Ever wonder why two papers end up running the exact same photo of an event or why all television broadcasts of a political announcement look so strikingly similar?
The night of June 19, I received a call from Western Producer editor Barb Glen saying prime minister Stephen Harper would be in town the next morning to make some sort of announcement. Details were sparse.
All invited journalists were directed to assemble at Saskatoon Prairieland Park by 8:25 a.m. with credentials in hand if they wanted to participate in a photo opportunity.
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There, Yvon Long, senior media advance with the Office of the Prime Minister, ushered about a dozen photojournalists and TV camera operators onto a waiting bus. She wouldn’t tell us where we were bound.
The ride was a short one to Diefenbaker Park, along the banks of the South Saskatchewan River, a setting that made it clear the announcement was going to be about federal funding for completion of Saskatoon’s South River Crossing bridge.
Harper’s handlers didn’t leave much to chance for the visuals that would accompany the announcement. They herded us into a square, roped off area where we were told not to stray, a message reinforced by a security contingent sporting dark sunglasses.
Long explained that Harper would arrive by motorcade, shake hands with Saskatoon mayor Don Atchison, Saskatchewan premier Brad Wall and local Conservative MPs Lynne Yelich and Carol Skelton, and then the contingent would move to a scenic spot with the CN Rail bridge as a backdrop.
The group would look over plans for the new bridge with their backs to us and then turn to face the penned-in media horde.
As we waited 15 minutes for the prime minister’s motorcade, a train crossed over the bridge.
“We had that train planned but we’re running a bit late,” said Long, as he gazed at his watch.
He was joking … I think.
In the distance a cavalcade of six black cars and vans could be seen approaching the site.
“Thirty seconds,” said Long.
The photo opportunity unfolded exactly as outlined with digital cameras clicking and video cameras rolling all the while.
Just in case we missed the proper shot, there was a subtle reminder for us back at Prairieland Park.
On the podium behind Harper was a large screen displaying an image of the five politicians standing at the riverbank with the CN bridge in the background. The prime minister’s photographer had taken it moments earlier.
It isn’t exactly the one shown at the top of this column, but thanks anyway.
