Newseum Becomes Inauguration Central on Jan. 21

Washington D.C - The Newseum, the only museum fronting the inaugural parade route, will host multiple national and international news broadcasts on Jan. 21, as Barack Obama is sworn in for his second term as president of the United States. More than 500 broadcasters representing 21 countries will transform the Newseum's rooftop and terraces into temporary television studios with anchor desks, production areas and tents. The Newseum's prime location on Pennsylvania Avenue provides a clear television backdrop of the National Mall and the West Front of the U.S. Capitol, where the swearing-in ceremony will take place.

The state-of-the-art Newseum building was designed to accommodate multiple broadcasts, with nearly 100 miles of fiber-optic cable and 49 audio-video panels that allow news crews to broadcast live from virtually anywhere in the 250,000-square-foot museum. MSNBC's Chris Matthews and Rachel Maddow and ABC's Diane Sawyer, George Stephanopoulos and Barbara Walters will be among the broadcasters who will anchor Inauguration Day newscasts from the Newseum.

The Newseum quickly sold out of 3,500 special Inauguration Day packages, which include exclusive access to the museum and prime views of the inaugural parade.

Guests will also be among the first to experience a sneak preview of "JFK," which includes two new exhibits and an original documentary that explores the life and legacy of President John F. Kennedy. The new exhibits will open on April 12, 2013.

Those who can't make it to Washington, D.C. for the inauguration will be able to participate virtually as exclusive content will be shared throughout the day on newseum.org and the Newseum's social networks including Facebook, Flickr and Twitter. Online visitors will be able to experience the action as it happens, including unique views of both the inauguration and the parade.

Inauguration weekend will also be one of the last opportunities for Newseum visitors to see "Every Four Years: Presidential Campaigns and the Press," which will close on Jan. 27. The exhibit explores how media coverage of presidential campaigns has evolved from William McKinley's 1896 front-porch campaign to Barack Obama's 2012 re-election, as candidates and reporters tangle over issues, images and control of the story.

Premier sponsorship support for "JFK: Three Shots Were Fired" has been provided by Altria Group and CBS, and "Every Four Years" was made possible by AAUW.

About the Newseum
The Newseum — a 250,000-square-foot museum of news and history — offers visitors an experience that blends five centuries of news history with up-to-the-second technology and hands-on exhibits. Within its seven levels of galleries and theaters, the Newseum offers a unique environment that takes museum-goers behind the scenes to experience how and why news is made. The Newseum ranks as one of the top attractions in Washington, D.C., and more than 3 million people have visited since it opened in 2008. For more information visit newseum.org or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.