It's a thrilling day at VOA. Millions of people are streaming through the streets, pressing against our building which is only about two blocks from the Capitol where Barack Obama is about to become our 44th president, the first African American to lead the United States. Right now Aretha Franklin is singing, "My Country Tis of Thee," and I can hear it through the loudspeakers. Sirens are howling down Independence Avenue.
In the VOA studios, in the newsroom and on the rooftop -- where you can see the inaugural stands -- hundreds of VOA broadcasters are filing stories, telling the people across the world what it feels like to be here at a time history is being made. Deepak Dobhal of the VOA Hindi service is on the roof. He's in an enclosed tent, broadcasting to millions of people in India through the VOA partnership with Zee TV. Inna Dubinsky of VOA's Russian service has been Video blogging -- vlogging -- from the roof, and the service is keeping it's Russian audience informed by Twitter. VOA's Swahili service is extra busy with a long show -- people in Kenya, where Obama as relatives, are extremely interested in these events.
Yes, it's exciting -- and it's cold! Several degrees below freezing. The crowds made getting to world challenging. Many VOA staffers like Beth Mendelson of the Afghan service spent the night here. Others got up early -- at 2 am or 3 am in order to get to work. I live about four miles away. I tried to take the subway, but the trains were packed and no one could get on. So I walked.
We're all waiting for the new president to take the oath of office. They just announced on TV that it's 12-noon Then we'll listen to the new President's inaugural address and watch the parade.
Tomorrow, it's back to work as usual. We'll be here at VOA -- reaching out around the world. Please stay in touch
