USA: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS MARKS ITS 150TH ANNIVERSARY

(14 May 1998) English/Nat

The Associated Press marked its 150th anniversary on Thursday with a solemn salute to 23 journalists who died on assignment.

A minute's silence was observed at the memorial service at the organisation's world headquarters in New York's Rockefeller Centre.

Speaking at the service, Louis D. Boccardi, A-P's president and chief executive officer,
said the memorial was heartfelt and was the highlight of a yearlong celebration.

In 1876, the journalist Mark Kellog followed General Custer to the Little Big Horn.

It was the last battle he would ever see.

He died during the struggle and was the first person working for the Associated Press to die while on assignment.

Thirty-three-year old George Bede Irvin was killed trying to snap the "perfect picture" during World War II.

The Associated Press held a memorial service on Thursday to reflect upon the life and work of these two men and the 20 other men and one woman killed while working in the field for the agency.

Attending the ceremony were family members of those fallen heroes and staff members who honoured their memories.

SOUNDBITE (English)
"All of them gave their lives to serve people they didn't know. People living in different states different countries. People to whom none the less they felt a passion to tell their story - whether it was with words or with picture."
SUPER CAPTION: Lou Boccardi, President and CEO Associated Press

Most of the A-P journalists lost their lives while covering political clashes and war.

Some died during Vietnam, and World War II.

But some fell during more recent political clashes like the uprisings in Somalia, Chechnya, and Afghanistan.

Journalist Joe Morton was executed by the Nazis in 1945 who arrested him when he was working as an A-P correspondent in Slovakia.

For his daughter Mimi Morton Gosney, memories of her father's death are still fresh on her mind.

Her mother's scrapbook of family pictures are all she has left.

SOUNDBITE (English)
"My father and 13 officers were executed on the orders of Himmler. They were never accused of anything, nor were they ever brought to trial. The Germans simply wanted them dead. The head of the prison in which they were held was glad when they were
killed. He wanted the space in his cell block for other prisoners. And he wanted the shoes for his men."
SUPER CAPTION: Mimi Morton Gosney, Daughter of AP World War II Correspondent

A Wall of Honour was dedicated to those who gave their lives reporting the news.

A-P President Lou Boccardi and the audience observed a minute of remembrance.

A-P wires were stalled during the silence,

Serving A-P correspondents vowed never to forget their fallen colleagues.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"The 22 men and woman we honour are forever enshrined in the AP's hall of fame and in our hearts. They were the guardians of a free press. The seekers of truth. Their companions were courage. Indeed they were often more honest with the peoples of the
world than their own governments."
SUPER CAPTION: George Esper, Special Correspondent

The Associated Press is celebrating its jubilee with a museum exhibit of memorabilia and photographs, part of a yearlong observance including ceremonies throughout the U-S and countries as diverse as Japan, Mexico, Italy, and India.

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