Deep source work leads to pair of AP scoops on Cuba and passports

AP diplomatic writer Matthew Lee demonstrated the value of deep source cultivation by landing two major scoops in a single day on unrelated subjects. Lee was first to identify the senior State Department officials who traveled to Cuba to meet with Raul Castro’s grandson, then leveraged those sourcing relationships to learn details of the discussions and the administration’s next steps. On the same day, Lee also broke the news that the State Department planned to revoke passports from parents with significant unpaid child support and expand those restrictions. He held the exclusive for hours, aided by earlier reporting that established his sourcing on the issue.