An Associated Press team dominated coverage of the closely watched Harvey Weinstein verdict, delivering all-formats wins with speed, depth and exclusivity.
A photographer leaning out of a bathroom window, reporters breathlessly waiting in courthouse hallways — Mary Altaffer captured the camaraderie and competition of the cadre of women covering Harvey Weinstein’s rape trial. Her photo essay gave an engaging behind-the-scenes look at the trial that was being closely watched around the world as a test for holding powerful men accountable for their mistreatment of women. And when time came for the verdict to be read in the case, an all-formats AP team – of women and men – delivered coverage that far outpaced competitors on the biggest trial of the #MeToo era.
Harvey Weinstein arrives at the courthouse during jury deliberations in his rape trial, Feb. 24, 2020, in New York. Later in the day the jury convicted the Hollywood mogul of rape and sexual assault. The jury found him not guilty of the most serious charge, predatory sexual assault, which could have resulted in a life sentence.
AP Photo / Craig Ruttle
Reporter Mike Sisak delivered the verdict via Slack, allowing editors on the East Desk to file an alert and a 648-word story within a minute of it being announced in the courtroom, five minutes ahead of the closest competitor. It was just the start of a day in which AP’s speed and preparedness kept it ahead. Video journalist Ted Shaffrey’s live feed of the district attorney’s press conference was up 10 minutes before the closest competitor. Both are an eternity in the world of breaking news, and are all the more remarkable coming in a case that was closely covered by dozens of outlets.
Sisak, Altaffer, reporter Tom Hays and video journalist David Martin remained aggressive in the hours that followed. Martin chased down Weinstein’s defense team, using Bambuser to broadcast them leaving the courthouse after a spat with victims’ rights attorney Gloria Allred. Meanwhile, Sisak, Altaffer and Hays staked out a courthouse exit for Weinstein’s departure; they all nimbly shifted gears when they realized the disgraced mogul was in the back of an ambulance. Altaffer shot photos and Sisak chased after the ambulance, getting exclusive video of Weinstein inside.
AP’s text beat on the verdict was possible due to a filing system and preparedness developed over the course of the monthlong trial. East Desk editor Sophie Rosenbaum worked with Sisak, Hays and the Top Stories Hub to make sure AP had anticipated every possible outcome. For the verdict, she tag-teamed with fellow editor Sarah DiLorenzo on the urgent filing.
Careful video planning and teamwork led to that format’s breaks. Two LiveU units were deployed to the courthouse, and a third was dispatched once it was clear the jury had reached its verdict. Video journalist Robert Bumsted interviewed a model whose 2015 accusations against Weinstein didn’t lead to charges, giving the AP some early reaction to the verdict. Entertainment video assisted with edits and got reaction from several prominent Weinstein accusers, including actress Rosanna Arquette.
Throughout the day, AP photographers and video journalists used messaging apps to share information about the developing story and the movements of key players, enabling decisions on the fly about positioning staff effectively. Photographer John Minchillo and freelancer Craig Ruttle double-teamed Weinstein’s last walk into the courthouse as a free man, and after the verdict they scrambled to capture the feuding attorneys and the jurors leaving the building.
Donna Rotunno, center, and Arthur Aidala, right, attorneys for Harvey Weinstein, wait behind women's rights attorney, Gloria Allred before speaking to reporters outside a Manhattan courthouse after the conviction of Weinstein on rape and sexual assault charges, Feb. 24, 2020, in New York. Following a conflict with Allred, Weinstein’s legal team walked away before addressing the media.
AP Photo / John Minchillo
Members of Harvey Weinstein’s defense team, attorneys Arthur Aidala, left, and Donna Rotunno, second from left, argue for their chance to speak as women's rights attorney Gloria Allred, right, addresses the media outside a Manhattan courthouse after the verdict in Weinstein's rape trial, Feb. 24, 2020, in New York.
AP Photo / John Minchillo
Harvey Weinstein's legal defense team walks away from reporters after refusing to wait for women’s rights attorney Gloria Allred, foreground, to finish reading her statement to the media at a Manhattan courthouse after Weinstein's rape conviction in New York, Feb. 24, 2020.
AP Photo / John Minchillo
Jurors are escorted from the courthouse after a verdict in the Harvey Weinstein rape trial in New York, Feb. 24, 2020. The jury convicted Weinstein of rape and sexual assault. They found him not guilty of the most serious charge, predatory sexual assault, which could have resulted in a life sentence.
AP Photo / Craig Ruttle
Ambra Battilana Gutierrez speaks to reporters outside of a Manhattan courthouse after Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein was convicted of rape and sexual assault, Feb. 24, 2020, in New York. Gutierrez said the district attorney’s office failed her in not bringing charges when she accused Weinstein of groping her in 2015.
AP Photo / John Minchillo
One day after Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein was convicted of rape and sexual assault, actress Rosanna Arquette, right, hugs actress Katherine Kendall before a news conference at Los Angeles City Hall, Feb. 25, 2020, by the “Silence Breakers,” a group of women who have spoken out about Weinstein’s sexual misconduct.
