Video journalist Nicolas Garriga’s years of experience covering demonstrations in France — as well as his quick and innovative thinking — were vital in the AP’s ability to outshine its competitors in coverage of a demonstration against antisemitism that drew more than 100,000 people. Security was unprecedented and access for media extremely limited. But Garriga got creative, scouting out people on balconies in strategic locations along the march and shouted up to them, negotiating access and winning them over to allow all formats inside for free. Back on the ground, he navigated past police lines to get interviews with big-name demonstrators.
Garriga’s ability to secure access helped deliver a particularly critical angle for protests, since the perspective allowed the AP to tell the full story of an event that was broadly appreciated by customers.