Covering The President

A lot of you will be watching us today to see our coverage of President Bush’s visit to Cenla.  Unfortunately, we won’t be able to give you the full access we would all like to see. Unlike 2004, when we had live coverage of the President speaking to the troops at Fort Polk, this time, the session the President will have in Downtown Alexandria at the Chamber of Commerce will be a closed event.  We will be live at noon and will be able to show you his arrival at AEX.

As for the meeting at the Chamber, our media coverage will be limited to what they call “pool” coverage.  This is where one reporter or one camera covers the event for everyone else.  KALB is being allowed to have a videographer go into the meeting at some point.  But exactly when and for how long, we’re not sure. I had the experience of being the “pool photographer” in ‘04.  During the President’s speech to the troops, I did get to video about 15 feet away from him to the left.  But there was nothing allowed on a personal level. In fact, as the President arrived on post via helicopter, I was allowed to video him getting off the helicopter, but as I tried to follow him into the speaking area, a Secret Service guy basically stopped me in my tracks saying, “that’s far enough.” Later that day, I was the pool photographer for the President eating with some of the troops.  We trekked halfway around Fort Polk in a van only to come to a tent where troops were eating and they let us in to film him for a whole 30 seconds! 

Bottom line, there are no one-on-one interviews for media outlets like us with The President.

Even so, it’s still pretty cool that he’s coming here, and hopefully, we’ll be able to relate to you stories of our local folks who attend the meeting or have the chance to meet the President. 

I’m glad I don’t have to cover Presidents every day!

Al

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