products and services

New and improved

New platforms, new releases and new developments helped customers more easily find and use AP content last year.

AP Video

AP’s video business transformation program–a multimillion-dollar upgrade to transform AP’s entire video business, including video production, newsgathering and distribution operations—continued in 2012 with developments specifically aimed at helping customers get the video they need when and how they need it.

We completed the largest rollout of high definition by any news agency globally to meet the growing demand for video news from broadcast and online customers.

We unveiled a new video archive platform, AP Archive, to support our extensive collection of newly digitized video content–more than 1.4 million global news and entertainment stories dating to the beginning of the 20th century.

We released AP Video Hub, a pioneering digital self-service platform that allows customers to download and edit video on a desktop without costly infrastructure—watch this video to learn more—as well as AP Video-US, a daily selection of top news and feature stories from the U.S. and around the world delivered in HD.

Watch: Learn more
about AP Video hub

AP Mobile

Since its launch in 2008, AP Mobile has been downloaded 12.2 million times–with a growth rate of 80 percent since 2010. In 2012, we released a major redesign of the app. Take a look at the new features and interface.

AP Mobile on iPad

The new AP ENPS

The newest version of ENPS, the world’s most widely used news production system, was released in early 2013 with an innovative new interface and tools to further enhance its multiplatform publishing capabilities. The software is used in broadcast and other newsrooms around the world.

  • The ENPS dashboard allows creation of a custom view of the day’s latest information–feeds, media, assignments and more–all updated in realtime to keep journalists on top of their stories.
  • Users can easily create and publish stories for multiple platforms, including broadcast, Web, mobile and social media.
  • Integrated calendar-based planning makes it possible to coordinate coverage throughout an organization.
  • The new Enterprise Browser and dockable location folders make it even easier for users to share content and planning.

AP Stylebook:
Updating “the bible”

Last year, AP introduced a Spanish version of The Associated Press Stylebook–the “bible” of writing style for journalists the world over. The Manual de Estilo, a Web-based guide to writing well in Spanish, is searchable, customizable and optimized for use on mobile devices and tablets. The new version expands further on the growing popularity of the AP Stylebook online. In the past three years, sales of group and individual licenses have increased nearly 30 percent.

Meanwhile, the 2012 edition of the Stylebook—the first one came out in 1953—was released in June with chapters on fashion and broadcast and more than 270 new and updated entries. The social media section was significantly expanded, with up-to-date terminology and practical advice on how to use social media tools for reporting.

AP Images

AP Images, the commercial photo unit of The Associated Press, launched a new distribution system in 2012 to provide customers easy access to AP’s award-winning photographs as well as those of the AP’s multiple partners–34 million photographs in an archive that grows by thousands every day. The new platform offers split-second search and comprehensive imagery to meet all commercial needs. Among those joining last year to sell their images through AP were Corbis Images, the microstock image company Fotolia and motor sports coverage agencies LAT and Autostock. AP also renewed its agreement with the National Football League and remains the exclusive provider of NFL photographs for commercial purposes.

San Francisco 49ers defense gang tackles Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice (27) during the Super Bowl XLVII NFL football game, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013, in New Orleans. The Ravens won 34-31.

AP Photo /David Stluka

Invision

In June, AP teamed up with some of the world’s leading celebrity photographers to form an independent photo agency that supplies inside access to the entertainment industry. Since its founding, Invision has been steadily making competitive inroads: About one-third of the images from the Golden Globes, the Screen Actors Guild, Grammys and Oscars that appeared on People.com–a prime site for celebrity photographs–came from AP. A dozen photographers now work for Invision, providing red-carpet, movie premiere and other high-profile celebrity coverage. See a slideshow of their recent work.

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    From left, Daniel Day-Lewis, with his award for best actor in a leading role for "Lincoln," Jennifer Lawrence, with her award for best actress in a leading role for "Silver Linings Playbook," Anne Hathaway, with her award for best actress in a supporting role for "Les Miserables," and Christoph Waltz, with his award for best actor in a supporting role for "Django Unchained," pose during the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013, in Los Angeles.

