A couple weeks ago, my editor at The Fort Pierce Tribune e-mailed me with a great opportunity. As you may have read in my post, “Local election gives freelancer AP opportunity,” I will be working for The Associated Press on election night covering the St. Lucie County primaries. The AP also asked if I could do the same on the general election night.

In the days building to the primaries, I’ve received many e-mails and attachments to prepare me for election night. We even had a conference call today. From home, I called the toll-free number The AP e-mailed us and entered a code. I joined the conversation of reporters from all over the state, as well as the nation, in discussing the details of our assignments.

As an AP Election Night Reporter, which is how I’m to introduce myself at the election offices, I’m one of 5,000 reporters who will call in federal, state and local race results to data centers across the nation. Florida’s AP bureau is in Miami.

From the time the polls close at 7 p.m. until about midnight – depending on voter turnout and speed of results – I will be calling every time a new batch of results becomes available. The AP said the data I give them will be “accumulated and distributed to newspapers, broadcasters, cable networks and Web sites across the nation for immediate publication and broadcast.” They stressed the importance of speed, but accuracy is always most important.

This is straight reporting – no writing – so creativity is not the issue. It’s always about accuracy, the most important element of journalism. In today’s world, it’s not only about getting information – but getting it fast.

I’m excited to know I’ll be a part of the news that each and every person will read later that election night online and the next morning in the newspaper.