The world depends on The Associated Press during historic moments, and the impeachment of President Donald Trump was no exception.
Journalists in Washington and beyond demonstrated the AP’s extraordinary power and depth to cover all angles of the story, including the monthslong footrace to tally votes ahead of proceedings, videos filed quickly from the hearings and of Trump’s reaction, and capturing the ground-level view of impeachment in six election battleground states. Stellar post-vote stories included an analysis of how impeachment would affect Trump’s legacy and the 2020 campaign, as well as an interview with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The coverage was overseen by Dustin Weaver, the Washington-based Congress editor who serves as the AP’s impeachment editor.
President Donald Trump arrives at W.K. Kellogg Airport for a campaign rally in Battle Creek, Mich., Dec. 18, 2019, as the House of Representatives was considering articles of impeachment against the president.
AP Photo / Evan Vucci
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., right, accompanied by House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Dec. 3, 2019.
AP Photo / Susan Walsh
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., conducts the committee markup of the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Dec. 11, 2019.
AP Photo / Jacquelyn Martin
Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, rubs his face during a House Judiciary Committee markup of the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Dec. 11, 2019.
AP Photo / Jacquelyn Martin
House Judiciary Committee ranking member Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., speaks during the committee markup of the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Dec. 12, 2019.
AP Photo / Alex Brandon
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., left, and ranking member Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., turn to leave after the House Judiciary Committee voted to approve articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Dec. 13, 2019.
AP Photo / Patrick Semansky
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., bottom center, walks to the House Chamber as the House of Representatives takes up articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Dec. 18, 2019.
AP Photo / Andrew Harnik
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., left, shakes hands with Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., during a vote on the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Dec. 18, 2019.
AP Photo / Patrick Semansky
Senate Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer of N.Y., watches from his Senate office as the House votes on the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Dec. 18, 2019.
AP Photo / Andrew Harnik
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., announces the passage of the second article of impeachment against President Donald Trump on Capitol Hill in Washington, Dec. 18, 2019.
AP Photo / Patrick Semansky
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., left, with other House leaders, including House Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters, D-Calif., reviews her speech notes in a private room just off the House floor after the House voted to impeach President Donald Trump, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Dec. 18, 2019.
AP Photo / Andrew Harnik
President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek, Mich., Dec. 18, 2019.
AP Photo / Evan Vucci
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., checks his watch on Capitol Hill in Washington, Dec. 18, 2019, after the House of Representatives voted to impeach President Donald Trump on two charges: abuse of power and obstructing Congress.
AP Photo / Jacquelyn Martin
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., speaks about impeachment on Capitol Hill in Washington, Dec. 18, 2019. Late Dec. 18, the House of Representatives voted to impeach President Donald Trump.
AP Photo / Jacquelyn Martin
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., walks from the chamber through Statuary Hall a day after the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives voted to impeach President Donald Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2019.
AP Photo / J. Scott Applewhite
Protesters hold signs in front of the White House in Washington, Dec. 17, 2019, on the eve of the impeachment vote against President Donald Trump.
AP Photo / Steve Helber
Among the work that impressed the judges:
– The impeachment vote count, a three-month effort to count support in the House of Representatives, which on Tuesday revealed that Democrats had the votes to impeach Trump. Other major news outlets were running a similar operation, but AP got the beat and was able to file the NewsAlert and the story before the competition thanks to the work of reporters Ben Finley in Virginia and David Sharp in Maine, who confirmed the last two votes needed. The tally anchored AP’s mainbar the day ahead of the vote, and many customers, including the Chicago Tribune, the San Francisco Chronicle, The Washington Times and C-Span, used the interactive on their home pages. The information also was provided to customers on the AP’s data.world platform, which allowed them to localize their representatives’ positions; among those that did were The Des Moines Register and Georgia Public Radio. The interactive and visualization efforts were possible thanks to the work of developers Andrew Milligan and Dan Kempton on the data team and graphic artists Phil Holm and Kevin Vineys on the Top Stories Hub.
– The impeachment mainbar by Lisa Mascaro and Mary Clare Jalonick, with contributions from Laurie Kellman, Matthew Daly, Alan Fram and Andrew Taylor, which deftly weaved together the day’s events and the next steps in the Senate.
– Video produced on both sides of the Atlantic, with the Washington team working double shifts to stay ahead of competitors on key developments, particularly Capitol Hill producer Padma Rama and cameramen Dan Huff and Rick Gentilo. At pivotal moments – the vote, Trump’s reaction to the impeachment at his Michigan rally – AP’s video moved to customers several minutes before competitors. Video offerings also included public reaction and context on other impeachment proceedings, something it took one competitor eight hours to match, and with less material than AP.
– Jonathan Lemire’s analysis of the impact on Trump’s legacy, which opened this way:
The first line of President Donald Trump’s obituary has been written.
Lemire’s story noted that while it is highly unlikely Trump will be removed from office, the president has made clear the toll the inquiry has taken on him and his family.
– Lisa Mascaro’s post-vote interview with Pelosi, which included the speaker’s headline-making assessment that Trump is “impeached forever.”
The work of dozens of other staffers, including writers, editors, producers, photographers, technical staff and more, all contributed to AP’s success.
For impeachment coverage that consistently broke news, gave crucial context and provided customers with materials they could localize and promote, the Washington bureau and the team of journalists behind the vote tracking effort win AP’s Best of the Week.