The AP was well-positioned when thousands of people began swimming into the Spanish North African exclave of Ceuta from Morocco, with Antonio Sempere quickly filing video and photos. That was because the AP had published a story warning of a possible crisis the night before.
Video journalist Sergio Rodrigo Ruiz interviewed migrants about why they crossed and spoke with those who returned home disappointed. Maria Gestoso produced live coverage, including some of the world’s most powerful images of the border, helping ensure the AP stayed ahead of the competition.
Photographer Bernat Armangue and correspondent Suman Naishadham produced exclusive photo and text coverage from Ceuta. Joe Wilson and Iain Sullivan in Madrid, along with Emilio Morenatti in Barcelona, handled crucial coordination, reporting, editing and story production for text, photo and video coverage from the field. Freelancers Akram Oubachir, Jalal Morchadat and Majd Semlali ensured the AP had coverage in Fnideq on the Moroccan side of the border.
While international media focused on the impact on Spain, AP teams captured the broader picture in both countries. Nearly all the migrants were pushed back to Morocco or returned home disappointed. The AP spoke with dozens of them, learning that many had left based on false rumors shared on social media claiming the border was open or that Spain would allow new arrivals to remain legally.
International Migration beat leader Renata Brito oversaw coverage that included a gripping reconstruction using personal accounts to set the record straight and expose failures by authorities on both sides of the border. A Fact Focus examining misinformation surrounding Ceuta was widely read throughout the weeklong crisis. Additional coverage explored how residents viewed the situation, while Sam McNeil and Colleen Barry explained the political blame game and why the crisis reverberated across Europe.
An AP photo of a 12-year-old boy begging to stay in Spain, along with accompanying video, helped call attention to his plight and stop Spain from expelling him.
The boy’s photo appeared on the front page of Spain’s leading daily newspaper, El País, and the video was widely published by major Spanish media outlets and international clients.
The scoops capped a week of intense, difficult and sensitive coverage of a deadly crisis.
The judges praised the impact and reach of the coverage, which brought readers into the moment through rich context and compelling visuals.
For distinctive work on a competitive story, the Spain and Morocco teams win this week’s Best of AP — First Winner.
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