How Magazines Covered the Inauguration

President Barack Obama is due to be sworn in as the 44th President of the United States today, and for newsweeklies, the event, like the election, has largely been treated with the reverence of a Super Bowl, Rolling Stones concert or papal visit—in some cases, all three.

Here’s a quick look at how the major newsweeklies (and some monthly magazines and assorted news outlets) are covering the inauguration online:

The Atlantic

COVERAGE OVERVIEW: This week the Atlantic is devoting its entire homepage to coverage of the inauguration. In addition to the blog posts, the site also features The Atlantic’s archival coverage of new presidencies as far back as Abraham Lincoln.
LIVEBLOGGING: Yes
LIVE VIDEO: No

The Economist

COVERAGE OVERVIEW: The Economist is running a few features on the inauguration on its homepage, including a correspondent’s diary, archival material and a (disappointingly) static “hope and change index.”
LIVEBLOGGING: Yes
LIVE VIDEO: No

Newsweek

COVERAGE OVERVIEW: Newsweek is devoting less homepage real estate to the inauguration as some of its online competitors, but does turn the top quarter of its homepage to coverage, including a link to a live Webcast produced in partnership with its parent, the Washington Post.
LIVEBLOGGING: Yes
LIVE VIDEO:  Yes

Time

COVERAGE OVERVIEW: Time is devoting nearly its entire homepage (above-the-fold anyway) to the inauguration, with editorial coverage of everything from security to a Q&A with “inauguration poet” Elizabeth Alexander, and a link to live video of the event through a partnership with CNN.com.
LIVEBLOGGING: Yes
LIVE VIDEO: Yes (via CNN.com)

The New York Times

COVERAGE OVERVIEW: The centerpiece of the Times’ homepage is a slideshow entitled “the Nation awaits its 44th President”; along with its usual expanded editorial coverage, the site includes an interactive travel guide for the 2 million people expected to attend the inauguration, and live video of the ceremony beginning at 11:30 a.m. EST.
LIVEBLOGGING: Yes
LIVE VIDEO: Yes

The Week

COVERAGE OVERVIEW: Perhaps refreshingly, The Week is not doing much differently for the inauguration, with a top headline linking to op-eds on Obama’s inaugural speech, nothing more. “We’re pretty templated,” said general manager Steven Kotok.
LIVEBLOGGING: No
LIVE VIDEO: No

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