Martinez appointed to new AP investigative role

James Martinez, an editor who oversaw a key Trump coverage team and who has led some of the biggest breaking news stories in the United States, has been appointed to a new role with The Associated Press' investigative team.

The appointment was announced Monday by Michael Hudson, AP's global investigations editor.

As breaking news investigations editor, Martinez will work on fast-breaking investigations that spin off from breaking news.

"James is one of the most effective drivers of breaking news because he is relentless about wanting to be first — not just on the story itself, but on the key angles that emerge from it," said AP Managing Editor and Vice President Brian Carovillano. "That makes him an ideal editor for this important new role, which is at the center of AP's efforts to own the big story."

Since 2012, Martinez has led the New York state staff, managing a team of reporters in the city and upstate, where he put a renewed effort on enterprise reporting.

He led award-winning coverage of the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy and an investigation into deaths and mismanagement at Rikers Island jail, and led a team examining President Donald Trump's business conflicts. His team also developed distinctive work around the mistreatment of the disabled in state care, the furor over the chokehold death of Eric Garner and the lower Manhattan bike path attack.

Prior to that, James served for six years as deputy national editor, leading the day-to-day national news report and managing a team of editors putting out U.S. news for a global audience. He oversaw stories from the mass shooting at Virginia Tech, the Occupy Wall Street movement and fallout of the Great Recession.

He also oversaw the launch of a service developed specifically for Southern states, and has been an AP news editor in Portland, Oregon, and a reporter in Tampa, Florida, and Miami.