The experience of covering President Obama’s Central Valley trip

Any student journalist is prepared for the day when they are asked to cover student government, college governance or the state budget. What no one at the Rampage was prepared for was the day when we realized we would be covering President Obama’s visit to the Valley on Friday, Feb. 14.
This realization came as a result of many days of planning and correspondence. After all, one does not simply walk into the White House Press Pool.
The news of the president’s visit broke on Friday, Feb. 7, and after that, things moved quickly. On Feb. 9, our adviser contacted Jim Boren, executive editor of the Fresno Bee and president of the Fresno City College Journalism Advisory Board, for advice on how to get us in. He directed her to Rep. Jim Costa’s office and Costa’s office directed her to Keith Maley, White House Regional Communication Director. Four days and 16 emails later, five of us received clearance to cover the arrival and departure of Air Force One.
The excitement was tangible, but none of us could celebrate too much; we had a teleconference to attend.
Earlier that morning, it was announced that Tom Vilsack, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, and Dr. John Holdren, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, would host a conference call to give the media background on Obama’s visit.
As the time to dial in on the call grew closer, we all huddled around our office telephone in anticipation, notepads, pens and recorders at the ready.

MOMENT OF TRUTH by Kaitlin Regan

Training, classes, hours of preparation and seemingly steady nerves cannot actually prepare you for the biggest press conference of your life.
At the Fresno airport on arrival day, members of ABC 30, KSEE 24, The Fresno Bee, the Visalia Times-Delta and The Sacramento Bee gathered around, placing their microphones into the podium and positioning themselves in the best available spot to record Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. They all seemed at ease, but under the surface, were they as nervous as I was? All that I could think at that moment was, “You belong here. Don’t throw up and prove them right.”
The golden SUV turned the corner and there was a chorus of sound checks, clicking pens and shuffling. My chest was knotting together and the lump in my throat began to burn, but this was not an opportunity to squander.
As U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack walked to the podium, I looked around and every set of eyes was turned on him. He discussed the drought and went over facts that had been discussed in the teleconference the previous night.
When it came time for questions, other reporters were jumping in and over each other to get their questions asked. Frustrated at being talked over, I finally pushed my way through and shouted “Mr. Secretary!” I asked him what steps were being taken on the federal level to conserve water.
He responded with an emphasis on this conference being based on immediate need rather than long term planning. In my mind, it was almost a cliched political answer, but it was an answer. I took a step back with shaking legs that no one could see, and I understood that all of the hard work was worth that 30 seconds of action.

THE CAGE by Patrick Forrest
Before Air Force One touched down in our little town, our entire team of reporters and photographers were directed into what was simply known as “the cage,” a small area on the tarmac that was fenced off where media was allowed to stand.
Inside that cage was a collection of media professionals from news outlets all over the state. But it wasn’t just from outlets that you would expect to see.
“We have some great sports fans here in the valley,” said Marc Q. Jones, also known as Coach Q on ESPN 940. “And since this is such an agricultural community, we can use sports as a platform to talk about some different things.”
There was plenty of laughing and joking while we all waited around for a glimpse of the guest of honor. Once he finally arrived, all eyes stood at attention, with shutters sounding like kickoff at the Super Bowl. The moment was awe-inspiring for all.
“Here we are, the president of the United States is coming, and inside of this gaggle of folks that are gathered here shows us how incredible our society is,” said George Hostetter, veteran reporter for The Fresno Bee. “Male, female, young, old, every ethnic or racial and I’m sure religious background you can find here, with this technology not only getting information out to California but around the globe. How can that not leave you in awe? I’m glad I lived to see it.”
With all of the experience around us, it was good to know that we weren’t the only ones who were feeling excited.
“This is the first time I have covered a Presidential visit via Air Force One,” Hostetter said. “This is the first time like this and it’s exciting. I’m thrilled.”

