AP To Provide Alternative Leads, To Enable Papers To Compete With The Internet On Early Breaking Stories
The Associate Press announces that on early-breaking stories it will provide clients with alternative leads, so they will have the option not to be scooped by the Internet. It's a sign of our times.
They haven't given any examples yet, so I'm going to do them a favor, providing some alternative lead suggestions for past historic events, showing how much more we will learn..
1. Lincoln Assassination. Main AP lead: "President Lincoln Shot at Ford Theatre in Washington by Assassin."
Alternative: "Crowd Annoyed at 'Our American Cousin' Play After Loud Noise Disrupts Laughter."
2. Dec. 7, 1941: Main Lead: "Japanese Attack Pearl Harbor, Sink Battleship Arizona and Other U.S. Ships."
Alternative: "Oil Leak From Boat Causes Environmentalist Furore In Hawaii."
3. 9-11: Main Lead: "Arab Terrorists Attack New York and Washington, Raze Twin Towers and Damage Pentagon, Kill Thousands."
Alternative. "Afghan-based Rebels Make U.S. Visit."
4. Roosevelt Dies: Main Lead: "FDR Dies of Cerebral Hemmorage."
Alternative: "Lucy Mercer Snubs Eleanor, Visits Prez In Warm Springs, Ga."
5. Nixon resigns: Main Lead. "Nixon Resigns Presidency in Watergate Climax."
Alternative: "Nixon Gives Triumphant Wave As He Boards Helicopter."
6. Eastwood, Swank, Freeman win Oscars: Main Lead: "Clint Eastwood and Young Paramour Hilary Swank Win Oscars."
Alternative: "Catholic Church Spurned In Euthanasia-based Drama."
7. Hindenburg Crash: Main Lead: "Nazi Dirigible Hindenburg Blows Up At Lakehurst, N.J."
Alternative: "Radio Announcer Sparks Controversy by Yelling About Humanity, Riling Crowd."
8. U.S. Atom Bombs Hiroshima. Main Lead: "Atomic Bomb Equivalent to 20,000 Tons of TNT Destroys Hiroshima, Japan."
Alternative: "A Hot Time In The Old Town Tonight Opposed in Dovish L.A. Times Editorial."
9. Hitler Invades Poland: Main Lead: "Germany Invades Poland."
Alternative: "Poland Attacks Germany."
10. Lexington and Concord: "American Minutemen Fire Shot Heard Round The World; Turn British Force Back at the Concord Bridge."
Alternative: "Redcoats Disrupt Colonial Arms Storage Plans in Gallant Raid Outside Boston."
Ah yes, this is going to be a great improvement.
5.
They haven't given any examples yet, so I'm going to do them a favor, providing some alternative lead suggestions for past historic events, showing how much more we will learn..
1. Lincoln Assassination. Main AP lead: "President Lincoln Shot at Ford Theatre in Washington by Assassin."
Alternative: "Crowd Annoyed at 'Our American Cousin' Play After Loud Noise Disrupts Laughter."
2. Dec. 7, 1941: Main Lead: "Japanese Attack Pearl Harbor, Sink Battleship Arizona and Other U.S. Ships."
Alternative: "Oil Leak From Boat Causes Environmentalist Furore In Hawaii."
3. 9-11: Main Lead: "Arab Terrorists Attack New York and Washington, Raze Twin Towers and Damage Pentagon, Kill Thousands."
Alternative. "Afghan-based Rebels Make U.S. Visit."
4. Roosevelt Dies: Main Lead: "FDR Dies of Cerebral Hemmorage."
Alternative: "Lucy Mercer Snubs Eleanor, Visits Prez In Warm Springs, Ga."
5. Nixon resigns: Main Lead. "Nixon Resigns Presidency in Watergate Climax."
Alternative: "Nixon Gives Triumphant Wave As He Boards Helicopter."
6. Eastwood, Swank, Freeman win Oscars: Main Lead: "Clint Eastwood and Young Paramour Hilary Swank Win Oscars."
Alternative: "Catholic Church Spurned In Euthanasia-based Drama."
7. Hindenburg Crash: Main Lead: "Nazi Dirigible Hindenburg Blows Up At Lakehurst, N.J."
Alternative: "Radio Announcer Sparks Controversy by Yelling About Humanity, Riling Crowd."
8. U.S. Atom Bombs Hiroshima. Main Lead: "Atomic Bomb Equivalent to 20,000 Tons of TNT Destroys Hiroshima, Japan."
Alternative: "A Hot Time In The Old Town Tonight Opposed in Dovish L.A. Times Editorial."
9. Hitler Invades Poland: Main Lead: "Germany Invades Poland."
Alternative: "Poland Attacks Germany."
10. Lexington and Concord: "American Minutemen Fire Shot Heard Round The World; Turn British Force Back at the Concord Bridge."
Alternative: "Redcoats Disrupt Colonial Arms Storage Plans in Gallant Raid Outside Boston."
Ah yes, this is going to be a great improvement.
5.
posted by Ken Reich at 5:07 PM
2 Comments:
How frieightening to them it must be that the actual news story carries more weight than their personalities!
Grace be with you..
There is due reason for why the AP Wire Service is called 'the AP LIAR Service', and this latest antic does nothing to dispell that.
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