After weeks of inauguration planning and rehearsals, the Washington video team had to scrap its original playbook and create a new plan for live clients, the livestream, and general newsgathering when the swearing-in ceremony and parade were moved indoors.
Serkan Gurbuz secured a prime view of St. John’s Church, allowing AP to go live before most media outlets. Along Pennsylvania Avenue, inauguration staff dismantled platforms, but Mike Pesoli and Erik Verduzco waited outside in the cold for hours to push in and establish a live shot.
Video journalists outside the network pool were banned from the U.S. Capitol, but Nathan Ellgren talked his way into being the only VJ on the east side of the Capitol. Networks ended up using his shot over their own at times. Rick Gentilo provided live coverage from Capitol One before most networks, while Tassanee Vejpongsa and Nandini Gupta relocated to crowded local establishments, making AP one of the few outlets to capture real-time reactions from supporters.
These cameras contributed to AP’s livestream, which outperformed heavily resourced network pool members in online views.