Alan J. Gould
Encyclopedia
Alan Jenks Gould was a newspaper writer and editor. He was the sports editor of the Associated Press
from 1922 to 1938 and the executive editor of the Associated Press from 1941 to 1963.
(founder of Gannett media corporation) as a part-time reporter for the Star Gazette in Elmira, New York
. He also worked for a time at Gannett's Ithaca Journal. He next became the news editor of the Morning Sun
in Binghamton, New York
.
had been the "official" selector of college football's annual All-America team. Controversy had for years surrounded the selection of an All-America team by one man. After Camp died in March 1925, Gould created the Associated Press All-America team. In announcing the first Associated Press All-America team, Gould wrote that the team was a "comprehensive consensus" based on input from 100 coaches and critics from around the country. In 1936, Gould brought another innovation to the sport with the introduction of the AP Poll
to rank the country's college football teams and determine a national champion. He polled the editors of AP newspapers to determine the rankings. Gould later recalled, "It was a case of thinking up ideas to develop interest and controversy. Papers wanted material to fill space between games. That's all I had in mind, something to keep the pot boiling. Sports was then living off controversy, opinion, whatever. This was just another exercise in hoopla." The AP Poll quickly became the standard for determining each year's national championship team.
In December 1941, Gould took over editorial responsibility for the Associated Press news and newsphoto services. He became an assistant general manager of the Associated Press in 1943 and was appointed as the executive editor in May 1948. He was in charge of the wire service's news operations throughout World War II
and traveled to England from January to March 1944 to coordinate coverage for the anticipated Allied invasion of the European mainland. On his return to the United States, Gould reported that Gen. Dwight Eisenhower was doing a "remarkable job" coordinating the British and American forces and that any invasion would be "covered by the one of the biggest concentrations of foreign correspondents ever assembled."
During Gould's tenure as executive editor, the Associated Press won 14 Pulitzer Prize
s.
Gould retired as the executive editor of the Associated Press on his 65th birthday in January 1963.
In May 1963, Gould was honored by Sigma Delta Chi, the professional journalism fraternity, with the designation as a fellow.
Gould moved to Florida in 1975. He died in June 1993 at the Indian River Memorial Hospital in Vero Beach, Florida
. He was 95 years old at the time of his death. He was survived by his two children and by his third wife, Catherine.
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
from 1922 to 1938 and the executive editor of the Associated Press from 1941 to 1963.
Early years
While still in high school, Gould was hired by Frank GannettFrank Gannett
Frank Ernest Gannett is the founder of Gannett media corporation.-Biography:Gannett was born in South Bristol, New York, United States, graduated from Bolivar High School , Bolivar, NY in 1893, and graduated from Cornell University. At the age of 30, he purchased his first newspaper, the Elmira...
(founder of Gannett media corporation) as a part-time reporter for the Star Gazette in Elmira, New York
Elmira, New York
Elmira is a city in Chemung County, New York, USA. It is the principal city of the 'Elmira, New York Metropolitan Statistical Area' which encompasses Chemung County, New York. The population was 29,200 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Chemung County.The City of Elmira is located in...
. He also worked for a time at Gannett's Ithaca Journal. He next became the news editor of the Morning Sun
Press & Sun-Bulletin
The Press & Sun-Bulletin is a daily newspaper serving the area around Binghamton, New York. It was formed by the 1985 merger of The Evening Press and The Sun-Bulletin. It is owned by the Gannett Company, who purchased The Binghamton Press in 1943 and The Sun-Bulletin in 1971.-External links:**...
in Binghamton, New York
Binghamton, New York
Binghamton is a city in the Southern Tier of New York in the United States. It is near the Pennsylvania border, in a bowl-shaped valley at the confluence of the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers...
.
Associated Press sports editor
Gould went to work for the Associated Press in 1922. He served as the wire service's sports editor from 1922 to 1938. Gould was an innovator during his time in charge of sports at the Associated Press. For many years, Walter CampWalter Camp
Walter Chauncey Camp was an American football player, coach, and sports writer known as the "Father of American Football". With John Heisman, Amos Alonzo Stagg, Pop Warner, Fielding H. Yost, and George Halas, Camp was one of the most accomplished persons in the early history of American football...
had been the "official" selector of college football's annual All-America team. Controversy had for years surrounded the selection of an All-America team by one man. After Camp died in March 1925, Gould created the Associated Press All-America team. In announcing the first Associated Press All-America team, Gould wrote that the team was a "comprehensive consensus" based on input from 100 coaches and critics from around the country. In 1936, Gould brought another innovation to the sport with the introduction of the AP Poll
AP Poll
The Associated Press College Poll refers to weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters across the nation...
to rank the country's college football teams and determine a national champion. He polled the editors of AP newspapers to determine the rankings. Gould later recalled, "It was a case of thinking up ideas to develop interest and controversy. Papers wanted material to fill space between games. That's all I had in mind, something to keep the pot boiling. Sports was then living off controversy, opinion, whatever. This was just another exercise in hoopla." The AP Poll quickly became the standard for determining each year's national championship team.
Associated Press executive editor
From 1938 to 1941, Gould was the executive aide in charge of Associated Press personnel.In December 1941, Gould took over editorial responsibility for the Associated Press news and newsphoto services. He became an assistant general manager of the Associated Press in 1943 and was appointed as the executive editor in May 1948. He was in charge of the wire service's news operations throughout World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and traveled to England from January to March 1944 to coordinate coverage for the anticipated Allied invasion of the European mainland. On his return to the United States, Gould reported that Gen. Dwight Eisenhower was doing a "remarkable job" coordinating the British and American forces and that any invasion would be "covered by the one of the biggest concentrations of foreign correspondents ever assembled."
During Gould's tenure as executive editor, the Associated Press won 14 Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
s.
Gould retired as the executive editor of the Associated Press on his 65th birthday in January 1963.
In May 1963, Gould was honored by Sigma Delta Chi, the professional journalism fraternity, with the designation as a fellow.
Family and later years
Gould was married to Mary Denton Gould in October 1920 at Elmira, New York. They had two children, Alan J. Gould, Jr., and Mary Ann (Gould) Houseman. His first wife died after undergoing surgery for lung cancer in 1966. He was remarried to Mary Sliter Gould; she died in 1976.Gould moved to Florida in 1975. He died in June 1993 at the Indian River Memorial Hospital in Vero Beach, Florida
Vero Beach, Florida
Vero Beach is a city in Indian River County, Florida, USA. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2006 estimates, the city had a population of 16,939. It is the county seat of Indian River County...
. He was 95 years old at the time of his death. He was survived by his two children and by his third wife, Catherine.