ASSOCIATED PRESS TO LAUNCH REGIONAL SERVICE

By: Staff Reports Southern U.S. Gets Broader Coverage





The Associated Press plans to launch a regional news service in the
southern United States by early September, the news cooperative reports.


The AP South Wire, providing coverage of 12 states, will broaden
coverage to focus on stories and trends that go beyond state borders. South
Wire will cover stories in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky,
Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee,
Virginia, and West Virginia.


James Martinez returns to the AP to direct South Wire from Raleigh, N.C.,
after a brief stint at The Arizona Republic. Martinez will report to
Larry Ryckman who was editor of the AP's first regional news service, AP
West Wire. Ryckman, based in Denver, will oversee both South Wire and
West Wire from his new post as assistant managing editor of regional
services. William Kronholm, based in Helena, Mont., succeeds Ryckman
as director of the West Wire.



AP first launched a regional news service in 1996 with AP's West Wire
covering 13 Western states.



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