This isn’t news. Not at all, in fact. I just found the story so very interesting. As it has been since the Reagan era, photographers weren’t allowed to take pictures during live televised speeches given by the President. So how did we end up with still pictures? Well, Obama reenacted the speech for them!
Here’s what happened according to Jason Reed, a Reuters photographer:
As President Obama continued his nine-minute address in front of just one main network camera, the photographers were held outside the room by staff and asked to remain completely silent. Once Obama was off the air, we were escorted in front of that teleprompter and the President then re-enacted the walk-out and first 30 seconds of the statement for us.
It being a reenactment doesn’t really change anything for me—AP and Reuters both disclose which pictures are staged—I just love the behind the scenes look of the whole process. Oh, and of course, love the idea of Obama doing that awesome walk off one more time. [Reuters]
Image Credit: Reuters