Coverage of France’s protests draws massive attention due to creative planning

After France’s high-school student protests erupted into widespread rioting on October 17 and led to a week of curfews and mass nationwide police deployment, AP looked at multiple angles to tell the story of a country in crisis. That included gripping video and photos of cheering protesters, masked looters and charging police officers, as well as distinctive coverage of the causes of the anger, the exceptional police arsenal and the presidential election campaign forming the backdrop for the unfolding drama. As violence intensified, AP’s team maintained its commitment to showing both the close-up view of clashes on the margins and broad-view top shots of the mass of largely peaceful demonstrators. AP’s Paris team is well-seasoned at covering protests and related violence and that experience was crucial for planning. As labor unions, radical activists and other adults joined the movement, the team constantly adapted coverage. The team also found new ways to engage freelancers, faraway colleagues and security support to ensure competitive, comprehensive coverage and safety.