In a sea of a million people, this is what it was like to cover the historic Put It To The People march

In a crowd that huge, you clearly can’t be everywhere at once. But as a reporter, here's how I took steps to make sure I got to the heart of the story

One of the great privileges of being a journalist – certainly, there has to be some, considering the pay – is that occasionally it gives one a ringside seat on history being made.

This was, undeniably, the case on Saturday.

As an estimated 1 million people descended on London’s streets for The Independent-backed Put It To The People march, I was the reporter sent to cover this vast and colourful carnival of Brexit resistance.

I walked the full two-mile route to Parliament Square (for much of it, wishing I’d worn trainers) talking to people – young and old, Tory and Labour, flag-wavers and placard-bearers – about why they were there, how their day was going and what might be achieved.

The majority were funny and friendly, angry and articulate – and, above all, generous with their time. (So too, for balance, were the Brexiteers I’d walked with during a separate march days earlier.)

So, it was, as said, a great privilege. But such events also come with real pressure.

In a march of a million people, you clearly can’t be everywhere seeing everything, especially while mobile reception tends to go down in that kind of mass of humanity. To some extent, you become blind to the big picture. Two thoughts continually play on your mind: What if I’m missing something big happening elsewhere? And what if I’m not speaking to the people with the best stories to tell?

If journalism was once an occupation known for heavy drinking, perhaps it was because reporters were attempting to quieten these perpetual worries.

My own method for attending such mass events is to rely on a strict formula of preparation, improvisation and, just for good measure, a dollop of blind panic as deadline approaches.

Ahead of Saturday’s march, I spoke to organisers and lined up potential interviews with protestors; I conferred with other reporters covering the thing and looked at possible route shortcuts which would allow me to move fast from the crowd if needed. I packed a bag: laptop, notebook, Boost bar.

Then, on the day, it was a case of arriving, walking, and speaking to as many people as possible, looking for anyone who might have an interesting tale (the mum carrying a nine-week-old baby; the band playing Beethoven; the woman with a sign calling John Bercow “hot”); and reacting to unfolding events.

Touch wood, as historic events go, it went smoothly, I think.

Yours,

Colin Drury

Put It To The People march reporter