The call came in after midnight local time on Feb. 27: Gene Hackman had died in Santa Fe, New Mexico. From there, it was a race to get the news on the wire while most Americans slept. Dozens of AP journalists jumped in to help, delivering a dominant performance across all formats.
Freelance photographer Roberto Rosales responded to a text message at 1:30 a.m., saying he would be in Santa Fe at daybreak. Knowing the terrain around Hackman’s home would limit visibility from the road, he brought his drone to capture key images of animal control and sheriff’s deputies moving in and out of the house. Susan Montoya Bryan met Rosales at the scene, and the two alternated coverage from the entrance of Hackman’s gated community, filing regularly to ensure AP owned the spot visual coverage.
From Las Vegas, video journalist Ty O’Neil booked a flight around 3:30 a.m. PT and went live upon arriving in Santa Fe—coverage unmatched that Thursday.
Meanwhile, AP’s Entertainment team delivered a slate of sidebars that hit the wire quickly. Hillel Italie wrote Hackman’s obituary, Lindsey Bahr compiled a filmography, and Jake Coyle penned an appreciation piece. John Carucci secured a video interview with Bill Murray, while AP Sports explored Hackman’s legacy in Hoosiers, highlighting his wide-ranging impact.
The collaborative effort continued through the weekend. John Seewer anchored the spot story for two days before Brian Melley took over writing the main text story, providing continuous updates. Jacques Billeaud in Phoenix filed numerous public records requests, while Sejal Govindarao reached out to neighbors, friends, and family, with research support from Randy Herschaft. Montoya Bryan followed up with a strong weekend piece examining Santa Fe’s enduring celebrity appeal.
Judges praised AP’s exclusive video and visual coverage, which set the standard for news outlets worldwide. AP was widely cited as the definitive source of information on Hackman’s passing.
For exemplary work, the Best of AP — First Winner citation goes to Roberto Rosales, Susan Montoya Bryan, Ty O’Neil, and Brian Melley.
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