The Rome-based team of Paolo Santalucia, video journalist; Luigi Navarra, video contractor; Andrew Medichini, photographer; Frances D'Emilio, correspondent; and Dolores Hinckley, global intern, for comprehensive all-formats coverage that enabled AP to dominate the story of two California teenagers arrested in the deadly stabbing of a police officer in the Italian capital.
When the story emerged late on a Friday, AP immediately deployed video and photos to the police station where the Americans were being interrogated and staked out the building into the early morning. With the agency competition nowhere to be seen, Medichini filed the first image of the murder suspect in a police car – more than two hours before the Italian news agency moved a similar photo. Meanwhile, Santalucia, Navarra and Hinckley staked out the police station with two live video units, providing almost 10 hours of unmatched live coverage. Other agencies were slow to react. Thanks to excellent teamwork across formats in Rome and with colleagues in California, AP continued to own the story in subsequent days, particularly for video, with unmatched interviews with an eye witness to the events leading up to the stabbing, and with the Carabinieri station chief, and live coverage of the main suspect’s father arriving in Rome. AP was also aggressive in pursuing photos of the suspects and details of the investigation – D'Emilio quickly confirmed the accusations against the Americans, while competition had to cite The New York Times.