AP marks centennial of World War I with new book

Originally posted on AP.org

The Associated Press announced today it has published “World War I: An AP Centennial Commemorative Edition,” in recognition of the 100th anniversary of the end of the war that was supposed to end all wars.

The new book collects a series of stories tracing the arc of the conflict, from Sarajevo where Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand was slain, through the agony of trench warfare and America’s entry, which turned the tide against Germany and its allies.

World War I began with stirring words of patriotism and ended with 14 million dead, empires destroyed and the social order torn asunder. It spurred revolutions and counter-revolutions across the world, paving the way for the tyranny of Hitler and Stalin and an even greater global slaughter, World War II, a generation later.

“This project looks back at how the first World War impacted international relations in the immediate aftermath but also the ripple effect it continues to have on the current political landscape 100 years later,” said Peter Costanzo, AP digital publishing specialist. “It is a powerful reminder of how one major incident can change the course of history forever.”

"World War I" features more than 130 photographs from the AP archives and a comprehensive timeline of events. It serves as a must-have for anyone interested in the history of military conflicts.

The e-book is available now exclusively at Amazon and a paperback edition will soon follow.  

About AP
The Associated Press is the essential global news network, delivering fast, unbiased news from every corner of the world to all media platforms and formats. Founded in 1846, AP today is the most trusted source of independent news and information. On any given day, more than half the world's population sees news from AP. On the web: www.ap.org.

Contact
Lauren Easton
Director of Media Relations
The Associated Press
212-621-7005
leaston@ap.org

Serial Box and The Associated Press Launch “1776: The World Turned Upside Down”

NEW YORK CITY – On January 31, 2018, Serial Box and The Associated Press will launch 1776: The World Turned Upside Down, a month by month immersive account of America in its first year.  This series of twelve installments (in ebook and audio) is unique in its focus on the lives of ordinary colonists and the more personal stories of now-famed figures. The series is narrated by Robin Miles with guest voices including Hamilton star Chris Jackson as George Washington, Hamilton star Nicholas Christopher as John Adams, NPR On the Media’s Bob Garfield as Thomas Paine, and will be released in synchronized ebook and audio monthly installments from Serial Box throughout 2018. Readers and listeners will see that it was ordinary citizens—failed corset-makers like Thomas Paine, farmers, and high school dropouts—who persuaded a disparate group of colonies to unite into one country and fight for a brand-new idea: America.

Through informal and playful storytelling about the events in each month of 1776, this series helps us explore the roots of America’s great successes and failures. We see the beginnings of regional disputes and differences, institutional inequality and oppression, the tension between cultural heritage versus assimilation, and the struggle between states rights and federal government through the eyes of colonists and militiamen.

To understand the current divisiveness in America, it is helpful to look closely at the initial uniting of America’s colonies, and how that foundation led us to where we are today. In 1976, using this logic and to mark the bicentennial, the AP commissioned three of its top journalists including the late Sid Moody to write a month by month account of America in 1776. That lively text was made available in book that was given as a holiday gift to AP member media organizations, but it has never been available to the public until now.

“We are very excited to be working with the team at Serial Box on this narrative, which combines the irreverent with the scholarly providing an informative and entertaining view of the most critical year of U.S. history” says Peter Costanzo, Digital Publishing Specialist for the AP “We believe readers will find “1776” reveals what it took to invent America, as it happened, month to month, and will find themselves engaged in the daily lives of those who made it happen.”    

Serial Box

Serial Box publishes a highly curated selection of series written by teams of critically acclaimed and bestselling writers. Serials are released through the Serial Box app(s), website, and third party retailers in weekly installments in both ebook and audio formats. Founded by Molly Barton and Julian Yap, Serial Box brings everything that’s awesome about TV to what people love about books. Every week, read or listen to gripping new episodes, carefully crafted by award-winning and bestselling teams of authors throughout seasons. The Associated Press

The Associated Press is the essential global news network, delivering fast, unbiased news from every corner of the world to all media platforms and formats. Founded in 1846, AP today is the most trusted source of independent news and information. On any given day, more than half the world’s population sees news from AP. 1776 1776 is a 12-episode serial and will begin releasing on Jan 31, 2018. It will air monthly, with weekly supplemental commentary. 1776 can be found on Serial Box’s app and website and everywhere readers access e-books. More information can be found at https://www.serialbox.com/serials/1776    

Press Contact: Jeff Umbro | Jeff@SerialBox.com | 603.770.1371

Tet Offensive account published by AP for 50th anniversary

Originally posted on AP.org

The Associated Press has published “We’re Taking Fire: A Reporter’s View of the Vietnam War, Tet and the Fall of LBJ,” by Pulitzer Prize-winning war correspondent Peter Arnett, ahead of the 50th anniversary of the Tet Offensive.

This powerful account revisits Arnett’s coverage of the Vietnam War for AP, examining what led to the surprise attack that began in the early hours of Jan. 31, 1968, and became a turning point of the war, and the turbulent aftermath.

An eyewitness to the battles, maneuvers and cultural challenges that prevented a definitive victory, Arnett explores the complexities that drove the decisions made by the Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon administrations and how each was unable to achieve a winning strategy that would put an end to the unpopular war.

Arnett, who reported on the Vietnam War for AP from 1962 until its end in 1975, offers a unique perspective that only someone who was on the ground can share, as well as sharp analysis shaped by observing U.S.-Vietnam relations in the decades after the war.

“Peter Arnett’s account of the Tet Offensive is riveting from the first chapter,” said Peter Costanzo, AP digital publishing specialist. “His insights and observations as to how this pivotal moment impacted both U.S. strategy and Johnson’s presidency are invaluable, shedding light on lessons learned and lessons forgotten 50 years later.” 

Illustrating the compelling story are more than 50 images from AP’s photo archive and Arnett’s personal collection.

Arnett won the Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting in 1966 for his Vietnam coverage. He later joined CNN and became well-known to TV audiences during the first Gulf War when he broadcast live from Baghdad during the U.S. raids. 

“We’re Taking Fire” is available in paperback and as an e-book exclusively on Amazon.

About AP

The Associated Press is the essential global news network, delivering fast, unbiased news from every corner of the world to all media platforms and formats. Founded in 1846, AP today is the most trusted source of independent news and information. On any given day, more than half the world's population sees news from AP. On the Web: www.ap.org.

Contact
Lauren Easton
Director of Media Relations

The Associated Press
212-621-7005
leaston@ap.org