AP Stylebook

AP Stylebook
Name	AP Stylebook
Country	United States
Language	English
Subject	Journalism, Writing
Publisher	Associated Press
Pub date	1953 (first edition)
Pages	varies

AP Stylebook The AP Stylebook is a widely used style guide for news writing published by the Associated Press. It provides standards for grammar, punctuation, capitalization, abbreviation, and journalistic ethics used by reporters, editors, and news organizations. The guide influences newsroom practice across newspapers, broadcasters, wire services, and digital outlets.

History

The manual traces its origins to practices developed within the Associated Press news cooperative during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, paralleling changes in American journalism influenced by figures like Adolph Ochs and institutions such as The New York Times. Early attempts to standardize copy followed developments in telegraphy and syndication during the era of the Spanish–American War and the growth of wire services alongside rivals like United Press International and regional papers including the Chicago Tribune. Formalized editions appeared as newsrooms adapted to landmark events—coverage of the Great Depression, the World War II era, and the postwar expansion of mass media—prompting codification similar to guidance used by broadcasters such as Columbia Broadcasting System and magazines like Time. Subsequent editions reflected technological shifts driven by companies like AT&T and later digital transformations associated with firms such as AOL and Google.

Organization and Editions

The guide is produced by the Associated Press and updated periodically; notable editions have addressed changing norms during the administrations of presidents such as Franklin D. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy, through crises like the Watergate scandal and the September 11 attacks when newsroom practice evolved rapidly. Editions incorporate input from AP bureaus in major cities like New York City, Washington, D.C., and international bureaus covering regions including London, Beijing, and Geneva. The editorial process intersects with other standards bodies and institutions such as the National Press Club, journalism schools like the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, and professional organizations including the Society of Professional Journalists. Special editions and digital subscriptions expanded distribution alongside publishers and platforms including Penguin Random House and major academic libraries at Harvard University and Stanford University.

Style and Usage Guidelines

The manual covers headline style, attribution, and dateline conventions used in coverage of events like the Iraq War, the Iran nuclear program, and international summits such as COP conferences. It prescribes treatment of names and titles—referencing public figures like Barack Obama, Angela Merkel, and Vladimir Putin—and provides guidance on usage for brands and institutions such as Apple Inc., Microsoft, and The Walt Disney Company. The guide addresses numbers and dates in stories about economic indicators tied to markets like the New York Stock Exchange and legal terminology relevant to cases at the Supreme Court of the United States and statutes like the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It also situates journalistic ethics in relation to scandals involving entities such as Enron and regulatory frameworks like those from the Federal Communications Commission.

Special Topics and Industry Impact

The AP Stylebook has influenced coverage standards for beats including politics, business, science, and culture; its guidance is applied in reporting on elections involving parties such as the Democratic Party (United States) and the Republican Party (United States), in corporate reporting on firms like ExxonMobil and Boeing, and in science journalism concerning agencies such as NASA and the World Health Organization. The guide informs language used in award reporting for honors like the Nobel Prize and the Pulitzer Prize, and in cultural coverage referencing works like Hamlet and The Great Gatsby. Tech and privacy guidance has adapted amid controversies involving companies such as Facebook and Twitter, while international reporting conventions reflect engagement with organizations including the United Nations and treaties such as the Treaty of Versailles in historical context.

Criticism and Controversies

Critics have challenged AP guidance on representation and bias in language when covering marginalized communities, echoing debates involving civil rights movements associated with leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and organizations such as the NAACP. Disputes over terms and identity have paralleled controversies in cultural institutions like Smithsonian Institution exhibits and public debates around legislation such as the Equality Act. Media scholars from universities including University of Missouri and commentators at outlets like The Washington Post have critiqued perceived inconsistencies or slow adaptation to social change. Legal challenges and newsroom disputes have sometimes involved interplay with bodies like the National Labor Relations Board and high-profile cases in federal courts.

Educational and Professional Use

The manual is taught in journalism programs at institutions such as Columbia University, Northwestern University, and University of Missouri School of Journalism, and used in professional training offered by newsrooms at organizations like The New York Times Company and broadcast groups including National Public Radio. It appears in curricula alongside texts by scholars at Harvard University and practitioners represented by professional associations such as the Poynter Institute, and is referenced in credentialing and continuing education for reporters covering beats ranging from municipal affairs in cities like Chicago to international diplomacy in capitals such as Paris and Tokyo.

Category:Style guides