AP Game Story Editing Process

It's been a while since I followed the editing process for game stories at the AP. What's the workflow these days?

Because mistakes like this didn't normally make it into the copy, let alone live on the internet without being immediately corrected.

Cowboys vs. Chargers - Game Recap - September 19, 2021 - ESPN

The player's name is Tony Pollard, not Troy.

Game ended an hour-plus ago, still live on multiple sites.

 

I think the "story editing" process for AP is, member newspapers see an error after the story is sent out, they are nice enough to call/email, and the AP sends out a corrected version.

They slashed most of their editors years ago, and it shows.

 

I see more mistakes in AP copy these days, small and large (like the name above). Dang shame.

 

I get the impression reporters at AP might read each other’s copy, but that’s it.

Given the amount of copy they throw out there, they have a really good batting average.

 

They are like anyone else--understaffed and overworked. It's a Sunday with a full slate of NFL games and MLB games and at least some, if not most, editors jumping between the two. As Wicked notes, the batting average is still pretty good and you can be sure they're disappointed it's not 1.000.

 

This doesn't answer your initial question, but ...

That may be due to how the sites are set up, regardless of AP moving an updated version. AP doesn't always just automatically refresh on other outlets' sites. In many places, a digital producer has to cut-and-paste the content into a file in the company content-management system manually.

 

That's certainly a valid point.

That said, the mistake still lingers in some portions of the official AP site, mainly in briefs and roundups.

Lamar Jackson carries Baltimore past Kansas City 36-35

 

The initial Astros-Red Sox gamer said Houston was one win away from its second straight trip to the World Series.

 

We sure that Data Skrive didn't make that mistake?

 

AP has gone to hell.

The story of the group of Conference USA schools applying for admission to the AAC broke by Yahoo on Monday, ESPN jumped on it Tuesday and - hey! AP! You there? -- they got on it Wednesday.

The odds on games the AP provides? Two days it had Arkansas Pine Bluff by 3 1/2 over Arkansas. By Wednesday it was fixed- Arkansas by 51.

They barely do top 25 midweekers on football teams.

They're basically useless.

Are their state bureaus part time now?

They sure as hell don't miss the Olympics and other perks.

 

The initial TCU-Iowa State gamer from Friday referred to a game that kicked off at 3 p.m. as having taken place on Saturday night within the first 15 words.

And then again in the fourth paragraph, referred to a touchdown scored on Saturday

And then again, in the notes, referred to a milestone sack having occurred on Saturday.

It edited the first two to Friday but left the last one as Saturday in the write-through

 

AP is pretty strict about not just reporting that some other news source is saying X. The standard there is that their reporters have to have confirmed X before the story will go out.