AP Provides Inauguration Style Sheet for Media Outlets

Issues guide to "essential" words, phrases and info for media outlets covering the big day

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 1/2/2013 2:33:31 PM

The Associated Press has produced a fact sheet of "essential words, phrases and definitions" to help member news organizations with their coverage of the second inauguration of President Barack Obama.

It includes such handy info as the time of the public swearing-in ceremony (Jan. 21, noon ET). Actually, the President will already have been sworn in the day before in a private ceremony in the White House in keeping with noon on Jan. 20 as the automatic start of the President's second term per the 20th Amendment.

It also supplies info on how many seats the inauguration platform holds (more than 1.600); a definition of the Capitol Building for those unfamiliar with the structure ("Domed home of the U.S. House and Senate"); and AP's general avoidance of the term "I-Day" as shorthand for Inauguration Day.

AP's identification of Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts includes the additional info that he "mixed up" the words to the oath of office he administers, requiring a do-over of the swearing-in in private last time around.