As 'Strike' Continues: AP Memo Says Stories With Anonymous Sources -- Or Analysis -- Require Bylines

By: Joe Strupp Associated Press editors and staffers are being advised to honor employee requests to withhold bylines during the current byline strike. But, in a memo from Senior Managing Editor Mike Silverman, they are also reminded that stories with anonymous sources must carry bylines and no columns or analyses will run without a writer's name.

" ? AP policy requires that staffers put their bylines on stories they report that are based on anonymous sources," Silverman's memo, sent Friday in anticipation of the strike, states in part. "The AP Statement on News Values and Principles, which was negotiated with the guild, contains a section on Standards and Practices/Anonymous Sources that says: 'Stories that use anonymous sources must carry a reporter's byline. If a reporter other than the bylined staffer contributes anonymous material to a story, that reporter should be given credit as a contributor to the story.'

"AP also will not move analyses, columns or reviews that do not carry a byline. As managers, it is your responsibility to make sure no story that needs a byline moves without one," the memo adds. "And it is your prerogative to change assignments if necessary to ensure that an important story carries a byline."

The memo is in response to the byline strike called Sunday by the Newspaper Guild-Communications Workers of America, which represents 1,400 AP employees. The union is in talks for a new contract.

In addition to the byline strike, guild officials have also said many workers may stop using personal equipment and some plan to "work to rule" regarding hours and lunch breaks.

Silverman's memo also addresses those issues, noting employees are not required to use their own equipment. But, on the issue of working hours, he states: "The language specifies that a normal workday for employees working a dayside shift shall consist of 'eight (8) hours within nine (9) consecutive hours.' For employees working nights or overnights, the workday is 'seven and one-half (7 1/2) hours
within eight and one-half (8 1/2) hours.' Reasonable rest breaks are encouraged under the contract, and you should manage those as you normally would."

The entire memo is posted below:

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Colleagues:

We understand that guild staffers in some bureaus and departments may elect to withhold their bylines from their work for one or more days next week.

If you encounter this, please be respectful of such a decision. The contract specifies: "An employee's byline shall not be used over his/her protest." (Article 31, Section 1.)

At the same time, however, AP policy requires that staffers put their bylines on stories they report that are based on anonymous sources.
The AP Statement on News Values and Principles, which was negotiated with the guild, contains a section on Standards and Practices/Anonymous Sources that says: "Stories that use anonymous
sources must carry a reporter's byline. If a reporter other than the bylined staffer contributes anonymous material to a story, that reporter should be given credit as a contributor to the story."

AP also will not move analyses, columns or reviews that do not carry a byline.

As managers, it is your responsibility to make sure no story that needs a byline moves without one.

And it is your prerogative to change assignments if necessary to ensure that an important story carries a byline.

Additionally, some guild staffers say they plan to refrain from using their personal cell phones or computers for AP work. That is their right.

Some also plan to take one-hour lunch or dinner breaks, as described in Article 19 of the contract. The language specifies that a normal workday for employees working a dayside shift shall consist of "eight (8) hours within nine (9) consecutive hours." For employees working nights or overnights, the workday is "seven and one-half (7 1/2) hours
within eight and one-half (8 1/2) hours."

Reasonable rest breaks are encouraged under the contract, and you should manage those as you normally would.

Please let me know if any questions arise.

Sincerely,

Mike