Is there some giant AP database of Everyone's Phone Number?

It seems like they manage to reach anyone they need to reach in like forty-five seconds. Do they have a huge shared contact list, are they just well-connected, or am I imagining this?

 

Ummm ... were you not around when that list got put on the wire a few years ago?

And those were just the contacts of one writer.

 

I've been around for a couple of those CONTACT sends.
I like the follow-up alerts.
"The contact list that moved at 14:19 EDT was sent erroneously. Please ignore."
Yeah. Sure.

 

We also promise not to look while she changes into her bikini.

 

I think the big one DC referenced was followed by a couple of breathless "DELETE! DELETE!" alerts. That was fun.

 

Don't famous people change their phone number every 15 minutes these days? And hasn't caller ID taken a lot of ooomph out of the cold call?

 

I'd say fewer people than ever change their numbers these days. Anybody who's moved knows what a huge hassle it is, and now that you can keep your cell number even when you switch providers or locations, it's not worth it to change unless you absolutely need to.

I'll put it this way: That big AP list that went out a few years ago? It ain't outdated by any means.

 

Did you spend a weekend calling all the numbers?

 

Every day, pall. Every damn day. 8)

 

No, there's no consolidated list for all the buros, but there is a printed booklet that has them all (but not individual people) listed.

I think maybe there's a NY and/or DC list in existence.

 

I'd like to have that list.

Hopefully the PM's will be coming in any minute now ...

 

Not my experience. I encounter baseball players who change their numbers all the time, mostly because too many people (translation: women they're no longer interested in) have their "old" number.