Each May in the last two years there’s been a rally and march for immigrants’ rights in Yakima. Thousands of marchers, walking through downtown Yakima, showed up for those rallies which prompted heavy coverage by the Herald-Republic. This year, however, was different.
The national conversation about immigrants and immigrants’ rights had died down, superseded by talk of the economy, gas prices and the presidential election. Also, there was a different organizer for the march and there appeared to be very little advance planning for the march. So, the march itself was a guess by the editors.
How many people would be there? A thousand? A hundred? Would there be any counter-protesters? What level of coverage was appropriate given that the immigration debate had been placed on the back burner?
Should it be page 1? Or should the march coverage be placed on our Homefront section?
Initially, it was decided to put the rally coverage on our Homefront section because editors figured there wasn’t the same interest as in years past. But on the morning of the afternoon rally, the decision was made to place the coverage on page 1 and to focus the story on the apparent cooling of the immigrant rights debate.
Figuring more is better than less, two reporters and three photographers were assigned to coverage. Staff photographer Andy Sawyer shot video (see video) while photographer Kris Holland shot stills. I also shot stills but only for the first few minutes of the march so I could post a photo on www.yakimaherald.com while the march was going on to give up-to-the minute coverage.
Juana Duarte, left, and Maria Morfin carry an American flag as they lead a May Day march for immigrants' rights in Yakima, Wash. on Thursday, May 1. About 300 people turned out for the annual march, much lower turnout than in previous years. (AP photo/Yakima Herald-Republic, Gordon King)
As it turned out there were only a few hundred marchers and the protesters were few and stayed several blocks away from the march.
Juana Duarte, left, and Maria Morfin carry an American flag as they lead a May Day march for immigrants' rights in Yakima, Wash. on Thursday, May 1. About 300 people turned out for the annual march, much lower turnout than in previous years. (AP photo/Yakima Herald-Republic, Gordon King)
Despite the lack of information for more informed planning I think our our treatment was appropriate given the visibility of the marchers (several streets were blocked off for the parade) and the importance of immigration in our circulation area. Still, it’s always better to have as much information as possible when planning event coverage.
Julio Maren participates in the May Day march for immigrants' rights at Melinium Plaza Thursday, May 1, 2008.
