Leveraging reporter Julie Watson’s long-standing relationship with the San Diego Zoo, an AP all-formats team produced a widely shared story featuring exclusive video of elephants forming a protective “alert circle” around their calves during an earthquake. Watson obtained and shared the remarkable footage with producer Beatrice Dupuy, who swiftly secured permissions and coordinated the video’s distribution. Kumamoto created a social media version, while Gao edited versions for AP’s customer and digital platforms. To enrich the piece, Watson interviewed a zoo expert, who explained the elephants’ instinctive behaviors—including a young male demonstrating bravery by standing outside the circle. The combination of source work, fast coordination across formats, and an eye for storytelling resulted in a moment of joy and awe that resonated widely with audiences.
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