suite of business news
to tailor feeds to match their
grand finals, World Cups
providing relevant coverage
services – from features, CEO interviews and profiles, industry
audience requirements.
Olympics and big race days
of local policy and planning
and company specials, personal finance articles, Australian equity
are a specialty.
decisions.
and commodity market commentary and consumer-driven stories.
Data
Images
Picture Stream
AAP Newswire offers close
AAP’s Picture Stream offers a
Interactive Graphics
Video
The AAP data team provides critical sports, racing and
to 4000 images a day across
seamless delivery of images
AAP’s interactive graphics
a combination of ready-
Entertainment – Lifestyle News & Features
finance data – all levels,
all categories. The news of
attached to articles, with little
incorporate a wealth of
to-use video packages,
AAP’s Premium
all categories, and at all
the day – here and abroad
or no editorial intervention. It
multimedia – text, images,
compelling raw (lightly
Entertainment and
times. This a true turn-key
– is complemented by an
can be used across website,
data and dynamic content.
edited) vision and an archive
Lifestyle service taps into
solution for publishers as
impressive library of creative
mobile products and digital/
There’s nothing quite like
service covering political
the best content AAP and
this information completes
stock and features imagery.
outdoor screen networks.
news, entertainment and
international partner agencies
sports news stories.
have on offer.
the coverage for news, sport, racing and finance. Tell the story, provide the facts and show the detail.
AAP’s collections comprise
With users demanding
telling a story in this way. AAP creates these
Our video service offers
imagesales@aap.com.au
rights-managed news, sport,
related multimedia content,
interactives around key news,
entertainment and fashion
Picture Stream allows digital
sports and entertainment
to use” packaged video -
domestic coverage, and
photography, royalty free
publishers to serve up deeper
events as well as big breaking
voiced or unvoiced – lets
exciting and informative
(stock) and creative. Our
and more targeted content.
news stories. They are
you, specify what style you
stories from the world stage,
archive is supported with
designed to drive repeat
want. Wrap AAP video in
AAP brings together the
international content from
digital traffic to your web and
local advertising to drive
most comprehensive and
our exclusive partners and
mobile sites and keep it there.
traffic to your website and
compelling content across
increase advertising revenue.
multiple categories.
suppliers. At any time there are more than four million pictures to
Newswire service inquiries
A full schedule of planned interactive graphics is
The flexibility of “ready
With engaging Australian
AAP’s Premium feed is
available and sales teams can
continually updated and
take advantage of advertising
offers an unprecedented
opportunities. All interactives
amount and variety of
select the required images
are in HTML5 and hosted by
content – up to 400 new
across our entire collection.
AAP with an embed code.
stories a week.
browse. Full access allows clients to search for and
02 9322 8405 newswire@aap.com.au
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The story behind the news
A
ustralian Associated Press has been serving Australian media since 1935, evolving from a news syndication service to a dynamic news company with incredible reach. AAP serves virtually all local news media, which comprises 800 newspapers, including 50 dailies, five free-to-air television networks, two pay TV networks and 550 radio stations. Our news content is a reference point and an agenda setter. We are a fast, quality, reliable and unbiased source of comprehensive news and information, with a unique relationship with
every newsroom in Australia. Journalists, photographers and editors deliver about 4500 stories, images, video clips, audio files, news graphics and data files every day against the backdrop of a fast-paced and unpredictable breaking-news environment. Anything that shapes Australia, or enthrals educates and informs Australians, moves on our wires. AAP covers every aspect of local news, including federal and state politics, courts and crime, industrial relations, police, health, scientific and medical breakthroughs, the environment, celebrity news and stories of hope and endeavour.
What we stand for Accuracy Speed Balance Impartiality Independence As well as this wide-ranging offering, AAP provides comprehensive sport and finance news services, plus finance, racing and sports data, and ready-to-print newspaper pages, for all media in this region. Australia’s media also relies on AAP for most of its international
news and images, which we provide through commercial partnerships with major global agencies such the Associated Press, Agence FrancePresse, EFE, DPA and KnightRidder. It’s not a straight pass-on exercise. Many story angles are sharpened for this market.
The content makes its way on to all media platforms. The work by our dedicated team builds the foundation of content in newspapers, radio and television news bulletins, talk-back and lifestyle programs, websites, news screens, tablet applications and other mobile platforms. Put simply, our copy is everywhere – but most people wouldn’t know it. Much of our subscriber feedback particularly recognises AAP’s value in areas such as reliability, accuracy, roundthe-clock, ready-to-use news – they see the service as indispensable.
Where we are
Domestic bureaus Adelaide Brisbane Cairns Canberra
Darwin Gold Coast Hobart Melbourne
AAP employs about 180 full-time journalists and photographers and a large pool of casual employees in 16 locations. We have bureaus in all Australian capitals as well as in Cairns and on the Gold Coast and correspondents in Los Angeles, Port Moresby, Jakarta and London. We’re also represented across the Tasman by New Zealand Newswire, or NZN, with a presence in Wellington and Auckland. Our offshore reporters provide an intelligent perspective of their regions, identifying critical links to Australia. They’ll also dig out the quirky stories that will simply entertain audiences.