“CAN YOU DO US A FAVOR?” by Jarrett Ramones
The arrival of President Obama in Fresno was not a story I was set to cover—in fact, I had planned to spend the day doing typical Valentine activities. However, I was not able to indulge in such flights of romantic fancy.
My day was abruptly interrupted by a phone call from an editor, asking that I spend the day interviewing the hordes of people gathering outside the Fresno Yosemite International Airport who were expectantly waiting for the arrival of the president.
I dressed and rushed out the door being heartily met by a muggy heat that encompassed every molecule in the air. Upon arriving at the scene, I was surprised by the number of people who came to, maybe, get a glimpse of the president’s jet — their dedication was actually kind of impressive.
I spent the afternoon interviewing antsy spectators whose eyes were fixed on the horizon. The day went well enough as I filled my notebook with the thoughts and ramblings spectators had regarding Obama’s visit and the pending implications.

THE SIGHTING by Cresencio Rodriguez
With no knowledge of covering any aspect of the presidential visit, I planned to only hear about it from others, or see or read it for myself through local media outlets.
Feb. 14, 2014 was turning out to be quite an experience as I got the chance to interview people and listen to their varying views of the president’s visit.
As I rushed from place to place on the outskirts of the airport, I found myself picturing only the monstrous plane landing on the tarmac. People began arriving by the dozens to witness the historic landing, and all I could think of is how great it would be to finally see the president’s plane hit the ground right before my eyes.
At 2:37 p.m., everybody saw what we were waiting for. Though not visible, the president of the United States was inside Air Force One, which, through the thick brown air, was slowly gaining ground and about to make that historic landing in Fresno.

MAN OF THE HOUR by Michael Monroy
I had been preparing for the president’s arrival days in advance, servicing my cameras and equipment to make sure they were prepared for any unforeseen events.
Professional videographers rushed to get the best spots by placing their camera stands onto a truck in the cage. I rushed past the other media stations to be able to center myself for the perfect shot. I absorbed the mood around me, making me confident that I belonged side by side with the professionals.
From the distance, I saw a silhouette in the sky. Around me, the sound of cameras being clicked into their tripods became audible. All at once, the sound of camera shutters and aircraft noise filled my ears. I began to film and slowly panned to capture this momentous event.
Air Force One turned the corner and the magnitude of what was happening hit me all at once as the jet filled my camera frame. Air Force One came to a stop and journalists departed from its back entrance as a stair truck approached the plane. I knew that the moment I was waiting for had arrived: President Obama disembarked from the cabin of the plane. I slowly panned and followed him till he boarded Marine One to leave to Firebaugh for a discussion with local growers at the San Luis Reservoir water facility.

DEPARTURE by Jordan Russell
So much of the day had been spent waiting.
The morning was spent parked on a dirt road outside the airport, waiting for the media entrance to open. The afternoon was spent waiting in the parking lot to be signed in, and standing on the tarmac, in the blazing sun, waiting for the arrival of Air Force One. After the president left for Firebaugh, we had one last round of waiting.
After a brief lunch break, we headed back to the parking lot where we had spent so much of our morning. There, sitting on makeshift benches under the only shade in the area, we renewed our vigor and prepared, mentally and physically, for the final stretch of the day’s coverage.
Soon, we were back on the tarmac. We claimed our spots against the cool metal of the cage’s walls, and waited.
And waited.
And waited.
We talked and joked about the frenzy of the day, still in partial disbelief that we were even a part of it. We watched as airport security broke from their austerity only long enough to pose for a picture in front of Air Force One. We took time, our only time that day, to appreciate the magnitude of where we were.
Finally, after three hours, the sound of choppers overhead snapped everyone to attention.
The whole process seemed much more simple the second time around.
Despite the initial flurry of cameras and conversation, the presidential jet departed in a cloud of dust before we knew it.
Our job was done, and we left the tarmac. We were blistered, sunburned and exhausted. But none of that mattered — we were members of the White House Press Pool.