AP Photo / Chris Pizzello
Back in the office, producers Luke Sheridan and Vanessa Alvarez were taking in four live video feeds and quickly publishing material for clients. AP was faster than the competition in almost every development, including filing the first edits of the district attorney, comments from Weinstein accuser Ambra Battilana Gutierrez, defense lawyers and Weinstein’s walker being wheeled out of court.
National Writer Joceyln Noveck added a sidebar with many of Weinstein's alleged victims reacting to the verdict. And Maryclaire Dale, legal affairs writer in Philadelphia, had a next-day story set to go at 1 a.m. looking at the possible impact of the conviction on other sexual assault trials.
From left, New York Post reporter Rebecca Rosenberg, top, CBS network news producer Cassandra Gauthier, foreground, Court TV producer Grace Wong, Vulture magazine freelance reporter Victoria Bekiempis and New York Daily News reporter Molly Crane-Newman use their smartphones to film Harvey Weinstein leaving for the day during his rape trial in New York, Feb. 19, 2020.
AP Photo / Mary Altaffer
Variety reporter Elizabeth Wagmeister, right, and ABC News reporter Chris Franscescani leave the courtroom for the day during Harvey Weinstein's rape trial in New York, Feb. 13, 2020.
AP Photo / Mary Altaffer
New York Daily News reporter Molly Crane-Newman uses her smartphone to film Harvey Weinstein leaving court during his rape trial in New York, Feb. 13, 2020.
AP Photo / Mary Altaffer
Washington Post reporter Shayna Jacobs, center, leaves the courtroom at the end of the day in Harvey Weinstein’s rape trial in New York, Feb. 13, 2020.
AP Photo / Mary Altaffer
Victoria Bekiempis, freelance reporter working for Vulture magazine, waits in the courthouse hallway during Harvey Weinstein’s rape trial in New York, Feb. 18, 2020.
AP Photo / Mary Altaffer
New York Post reporter Rebecca Rosenberg is surrounded by court officers as she stands in the hallway during Harvey Weinstein’s rape trial in New York, Feb. 18, 2020.
AP Photo / Mary Altaffer
Court TV legal correspondent Chanley Painter drinks coffee and talks on the phone while waiting for Harvey Weinstein to arrive at a Manhattan courthouse for his rape trial in New York, Feb. 18, 2020.
AP Photo / Mary Altaffer
Caitlin Ochs, a freelance photographer working for Reuters, uses a window in a women’s restroom to shoot an overhead photo of Harvey Weinstein leaving the courthouse for the day during his rape trial in New York, Feb. 17, 2020.
AP Photo / Mary Altaffer
Vulture magazine freelance reporter Victoria Bekiempis, left, Fox News field producer Marta Dhanis, center, and New York Daily News reporter Molly Crane-Newman, reflected in mirror, take a break in a women’s restroom during Harvey Weinstein's rape trial in New York, Feb. 19, 2020.
AP Photo / Mary Altaffer
Artist Elizabeth Williams uses the lunch break to put final touches on a courtroom drawing of Harvey Weinstein during his rape trial in New York, Feb. 19, 2020.
AP Photo / Mary Altaffer
NBC News field producer Sumiko Moots, left, and CBS network news producer Cassandra Gauthier wait in line to enter the courtroom during Harvey Weinstein’s rape trial in New York, Feb. 19, 2020.
AP Photo / Mary Altaffer
Agence France-Presse photojournalist Angela Weiss, center, and video correspondent Diane Desobeau wait for Harvey Weinstein to leave court during jury deliberations in his rape trial, Feb. 20, 2020, in New York.
AP Photo / Mary Altaffer
New York Times photographer Brittainy Newman tests the light from an overhead position while waiting for Harvey Weinstein to arrivesat a Manhattan courthouse for his rape trial in New York, Feb. 20, 2020.
AP Photo / Mary Altaffer
Bloomberg News reporter Patricia Hurtado works in the press room during Harvey Weinstein's rape trial in New York, Feb. 20, 2020.
AP Photo / Mary Altaffer
Rebecca Barry of ITV News waits for lawyers to address the media after Harvey Weinstein left court for the day during jury deliberations in his rape trial, Feb. 21, 2020, in New York.
AP Photo / Mary Altaffer
For all the stellar spot coverage, Altaffer produced one of the most-discussed stories of the trial. Over the course of the month-long proceedings, Altaffer used her downtime – often while others were grabbing coffee or catching up on email – to document the women who were working as reporters, producers, photographers and video journalists on the case. Altaffer developed the idea as a way to find a distinct angle on visual coverage of the trial since cameras were barred from the courtroom. Her story-within-the-story photo gallery showed a human element of the coverage not reflected elsewhere, and was widely shared online and used by outlets like CNN, the Miami Herald, San Francisco Chronicle and more.
For quick, comprehensive and distinctive coverage that kept the AP ahead on one of the biggest trials of the year so far, Altaffer, Sisak, Hays, Martin, Shaffrey, Bumsted, Minchillo, Ruttle and Rosenbaum win AP’s Best of the Week award.