How often does the AP hire part-time, commission or contract based photographers?

Question

I'd love to do some work for the AP, but right now the only listing posted on their career page is for Philadelphia, full time. Do they ever do commission work or part-time? What's the best way to "break-in"?

Answer 1

AP uses freelance and contract people all the time, especially in foreign posts and even more especially in war zones.

I have known many people who freelanced for AP over the years in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia. Some where Americans, one was German, one was Korean and many were locals.

Answer 2

The easiest way to get to work for AP part-time  is to work for an AP member full-time. If there's some event going on that they need to staffthey'll call the nearest AP member and see if that publication will staff it.

If no one is staffing, they'll go freelance. It's basically pizza and beer money