Thinking Inaugural Coverage?

[NewsMom]

THINK AGAIN.

On a boring year (when a sitting president begins his second term), inaugural coverage is a zoo. Access is extremely limited on site, restricted to news organizations serving the largest numbers (networks), and even then nearly all the footage is pooled.

This time, we're finding, it's an exponentially more crowded situation. The biggest networks cannot find any hotel rooms within 75 miles. The Capitol Hill press corps is asking if it can set up cots for the night of 1/19/09, and get police assistance to move from inside the building to their assigned positions.

Those positions are all standing positions. Journalists do not get seated positions; there are small, distant pens where reporters are crammed together in the cold. Many local reporters who've covered Capitol Hill for decades will be unable to get into those corrals.

It will not be possible to move around the city, much less around a 4-block radius of the Capitol, or White House.

On the other hand, I have a lovely suite in my basement with spa amenities (steam room, jacuzzi, etc.), which I'd be willing to rent out, if anyone wants it. We're near the metro, too.

[Sultanosurf]

I have a lovely suite in my basement with spa amenities (steam room, jacuzzi, etc.), which I'd be willing to rent out, if anyone wants it. We're near the metro, too.

Yokay! Yet how many times have I seen a 'suite' that looks only slightly better than a Russian prison cell...

[Spike]

I was involved in the coverage of the last inauguration. Everything Newsmom says about it is true. It's usually cold, and for some reason it usually rains or sleets on inauguration day. Our riser was coated in rime, making an unpleasant situation treacherous. Many of our cables froze, and we had to leave some of them in place when we left until the mud in which they were encased thawed out. Getting in and out of the event will be no picnic. Expect long lines at 4am in the cold.

Last time they wouldn't let anybody bring food or drinks in except by prior arrangement with the SS. They searched every single bag that people brought and confiscated food items because they were afraid of people throwing it at Bush and Cheney on the procession route. Fox made special arrangements to get box lunches brought in to their people, and each one contained an apple that nobody ate. So all these apples ended up in the trash, where the ANSWER protesters found them and used them as projectiles against Cheney's car and the SS agents escorting him on foot. There's a great picture floating around of Cheney peaking through the window of his limo, his face right next to a huge sploch of pulped apple where someone nailed his car with it. Oh look, here it is:

http://photos3.flickr.com/3594336_24dd8a2789.jpg

I would expect security to be even tighter this time.

Smaller outfits would do best to just stay away and take the network feed. Sending your own reporter is not going to add any value to your product. Still, I know there will be hundreds of teevee reporters trying to do live shots from miles away, pretending to be right in the middle of it all. You're not fooling your viewers.

I don't think you could pay me enough to want to work an inauguration again, even with the chance to witness such a historical event as this one.

[Spike]

And here's a good idea of what inaugural weather usually looks like:

http://eyeball-series.org/prezsec/pict305.jpg

[Sultanosurf]

That actually looks like a good DC day in January.

NewsMom, didn't mean to rain on your parade. Hope you find a taker...

[NewsMom]

I don't actually WANT to launch a de facto Bed & Breakfast. It's just that I'd find it hard to resist cashing in, should anyone be so flush with money, they're willing to throw some at me... I assure you, it won't be cheap.

[Mighty Dyckerson]

I have a lovely suite in my basement with spa amenities (steam room, jacuzzi, etc.), which I'd be willing to rent out, if anyone wants it.

Do you have hourly rates?

[The Fedora]

in addition to that lovely spa, there's a sparkling new kitchen.

[NewsMom]

Ladies and Gentlemen, I have arrived. The Mighty Dyck has insulted me.

[Randy Steinman]

Ladies and Gentlemen, I have arrived. The Mighty Dyck has insulted me.

I'm not entirely convinced that was an insult.

Considering the source, that may well have been a legitimate, uh, query. ;)

[Clever Login Name]

I was involved in the coverage of the last inauguration. Everything Newsmom says about it is true. It's usually cold, and for some reason it usually rains or sleets on inauguration day.

You don't say!