A federal immigration detention center in Los Angeles has been the focus of protests and a military presence in the city since June. While interviewing the son of a man recently detained outside the building, Los Angeles-based reporter Jaimie Ding, video journalist Eugene Garcia and photographer Damian Dovarganes were struck by the emotional narratives.
After speaking with dozens of others gathered outside the facility who had hopes of seeing or even confirming their loved ones were there, the journalists talked with editors to develop a coverage plan. They decided to spend one day outside the detention center to highlight the activity, using time stamps, from the time it opened to the time it closed.
The resulting story included deeply personal narratives, intimate moments of sadness and tales of confusion that illustrated the impact of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown across Los Angeles. Many families learned about the arrests from videos circulating on social media showing masked officers in parking lots at Home Depots, at car washes and in front of taco stands.
Dovarganes captured moving images, in addition to helping Ding conduct interviews in Spanish. Garcia combined strong video interviews with a reporter debrief from Ding to package the story for broadcast and digital clients.
The judges praised the use of time stamps as an effective and powerful mode of storytelling that guided readers throughout that day.
For a unique package that represents AP’s commitment to being at a key place and driving the news, Jaimie Ding, Eugene Garcia and Damian Dovarganes earn this week’s second Best of the Week
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