A Beverly Hills High School student reporter was among a dozen media representatives who covered President Barack Obama’s Wednesday arrival at Los Angeles International Airport.

Obama was in the area for a Holmby Hills fundraiser and stayed overnight at the Beverly Hilton.

BHHS senior Max Schwartz, who hosts a political talk show for KBEV 6 student television, has been trying to interview Obama for a year. He called the White House press office at least monthly with interview requests and has repeatedly phoned since early this month when he learned the president was visiting Los Angeles.

“I told them that KBEV is a real television station,” Schwartz said. “I was added to the White House [press] email blast after several requests.” 

Through emails from the White House, Schwartz learned of the opportunity to join a temporary White House press pool.

Schwartz had to provide identification, media credentials and information about the type of vehicle he would be driving to get the necessary clearance to attend the arrival of Air Force One earlier this week.

“The [White House] press office did not discriminate against me because I was a student reporter,” he said, adding that he received an official press pass from the White House.

Although Schwartz did not get to meet Obama, he got within 30 feet of the president and was able to film him greeting supporters upon landing. Because this was a campaign stop, Obama did not conduct any media interviews, Schwartz was told.

Schwartz filmed more than an hour of footage with his video camera and cell phone. The footage will be used for a special documentary edition of Schwartz’s television program on KBEV, Let’s Talk Politics.

The ambitious student said he intends to continue to call the White House press office to request an interview with Obama.

“I would love to have him on my show,” Schwartz said.

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