International bureaus Perth Sydney
New Zealand Newswire The team and reputation behind Australia’s leading breaking news brand, AAP, has launched an independent and cost-effective multimedia news and information service in New Zealand. Serving publishers and broadcasters in New Zealand and the Pacific, New Zealand Newswire (NZN) has been operating since the closure of the New Zealand Press Association in August 2011. Though owned and operated by AAP, the entire NZN team comprises New Zealanders who are as passionate about balanced, fair and accurate news reporting as they are about their country.
Auckland Wellington Jakarta
AAP Newswire’s trusted content partners Aside from a rich seam of Australian news and data produced by AAP Newswire, subscribers reap the benefit of the content brought in from third parties worldwide. Each is renowned for its accuracy and reliability and we’re proud to have the following partners on board helping us serve subscribers better:
London Los Angeles Port Moresby
NEWS AND FEATURES Associated Press Agence France Press The Press Association Scripps Howard McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT) Agencia EFE Deutsche Presse Agentur Global Post CoverMedia Noise11 World Entertainment News Network Fashion Wire Daily IMAGES European Pressphoto Agency Associated Press Invision Medical Picture Collection
WhoSay GeoEye Canadian Press Imaginechina Scanpix Kyodo Keystone Yonhap Agence France Presse Starmax Press Association Abaca Abaca USA Anwar Hussein S&G Barratts EMPICS Entertainment EMPICS Sport Deutche Press Agentur Moodboard Mary Evans
Famous UK Fashion Wire daily Wildlight Jennifer Gaylock Martin Philbey Collection Setford News Photo Agency DATA Dow Jones Reuters ASX Infostrada Fox Sports RISA Thoroughbred Racing SA The Ratings Bureau Advanced Racing Technology
14
MARCH OF THE PENGUIN: An adelie penguin walks past the bow of the Aurora Australis, which is wedged in ice at Commonwealth Bay, 20km from Mawson’s Hut in Antarctica, January 13, 2012. AAP/Dean Lewins
THE STAGE IS SET: Actor Geoffery Rush poses at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Melbourne, ahead of the launch of
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, October 29, 2012. AAP/Julian Smith
The world’s a stage
Witness: news & life
NEW STYLE: South Korean pop artist Psy in Sydney, October 16, 2012. AAP/Tracey Nearmy
WHISTLEBLOWER: Julian Assange arrives at the Supreme Court in London, February 1, 2012. The Australian
FOUR MORE YEARS: US President Barack Obama celebrates with First
WikiLeaks founder has been given asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy since June to avoid extradition to Sweden,
Lady Michelle Obama on election night in Chicago, November 6, 2012.
where he is wanted over sexual assault allegations.
Obama swept to re-election, forging history by transcending a slow economic
AP/Kirsty Wigglesworth
recovery and the high unemployment which haunted his first term to beat Republican Mitt Romney.
AFP/Jewel Samad
15 FACE OF HOPE: An Afghan refugee girl looks back after picking up a tyre in a slum on the outskirts of Islamabad, Pakistan, November 26, 2012. AP/Muhammed Muheisen
NAME AND SHAME: Alan Jones addresses the media in Sydney, September 30, 2012. The outspoken 2GB breakfast host apologised over comments in which he said the prime minister’s father had “died of shame”.
AAP/Warren Clarke
SMILEY FACE: Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg in San Francisco, November 15, 2010. AP/Paul Sakuma VICTORY: An emotional Sally Pearson (top) after winning the the 100m hurdles at the London Olympics, August 7, 2012. Dave Hunt
YELLOW SUBMARINES: A car park full of taxis is flooded after superstorm Sandy in Hoboken, New Jersey, October 30, 2012. AP/Charles Sykes
See it but can you believe it?
SKY’S THE LIMIT: Bjoern Einar Romoeren of Norway makes an attempt at the Four Hills ski jumping tournament in Innsbruck, Austria, January 3, 2012. AP/Matthias Schrader
MEA CULPA: Lance Armstrong (middle) grimaces during a news
WATER WORKS: Michael Phelps
conference in Galveston, Texas,
during swimming heats at the
April 1, 2012. The seven-time Tour de
London Olympic Games,
France winner admitted doping to
July 28, 2012.
TV host Oprah Winfrey in January. AP/Michael Paulsen
EPA/Patrick B. Kraemer
16
It’s been the time of our lives What we saw, what we did and how you ran it THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT AAP Newswire enhanced its commitment to entertainment, features and lifestyle content in 2012. It fed a seemingly insatiable demand for the latest updates on TV and film stars, musicians, singers, sports stars … for online, mobile, tablet and print. Coverage of red carpet arrivals at major events has developed into a big part of AAP’s multimedia offering. Interactive graphics that use words, images, video and quizzes added another dimension to entertainment coverage in 2012 and is set to soar to new heights in 2013 and beyond. The AAP Premium team also provided a wealth of features across a range of leisure topics in 2012, including motoring, technology, travel, the arts and fashion as well as food and wine. And AAP has appointed a social media writer to keep tabs on what’s hot on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and on Youtube.
