US inauguration: War-zone experience carries journalists into inauguration coverage 20 Jan, 2021 07:00 PM 5 minutes to read National Guard troops outside the Capitol the day before Joe Biden's inauguration. Photo / Amr Alfiky, The New York Times National Guard troops outside the Capitol the day before Joe Biden's inauguration. Photo / Amr Alfiky, The New York Times New York Times By: Tiffany Hsu and Katie Robertson Reporters and photographers who are no strangers to conflict are among those assigned to what is usually a day of pageantry. The main concern of journalists covering presidential inaugurations used to be guarding against the January chill. For the swearing-in of Joe Biden today, some reporters and photographers took along protective gear used in combat zones.