On the Road Again
In a few hours I’ll be wheels up from Joint Base Andrews on a chartered 747 bound for Asia. I’ll be accompanied by my colleagues and contemporaries from the worlds of broadcast, print, and online journalism. We’ll be keeping tabs on President Obama has he participates in the APEC summit in Singapore, and visits regional powers China, Korea, and Japan. And as the Fifth Estate – you guys, readers of this blog, Twitter friends - I’m hoping you keep tabs on US. When I get to Andrews I’m going to put together a Twitter list of journos going on the trip and I hope to share that here before we take off. If I’m unable to turn it around that fast I’ll get it to you when we land.
AS PROMISED, HERE IS THE LIST
Work Shifters
David Baeza of Citrix Online considers the White House traveling press to be the “ultimate workshifters”. Workshifting – the notion of working from hotels, coffee shops, or anywhere that isn’t a cubicle in an office building. I met David and his colleague Lisa Horner when I spoke at the Inbound Marketing Summit in Boston. After hearing my story, they knew they’d found a real workshifter.
Our office is wherever we set up our workspace and transmission facility. The logistics involved in covering the President on a global trip are dizzying , especially for television. We will parachute into each stop on this trip and work out of a pool transmission facility/workspace that has been set up in advance. Each stop will be abuzz with activity as crews and reporters are transported to and from various events. No one will be getting much sleep on this trip. I think my last best chance of that will be on the plane.
Adventures in Sleep Deprivation
While covering the Clinton White House, The Discovery Channel followed the White House press corps as they traveled with the President on a trip that included stops in Turkey, Greece and other countries hidden in the cobwebs of my memory. They were shooting a documentary about sleep deprivation and we proved to be the perfect subjects. Here is a preview video of the documentary, and if you don’t blink, you’ll catch a glimpse of me two pairs of glasses ago.
These trips are grueling, and this one will prove to be no different. If you want to see what it’s really to cover VIP trips, take a look at these videos. I produced a two part web series on an around-the-world trip we did with Defense Secretary Gates back in 2007. This will give you an idea of the schedules and workloads we endure.
Round-the-world with the SecDef
Inside the Pentagon travel pool
The Fifth Estate
So I hope you’re able to keep track of us as we travel with the President throughout Asia. Before we head out is there anything you’d like to ask me or some of my colleagues? Please do so in the comments below! You always know where to find me and I’m grateful that you all keep me company when I’m on the road. Look forward to hearing from you guys.
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
Have a nice trip Jim and the rest of the Whit House Press Corps team!
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you know we are cheering for you, Jim. You're our reminder that networks and administrations are actually built of people.
Have a great trip Jim. Tell your colleagues we appreciate their work and we'll be reading tweets and watching their coverage.
Jim,
Thanks for the “twitter alert” on your trip. Please do keep us updated and I will be eagerly following along. I am amazed at the work you do and the pace you keep.
I wish you success and safety.
Judy
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Jim, I have appreciated seeing how the sausage is made with our interactions on Twitter, now seeing it in long form is even better. You are appreciated!
We of the Fifth Estate, have the con, Jim. Safe travels, and best wishes for good naps along the way.
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Buon viaggio. Eat well, sleep well, look after yourself, keep us posted. Always look forward to your tweets. However understated, some take away the breath.
How much does your camera weigh?
This is a repeat after registering: Buon viaggio. Eat well, sleep well, look after yourself, keep us posted. Always look forward to your tweets. However understated, some take away the breath. How much does your camera weigh?
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Have a fabulous trip, and get your cat naps as you can.
The only question I have, is there something called newsies butt? I watched the vids and it seems you all spend a lot of time on your derriere.
Hurry up and wait…you all are awesome!
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White House traveling press bring a totally different dimension to workshifting. Rarely the same location, never a dull moment. Thanks Jim!
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Jim, I love your video of the Sec Def trip… Makes me miss Jamie McIntyre even more. Looking forward to hearing more about your Asia trip. Give Dave Jenkins lots of love for me, will ya??
David, the whole notion of “workshifting” is intriguing. Glad I was able to add a new perspective to it
we do a lot of waiting. as for that particular condition, i'm not aware of any medicallly chronicled cases
the camera weighs about 30 lbs, but by the end of the day it feels more like 50
Hey Elizabeth! I wish Dave had brought his cooking kit over here!
David, the whole notion of “workshifting” is intriguing. Glad I was able to add a new perspective to it
we do a lot of waiting. as for that particular condition, i’m not aware of any medicallly chronicled cases
the camera weighs about 30 lbs, but by the end of the day it feels more like 50
Hey Elizabeth! I wish Dave had brought his cooking kit over here!
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