Covering the Presidential Inauguration

Following the violent breach of U.S. Capitol security on Jan. 6, I approached my bosses about sending me to Washington, D.C., to cover the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Griffin Communication’s Washington Correspondent, Alex Cameron, was inside the Capitol complex the day of the attempted insurrection. With all eyes on the nation’s capital, I thought perhaps they’d send me, too.

My pitch to management - with months of Washington experience through Gaylord’s D.C. program, my recently announced State Capitol assignment and having reported for hours on the ground during civil unrest in downtown Oklahoma City over the summer, I was the perfect candidate for any circumstance that may arise. It was a strong pitch for a 23-year-old.

With news Oklahoma was sending up to 400 National Guard troops to assist in inauguration security, my assignment was approved and the logistical nightmare of scheduling travel into a shutdown city on edge began.

I work as a multimedia journalist (MMJ) meaning I shoot, write and edit all of my own content, as does Alex Cameron. Being a one-man-band was another reason I told management they should send me. It would provide more bang for their buck. One plane ticket. One hotel room. And only one mouth to feed. Coincidently, the go-it-alone mentality was also my mother’s chief objection to heading to the city that just days before hosted an out-of-control mob outspoken in their contempt for my profession.

I had committed to myself if things were out of control, I’d simply stay put in my hotel and join the rest of America in watching network television. The unpredictability of the situation also provided logistical questions. Do I wear my dress shoes that have walked miles in the state capitol, or my trusty combat boots that took a round of tear gas to the sole in May? Do I wear station clothing? Carrying a camera alone, there would be no doubt I’m a journalist, but would they care less if it were clear I was only a local reporter?

Since I would be covering the National Guard, I went with boots and elected to not wear station clothing.

I didn’t sleep the night before I flew to Washington. My mind raced, wargaming based on memories of Capitol geography merged with nightmares of sucking down tear gas in Oklahoma City.

The morning had finally arrived for my less than a 52-hour-trip to witness the historic inauguration.

As I checked camera gear in at the American Airlines counter, the lady working the desk said, “Washington, D.C., huh?” noting the destination on my boarding pass. “Think I know what you’re covering.” I laughed, saying yes ma’am and thanking her for the help. As I walked away, she shouted, “Hey, be safe. I mean it. We need you, Storme.”

As stressful as the trip was bound to be, I couldn’t help but smile sitting at my gate. A year and a half out of college, I was being sent on a work trip many people go a career without experiencing. Both our Oklahoma City and Tulsa stations would take Alex's and my coverage live simultaneously. My reporting would be seen by tens of thousands of Oklahomans.

It was a great responsibility.

After landing in Washington, I began the difficult task of crossing one of the only open bridges into town. Washington was not the city I had remembered. Despite half of America celebrating winning U.S. politics’ most prized possession, there was little joy to be found in the city. Armored vehicles blocked off street after street, heavily armed soldiers stood guard behind a 10-foot-tall fence topped with razor wire.

Distrust even among the 25,000 soldiers tasked with protecting the inauguration caused the little access promised by the Oklahoma Guard to dwindle little to nothing the night before the big show. New restrictions had placed a narrow window of opportunity to talk with our troops. I ended up meeting them just outside a second perimeter at 1 o’clock in the morning inauguration day.  

The inauguration got off without a hitch. It looked as if the overwhelming show of force may have quelled any thoughts of an encore performance of Jan. 6. I walked from my hotel through three security checkpoints to meet Alex in our booth overlooking the east side of the capitol for the evening newscasts. The setup was beautiful. It was the chosen spot for FOX, CNN, Telemundo and Aljazeera.

Alex wrapped the day’s events with reaction from the state’s congressional delegation. I focused on the Oklahoma soldiers.

The live shots continued as the sun set on the successful inauguration. As 11 o’clock hit in Washington, we were the lead for the 10 o’clock news in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. 

“The only boom we heard today was from the fireworks erupting a few blocks away,” Alex began the final live report of the night.

As I made it back to my hotel a few blocks away, it was midnight when I realized I hadn’t eaten a real meal all day. A $40 order of chicken wings courtesy of UberEATS hit the spot. I packed up my camera gear and the couple spare shirts I had brought. I would need to leave my hotel early the next morning. 

My flight back provided rest and reflection. It was a remarkable trip. Moreover, it was a remarkable trust shown by my station to send a 23-year-old into a hyper-partisan and potentially dangerous spotlight. It was a trust I appreciated and still don’t take for granted.

Gaylord College 2019 alumnus Storme Jones works as Griffin Communication’s Oklahoma State Capitol reporter for News9 in Oklahoma City and NewsOn6 in Tulsa.