LONDON GAMES
THE WINNING EDGE Australia’s big obsession is sport. In summer cricket and tennis. In winter, it’s the footy. Week in, week out – whether it’s AFL or NRL, Shield cricket or a Test match, Group 1 thoroughbreds or V8 racing – AAP is at every major event in Australia providing fast, quality multimedia coverage. During the week, the media conferences and news announcements are covered to the same standard, with video and interactive graphics throughout the season for the major sports.
BALI COMMEMORATIONS
ROYAL CELEBRATIONS
The biggest global event in 2012 was
October 12, 2012, marked 10 years
AAP Newswire became an avid
the London Olympics and AAP sent
since the worst terror attack on
royal watcher in 2012 as the world
its largest ever team to cover the
Australians – the Bali bombings in
rekindled its love and fascination
Games.
Kuta in which 202 people perished,
with the House of Windsor.
Led by editor Mike Osborne, the 33-strong contingent provided about
including 88 Australians. It was remembered around
From Queen Elizabeth’s celebration of 60 years’ reign, to the
200 text items a day for almost
Australia and in Bali, where Prime
Asia-Pacific tours of Will and Kate
a month, with a huge focus on
Minister Julia Gillard attended
and Charles and Camilla.
multimedia content, images, video
a ceremony. AAP was there in
and interactive graphics. The team
numbers, filing words, images and
also provided rich preview content in the lead-up to the Games. AAP’s Olympic coverage hit where
POLITICAL MANOEUVRINGS Former prime minister Kevin Rudd was back in the political spotlight when he launched a challenge to Julia Gillard’s leadership in February 2012. From the first snap when Rudd stepped down as foreign minister until the wrap on his defeat that took in sports minister Mark Arbib’s resignation, the AAP coverage from Canberra and the other bureaus was fast, accurate and compelling. In addition to the text coverage, AAP had excellent pictures and video throughout the saga and the graphics team put together some engaging interactive graphics in super quick time.
The timing was great for the new AAP political news website AAPNewswire Politics, launched in February and pitched at politicians, political junkies, government, industry bodies and the corporate sector. The Federal Budget is the annual set piece for AAP’s real-time coverage. The six-hour Budget lock-up ends at 7.30pm, with AAP’s first text alert moving 17 seconds later, followed by more than 100 separate stories or factboxes, two videos, seven graphics and dozens of images within 10 minutes. Another 70 stories of budget reaction with relevant images were filed within two hours.
FOREIGN POSTINGS
DE-MYSTIFYING BIG BUSINESS
Nothing beats being there and in 2012
Billions of dollars a day are traded
cities, we were there every step
our full-time foreign correspondents
on the Australian financial markets
video of survivors and victims’
of the way to bring subscribers
in Papua New Guinea and Indonesia
and AAP’s Finance Desk is dedicated
families.
the visits, ceremonies, feel-good
were worth their weight in gold.
to covering the key decisions as they
Reporters who had been on the
Be it remote islands or the big
moments and odd-ball antics. And
Jakarta-based Karlis Salna broke
happen. Aimed at digital publishers
it mattered: in breaking news, and we
ground in 2002 returned to move
when the magazines and tabloids
the story about Indonesian police
and dealers who trade in real time,
managed to lead the daily agenda
the story on. This was just one of the
abroad let loose with racy images,
killing five suspected terrorists in
the desk then provides the context
from the flag-bearer controversy and
many occasions when AAP travelled
we were there for the reaction.
Bali, and he got the jump on the
for print and tablet publishers.
rare video of the bottle thrower at
the globe. APEC, G20 meetings,
the 100m men’s sprint final, to shots
ASEAN, UN, Pacific Islands forums …
to fill websites and bulletins for
of the spectacular Aussie spill at the
and from Antartica to Afghanistan.
royal-savvy Australasian audiences.
sailing.
To tell it right, you have to be there.
TRANS-TASMAN NEWS The closure of the New Zealand Press Association in August 2011, after 132 years, prompted AAP to create its own NZ Newswire to ensure a strong flow of NZ news into Australia. Fulltime staff in Wellington
and Auckland, and freelancers elsewhere, now produce up to 70 stories a day for broadcast and digital subscribers. NZN staff travelled with Prime Minister John Key to cover many of his overseas trips, and a team was in London for the Olympics as part
It seems too much is never enough
of the overall AAP team covering the Games. The first anniversary of NZN was celebrated in September 2012, with the organisation’s subscriber base happy with the independence and commitment to quality.
story about Schapelle Corby being recommended for early release. And the turmoil of PNG meant
But in 2012, AAP added an extra dimension to its business news coverage with the creation of the
Port Moresby-based Eoin Blackwell
Premium Finance service. Peter Trute
never had a dull moment as he got
as senior finance writer and erudite
caught up in the constitutional drama
economist Garry Shilson-Josling,
during an interview with a high court
provide stories that educate and
judge when his office was stormed by
inform in an accessible format.
angry politicians and their supporters.
Other specialist staff provide
Despite the danger and anxious
stories on an ad-hoc basis to
moments Eoin filmed the whole
supplement the work by Peter
event.
and Garry.