Keith's First Post

So today was a very exciting day for me at work. For those who saw my facebook updates today you already know a little. For those that didn't; here is as recap of what I did at work. (That sounds like a really lame way to start my first posting, but trust me it isn't.)

I had the assignment of covering President Obama's town hall meeting in Orange County today. I know it sounds rough but it was loooonnnnnggggg day!

During the very contentious '02 Presidential Elections of Whitworth, in which I had very strong feelings about one candidate, I was chastised by my advisor for my views. Since then my role as a journalist has changed a little, I have a clear understanding on the issue. I hate seeing when reporter friends put on their profiles that they support certain candidates or political parties. We are supposed to be reliable sources of information, but expressing your views turns you from journalist to pusher of ideas. So.... with that said, here is my day covering the President, in an objective manner.

I had to be there by 9 to start setting up and carrying in all my gear. We all had to be complete in by 10, even though things didn't start until 4. They had to search all our stuff and have the bomb dogs sniff everything. So while they searched from 10-1:30 my engineer and I sat around in the shade. Then we were let into the hall again to get everything ready for the town hall. Our little PBS station was the only one from the LA area to cover it wire to wire. We went on the air when President Obama came in and didn't end until he was leaving the hall. Yup all 1 hour and 15 min live on the air.

So I know that that doesn't sound like much, it happens all the time in TV. The diffence with that and ours is that we only had 1 camera. Shows like American Idol have lots of cameras and all sorts of fancy things that help them polish the show nicely. We had a single camera 50 yards away from the President and stayed on it the whole time we were on the air. I think that was the hardest I have worked in television, and I have walked backwards for more than a mile following a protest march with 40 pounds of gear on my back and shoulder. I had to focus on what I was doing so intently that I kinda forgot where I was at times. By the end of it I was exhausted. Don't get me wrong. It was a great thrill getting to cover the President of the United States, but it was like running a marathon.

What I saw today was one of the most eloquent speakers that I have ever heard. Regardless of political views, his ability to connect with the audience and speak candidly and with great depth of knowledge are something to be seen. I have heard the pundits on other networks say that he can't talk unless he is reading from the prompters, but I can say that he was "off-script" for nearly all of the town hall meeting. He rolled up his sleeves and spoke to the audience about genuine questions. If you have not heard him speak in person I strongly urge you to. I know that doesn't sound like the impartial ideal that I was preaching earlier, but I think that there is a slight difference. I am not advocating his politics or his plan for the future, nor am I railing against it. I am simply saying that he is worth seeing, if only for rhetorical analysis. And no rhetoric is not a dirty word. if you don't believe me ask my wife the communications professor.

There are few times in my career that I have been struck by what I see and hear. I have gotten to interview childhood hockey heros, and meet famous people. Today, however, was something that I will find hard to lump in with other things that I have done. And while I am more tired than I have been in a long time from a day of news coverage, I am still in awe of what I got to be a part of today.