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NewsWPLG Local 10 – Main FeedSeptember 3, 2026Miami-Dade

Historical overview of The Associated Press and its reporting milestones

This article chronicles the 180-year history of The Associated Press, detailing its origins as a news-sharing cooperative and highlighting significant reporting moments including the Gettysburg Address, the end of World War II, and the Civil Rights Movement. It examines the evolution of news gathering from pony-express relays to modern digital distribution.

journalismhistorymediaThe Associated Press
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Why It Matters

The article provides historical context on how a major news operates and how its reporting practices have shaped public access to information over the last two centuries.

Key Facts

  • The Associated Press was founded 180 years ago by five New York newspaper publishers to share news about the U.S.-Mexico war.
  • AP reporter Joseph Ignatius Gilbert transcribed the Gettysburg Address by borrowing President Lincoln's manuscript.
  • AP correspondent Edward Kennedy was fired for reporting the German surrender in 1945 before the military-mandated embargo expired.
  • The AP apologized to Edward Kennedy's family in 2012 for his treatment regarding the 1945 scoop.
  • AP reporter Kathryn Johnson provided exclusive coverage from inside the King family home following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968.
  • The AP maintains a library of pre-written obituaries for notable public figures.
  • In 1998, an AP editor accidentally released an incomplete obituary for Bob Hope to subscribers.

Who's Mentioned

personEdward Kennedy“AP correspondent who broke the embargo on the German surrender in 1945.”personJoseph Ignatius Gilbert“AP reporter who covered the Gettysburg Address.”personTom Curley“Former AP president and CEO.”personBob Hope“Comedian whose obituary was prematurely released by the AP.”personCoretta Scott King“Widow of Martin Luther King Jr.”personKathryn Johnson“AP reporter who covered the Civil Rights Movement.”personAbraham Lincoln“President of the United States during the Gettysburg Address.”personMartin Luther King Jr.“Civil rights leader assassinated in 1968.”organizationThe Associated Press“The news organization being profiled.”