In the early hours of Saturday, AP journalists in Venezuela heard explosions and visually confirmed at least seven strike sites shortly after reported U.S. attacks on military and strategic targets in Caracas and beyond. That triggered AP’s first alert — and the first from any media organization.
The team’s deep expertise in Venezuela and Washington, paired with seamless collaboration across regions, drove immediate and authoritative coverage of the breaking story. AP went live with a shot of the Caracas skyline — smoke visible in the distance — hours ahead of competitors, and continued to report developments with pace and precision.
The reporters quickly secured and verified user‑generated video showing explosions near Higuerote Airport and across Caracas. While the Caracas team wrote from the ground, AP visual journalists were already live from the Colombia‑Venezuela border, providing real‑time context hours before international outlets began coverage from the outside.
Meanwhile, colleagues in Washington worked sources and background, helping piece together the broader picture of what was unfolding in a highly fluid and chaotic environment. Staff from around the world also jumped in to support copy, verification and reporting. Judges noted the exceptional speed of the lives from Caracas and the Colombia‑Venezuela border, as well as the strong teamwork across formats and geographies.
For thorough, accurate reporting with unmatched speed across formats amid a challenging and chaotic environment, the team in Venezuela wins this week’s first citation for Best of the Week.
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