    Photo by John Shearer / Invision/AP

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    Recording artist Beyonce performs at Super Bowl XLVII on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013 in New Orleans.

    Photo by Jordan Strauss / Invision/AP

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    Justin Timberlake, left, and Jay-Z perform on stage at the 55th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013, in Los Angeles.

    Photo by John Shearer / Invision/AP

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    Malin Akerman poses backstage at the 22nd Annual Environmental Media Awards on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012, at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, Calif.

    Photo by Todd Williamson / Invision for Environmental Media Association/AP Images

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    Eddie Murphy, bottom, joins Stevie Wonder onstage for a rendition of Wonder's song "Higher Ground" during "Eddie Murphy: One Night Only," a celebration of Murphy's career at the Saban Theater in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012.

    Photo by Chris Pizzello / Invision

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    Brad Pitt poses for a portrait to promote his new film, "Killing Them Softly," on Monday, Nov. 26, 2012, in New York.

    Photo by Victoria Will / Invision/AP

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    Gwen Stefani of No Doubt performs in support of "Push and Shove" at Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, Calif., on Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012.

    Photo by John Shearer / Invision for Rebel Waltz/AP Images

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    From left, Gabrial McNair, Tom Dumont, Gwen Stefani, Adrian Young, Tony Kanal and Stephen Bradley of No Doubt appear on stage in support of "Push and Shove" at Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, Calif., on Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012.

    Photo by John Shearer / Invision for Rebel Waltz/AP Images

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    Singer-songwriter Ke$ha poses for a portrait in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012.

    Photo by Chris Pizzello / Invision/AP

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    Actress Jordin Spark poses for a portrait on Friday, Aug. 3, 2012 in Beverly Hills, Calif.

    Photo by Matt Sayles / Invision/AP

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    Barbra Streisand performs "The Way We Were" for the In Memoriam tribute during the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013. Pictured on the screen is the song’s Oscar-winning composer, Marvin Hamlisch, who died in 2012.

    Photo by Chris Pizzello / Invision/AP

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    Singer Katy Perry submits her election ballot at a polling place in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012.

    Photo by John Shearer / Invision/AP

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    Justin Bieber is smothered in kisses by presenter Jenny McCarthy as he accepts the award for favorite album - pop/rock for “Believe” at the 40th Anniversary American Music Awards on Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012, in Los Angeles.

    Photo by Matt Sayles / Invision/AP

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    Rihanna arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards on Thursday, Sept. 6, 2012, in Los Angeles.

    Photo by Matt Sayles / Invision/AP

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    Dakota Fanning from the film "Very Good Girls" poses for a portrait during the 2013 Sundance Film Festival at the Fender Music Lodge in Park City, Utah, on Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013.

    Photo by Victoria Will / Invision/AP Images

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    Actress Kiernan Shipka from "Mad Men" arrives at the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012.

    Photo by Jordan Strauss / Invision/AP

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    Adele, Justin Theroux and Jennifer Aniston, from left to right, arrive at the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013.

    Photo by Matt Sayles / Invision/AP

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AP Digital News Experiences

In 2012, AP launched Digital News Experiences, ready-to-publish Web content packages that extend a member’s coverage of major sports and are designed to be an important new revenue model for both AP and our member newspapers and broadcasters. The microsites are tightly integrated into members’ sites and provide a deep experience across the full spectrum of platforms: online, tablets and smartphones. AP editors curate the articles, photos and videos—including Web-exclusive content—to create packages that engage readers.

More than 600 AP members have now signed up for the DNEs, which AP provides for free. Members can earn revenue from advertising sold on AP’s behalf nationally and from their own local advertising sales.

Kyle Larson (32) goes airborne and into the catch fence in a multi-car crash involving Dale Earnhardt Jr. (88), Parker Kligerman (77), Justin Allgaier (31) and Brian Scott (2) during the final lap of the NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, in Daytona Beach, Fla

AP Photo / John Raoux