Exceptional and distinct coverage of an important anniversary showcases AP expertise

For the 40th anniversary of the explosion at Chernobyl nuclear power plant, the Ukraine team wanted to ensure that the coverage was distinct, visual and drew on the expertise in the Kyiv bureau. 
The series of preview stories included Kyiv photographer Efrem Lukatsky’s first person account with archive images from covering Chernobyl for 40 years; reporter Derek Gatopoulos’ look at the nature that now inhabits the exclusion zone, which is too dangerous for human life; reporter Hanna Arhirova’s tour inside the plant meeting people who maintain it even throughout Russia’s invasion; and photographer Evgeniy Maloletka’s photo essay with video journalist Vasilisa Stepanenko’s interviews with survivors of the clean-up operation. Outside Ukraine, reporter Vladimir Isachenkov examined how nuclear energy is seeing a global revival – something that seemed inconceivable when the explosion first happened. 
The range of stories weaved together the historical importance of the disaster, tying it to the current situation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and more broadly the global energy situation. 
The team delivered against the backdrop of a gruelling news schedule. Stepanenko single-handedly shot and edited all key video packages while Volodymyr Yurchuk ensured AP was able to repeatedly access the exclusion zone when other media were unable to get in even once. 
With days to go, Ukraine News Director Susie Blann set Yurchuk a challenge: to not only find the ‘liquidators,’ but photograph them on site in Chernobyl where they had taken part in the clean-up operation. The task seemed impossible, but Yurchuk found, then convinced, a group of former liquidators to allow Maloletka and Stepanenko to travel with them as they visited the site. Stepanenko fed interviews back to Arhirova and Gatopoulos in real time while simultaneously shooting video as Maloletka worked on portraits for the photo-led story. 
It was yet another example of the Kyiv team’s quick thinking and versatility under time pressure, also evident when Stepanenko directed Arhirova’s visit to the control room where on April 26, 1986, a routine test gone wrong triggered the two explosions.

Nearly every text story in the package was edited by Top Stories editor Brian Friedman, who worked closely with the reporters to shape them and include necessary context. David Goldman and Ben Curtis guided photographers to craft the final edits for photo essays working alongside Dario Lopez, who delivered the visual presentations and Will Jarrett produced graphics to illustrate the thrust of Isachenkov’s piece. 

The stories saw impressive engagement on APNews and social media. 

The judges were impressed by the exceptional and distinct coverage, which showcased our authority on the subject and provided exclusive testimonies of those who worked at the site in the aftermath of the disaster. 

Staff from all formats who produced the Chernobyl anniversary content are this week’s second Best of AP winners.