Three days before Sarah McBride made history when she was sworn in as the first openly transgender member of Congress – thanks to longstanding source development, meticulous planning and stellar journalism – the AP provided a nuanced, compelling all-formats profile of McBride, conveying her life story and political aspirations in a package that won great play and public attention. It was the only in-depth profile of McBride to run in the days ahead of her swearing-in.
Washington bureau chief Anna Johnson proposed a profile in mid-November during a brainstorming call that included Religion Team news director David Crary, who previously covered LGBTQ issues for AP and often dealt with McBride when she was press secretary for the Human Rights Campaign. Crary handled the initial outreach to McBride’s staff, and won assurances of enthusiastic cooperation with AP.
The Religion Team’s Tiffany Stanley and Jessie Wardarski, along with US News chief photographer Carolyn Kaster teamed up to successfully negotiate access to McBride over three days in Delaware as she was completing her term as a state senator.
The AP trio was present for McBride’s closing speech and her warm farewells to colleagues of both parties, movingly depicted in AP’s text, photos and video. The assignment culminated with a candid all-formats interview at McBride’s condo, in which she discussed the challenges, joys and sorrows she’s faced since coming out as trans in 2011. Capitalizing on AP’s access, our team also was able to get comments from McBride’s parents, their pastor, and former Delaware Gov. Jack Markell, one of her mentors.
For top-notch work on a timely, well-rounded profile, Stanley, Kaster and Wardarski win Best of the Week — Second Winner.
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