Great little story that I’m saving for a future “history of journalism” module.

The German surrender happened at 2:41 a.m. on May 7, 1945.

Kennedy was one of 17 reporters taken to witness the ceremony. He and the others were hastily assembled by military commanders, then pledged to secrecy by a U.S. general while the group flew over France. As a condition of being allowed to see the surrender in person, the correspondents were barred from reporting what they had witnessed until authorized by Allied headquarters.

Initially, the journalists were told the news would be held up for only a few hours. But after the surrender was complete, the embargo was extended for 36 hours — until 3 p.m. the following day.

Kennedy was astounded.

via AP apologizes for firing reporter over WWII scoop – Yahoo! News.