Thread by @MarkJWestpfahl

Thread
I just got to looking at many of the photos my #SSMSpackers students took during @POTUS @JoeBiden's visit to Dakota County Technical College in Rosemount, Minnesota. I'll post a series of them from before and during the event.

One of the things we wanted to focus on as student-journalists was what was going on behind the scenes as well as the main event in Dakota County Community College. This Pro-Trump / Anti-Biden group was not the biggest fans of us asking questions or photographing.#SSPMSpackers

#SSPMSpackers

#SSPMSpackers

About 40-50 yards to the west of the Pro-Trump / Anti-Biden group, were a group upset with the Biden Administration for not recognizing what was going on in Ethiopia, and the lack of support of the U.S. and UN for not calling the situation a genocide. #SSPMSpackers

Members of the Oromo Community of Minnesota and members of the Tigrayan and Eritrean communities gathered outside of Dakota County Technical College in Rosemount ahead of President Biden's visit in hopes the President would declare a genocide in Ethiopia. #SSPMSpackers

As we made our way back into Dakota County Technical College, our #SSPMSpackers noticed this sign. The people who were sitting here did not want to be photographed with the sign. Several Pro-Trump supporters said they were afraid the pictures would be used against them.

After receiving our official @WhiteHouse credentials, the #SSPMSpackers student-journalists were given a quick tour of the facility and told where they could photograph from and where our work station would be.

We talked to several journalists from @NBCNews, @kare11, @StarTribune, @nytimes the @MNReformer and other media outlets to learn why they were covering the event, what their process was, timelines for their deadlines, etc. #SSPMSpackers

We watched as the traveling press pool made their way through the back of the media area so they could accompany @POTUS on a behind the scenes tour of Dakota County Technical College. I think I spy @bbierschbach in this photo, but I don't see @gspphoto. #SSPMSpackers @nytimes

Our @SSPMSpackers spotted members of the Minnesota Congressional delegation, @RepDeanPhillips and @BettyMcCollum04. We had an opportunity earlier in the afternoon to talk with Congressman Phillips. We also met @MayorCarter & @MayorFrey earlier as well.

The formal event started with @GovTimWalz taking the stage along with @SenAmyKlobuchar, @TinaSmithMN and @RepAngieCraig. They would wave to @RepDeanPhillips and asked why he was not on stage. I informed my #SSPMSpackers it was because he is not the Representative in Dakota County

They also asked why @LtGovFlanagan was not on stage with the @GovTimWalz, but I did not have a concrete answer. Rather, I just had speculation that the logistics team did not want many people on stage - just the 2 Senators, the Governor & #MN02 Rep. #SSPMSPackers

I pointed out that Education @SecCardona was in the crowd and was sitting in the empty seat that would eventually be filled by @GovTimWalz. We asked several local and national journalists if he was speaking anywhere or giving any interviews, and they didn't know. #SSPMSpackers

@SecCardona @GovTimWalz This was an exciting time for our #SSPMSpackers, as they watched the Presidential Seal placed on the podium.

Dakota County Technical College freshman Sarah Riviere-Herzan had the honor of telling a little bit of her story before introducing the President of the United States. #SSPMSPackers @POTUS

How did I get photographed when the @POTUS is on stage? Point your cameras back at him, or at least the crowd! #SSPMSpackers

A couple of these may be a bit blurry, but hey, they are 6th and 7th grade students!! If I was good, I would have brought a couple of tripods or camera stands for them to steady their hands! You can see the journalists hard at work. #SSPMSpackers

Behind the main media risers, was the credentialled press work area. This is where many of the journalists would edit their photos and video before, during and after the speech. You can see the main media riser on left of the second picture. #SSPMSpackers

Here's a better look at the main media riser. The work area would be off to the left and @POTUS was talking to in front of risers on the right side of the photo. #SSPMSpackers

I like exclusive behind the scenes photos, so this is a shot of the very steep stairs leading to the balcony area were we were able to photograph @POTUS. Photographers don't often get photographed themselves. We usually see what they are shooting, not them. #SSPMSpackers

Our #SSPMSpackers enjoyed trying to figure out what the different lapel pins meant. We were able to identify Secret Service Agents, Secret Service Advance Teams, Communication folks, etc.

#SSPMSpackers @POTUS

The President's remarks were about 25 minutes long. #SSPMSpackers @POTUS

The President of the United States worked the rpe line after his speech, starting with the Minnesota Congressional delegation and other Minnesota dignitaries. #POTUS even took selfies with attendees. #SSPMSpackers

We watched and discussed the role of the Secret Service agents who are trained to protect @POTUS. Our #SSPMSpackers were surprised at first about how many there were, but when they reflected, they understood why.

Our @SSPPS6 #SSPMSpackers didn't take any close ups of @POTUS @JoeBiden as he was talking to them, because they were attentively listening. I'm hoping the @WhiteHouse's @schultzinit has a few pictures of our students. If anyone else has some, let me know!

That concludes the thread of images from our @SSPPS6 #SSPMSpackers @WhiteHouse credentialled student-journalists. I couldn't be more proud of how Kalia, Amari & Eleanor conducted themselves, represented their families, our school, our community & journalists who couldn't be there

For those who wanted to see @POTUS speech at @DCTC, you can read the entire thing here. whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/…

If you are interested in seeing Amari asking the President of the United States a question at the end of the event, you can see @POTUS responding to him, Kalia and Eleanor here. Clip via @cspan. @SSPPS6 @leahbourg @SSP_Super #SSPMSpackers @CSPANClassroom
c-span.org/video/?c498887…

It is always important to see the event through their eyes, especially when they are the ones that were credentialed to cover @POTUS (or ANY other event we are credentialled to cover.) #SSPMSpackers

One of the things I said to my #MNstudies classes today as we viewed their work and tried to gain an understanding of what they experienced, is to always question what we don't see in the photos. #SSPMSpackers

For example, what is just off to the left and the right of the photos that we don't see? Why? What's happening behind the photographer? What images did they not get? Who's voices did we not capture in images? Why? #SSPMSpackers

How does that reflect on the news & historic images/perspectives that we have in textbooks, newspapers, historical societies & museums? Who are we choosing to preserve in the annals of history and why, and who is being left out... intentionally and unintentionally? #SSPMSpackers

Could you please unroll this @threadreaderapp? It would be great to preserve this work in the annals of history as well! Our @SSPPS6 #SSPMSpackers did some incredible work yesterday with the President of the United States! @POTUS

* Not sure if this is happening for you all, but when I start from the top of the main thread, this is as far as the thread goes. If I start from the bottom, I can go back & see every tweet in the thread. So, if it stops here for you, check out threadreaderapp.com/thread/1466243…

** I see! After The 8th tweet in the original thread, I replied twice. Take a look at both of my replies. One of them will complete the final 20+ tweets in the thread. Here's the link

https://twitter.com/MarkJWestpfahl/status/1466269118135418883?t=gw0YAhg3sKRfrQriz0GJLw&s=19

The "unrolled" version also has all of them. threadreaderapp.com/thread/1466243…