Kristin Callahan at the White House. (Photo by Paige Sutherland/MNS)
I’ve been to Washington, toured some of its historic sites and been to its museums. But the White House was never part of my tour agenda. This week, though, I made my first visit. And I went in through the front door – not as a tourist, but as a journalist.
Covering the White House, for those who don’t do it regularly, requires security screening, submitting of information and some patience – because you are going to do some waiting. I did not know I was going until one day before. But when I called to book a place at Tuesday’s event to honor the 2013 NCAA champions, the Louisville Cardinals, everyone at the White House was both respectful and helpful. The press office very nicely told me to await confirmation. Twice.
Once you’ve made it past the gates, guards and German shepherds, you are on the White House grounds. Enjoy the moment, but do not capture the moment. Yes, I learned the hard way. Twice.
Because I was filming the event, I was weighed down with the camera and tripod. As the press was assembled to enter the White House, the need to get in quickly was very prevalent. Everyone started rushing to line up behind the steps. Tip: You want to be the line leader. Another reporter took one look at me and said, “someone’s in a hurry.” I slung my backpack over my shoulder and called back, “yup!”
Outside the front doors, we could hear music from the reception for political dignitaries and other invited guests. We were led along a back wall of the reception hall and into the East Room. When the doors opened, it was a free-for-all. Videographers jockeyed for positions in the back, photographers claimed space and the rest of us elbowed our way to the left-hand side of the room. Roped off, in the middle of the room, were rows of chairs. But none were for the media.
I got a spot on the left side of the room, pretty close to the front. I had a photographer to my right, a guy on a stool behind me, another photographer on a stepladder to my left, and the rope in front of me. Imagine trying to set up a tripod with those boundaries. I did and it’s not fun. Looking back, I wish I had taken my tripod out prior to entering the room. Those few seconds spent taking it out of the bag are valuable.
Once set up, I hesitantly left my space to go connect to the mult box. When I asked the man who was managing it to plug my line into an output, he shook his head: “We’re all filled up.” The blank stare on my face must have stirred up some feelings of pity because the next thing I knew, I was good to go. Tip Two: Get your audio hooked up immediately. The mult boxes are usually located for easy press access, but I didn’t know there could be limited outputs.
When President Barack Obama entered the room, I admit I had to remind myself that I was a journalist, there to do a story. Expect the audience to stand up, cheer and stick their hands and cell phones in the air. This all impedes on the process of shooting, especially moments you want to have. I toyed with the idea of bringing a stepladder, but decided against it. I instantly regretted that decision when my shot of Obama entering the room was replaced with an iPhone being waved into the air.
Speaking of obstructions, the photographer to my left kept entering my frame. When he would lean in to take a picture, he would enter my line of vision, and therefore cut off my clear shot. I politely asked him to move back a bit and he did. And then I asked him two additional times.
Tip Three: The most important thing to keep in mind is that, even if it is your first time covering a White House event, you have just as much right as anyone to be there.