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Today is election day! As millions of American head to the polls (and with millions of American who have voted early), news coverage of the election will be critical for maintaining peace while all the votes are counted. Here is a thread with some helpful tips:
1. It is unlikely that the election will be called tonight. Providing quality information about the process of certifying election results can help citizens make sense of the post-vote election process, like in this @NPR story. https://www.npr.org/2020/10/20/925563057/it-might-not-be-clear-who-won-on-election-night-but-that-may-not-mean-a-problem
2. Do not make or amplify premature declarations of victory. Even after the election, it is essential for news orgs to continue covering the process with a “democracy-worthy” frame. Consider whether your stories uphold democratic norms or amplify unverifiable information.
3. Do not use social media information to fill information voids. Resist covering social media sentiment as a stand-alone story. Remember: social media users do not represent the electorate. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2019/04/24/sizing-up-twitter-users/
4. Instead, consider interviewing one of our expert sources. You can find a full list of our network members here: https://mediafordemocracy.org/media-inquiry-expert-list/
