AP’s speed shines in coverage of mass shooting at a Jewish festival on Australia’s Bondi Beach

By Rod McGuirk, Charlotte Graham-McLay, Moussa Moussa, Mark Baker, Rick Rycroft, Kristen Gelineau, Tom Moldoveanu, Panagiotis Pylas, Melanie Lidman

When two men opened fire at a Jewish festival on Sydney’s Bondi Beach, AP’s Australia team responded with speed, coordination and precision — producing dominating all-formats coverage that outpaced major competitors at every turn.

Freelance photographer Mark Baker’s dramatic images, edited quickly by Rick Rycroft, were the first to reach digital customers — beating the next-fastest outlet by 15 minutes. The photos captured the fear, grief and chaos at the scene and became foundational to the day’s global coverage.

Meanwhile, senior producer Moussa Moussa coordinated rapid live video from the scene, while senior producer Tom Moldoveanu in London secured exclusive rights to witness-shot footage, including dramatic images of a bystander wrestling a gun away from one of the attackers.

On the ground, Kristen Gelineau sprinted to the scene and filed an emotional tick-tock, including witness accounts of victims falling around them. Rod McGuirk and Charlotte Graham-McLay delivered a string of fast, deeply reported stories as the scale of the attack became clear.

International support bolstered the coverage: vacationing London staffer Panagiotis Pylas interviewed witnesses at Bondi, and Melanie Lidman in Israel captured the wider reaction from Jewish and Israeli communities concerned about rising antisemitism.

Judges praised the team’s extraordinary coordination and ability to deliver exclusive content — visuals, live video, breaking updates and context — at speed during a competitive weekend news cycle.

For demonstrating what AP does best — working together with incredible speed and skill on a breaking story — Rod McGuirk, Charlotte Graham-McLay, Moussa Moussa, Mark Baker, Rick Rycroft, Kristen Gelineau, Tom Moldoveanu, Panagiotis Pylas and Melanie Lidman earn this week’s Best of AP — First Winner.