Press: Sometimes First, AIways Second

Can U.P.I.—the Avis of wire services—keep its motor running?

The bulletin from Manila scored a clear beat for United Press International: Correspondent Max Vanzi, who was on the scene, was thus able to report 3½ hours ahead of his Associated Press rivals, who depended on government spokesmen, that Philippine Politician Benigno Aquino had been shot down moments after returning from exile. Yet when the declarative U.P.I, report and a hedged, uncertain A.P. bulletin came over the wire to the Washington Post shortly after 2 a.m. two weeks ago, editors decided to play it safe and put into their final edition a story...

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