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Journalists are overwhelmed. The public is anxious and seeking certainty. How can journalists earn trust by helping people navigate these post-election days? Here's what our team recommends right now. (1/)
Have empathy for the experience of consuming the news. It's easy to blame "the media" for bad polling, skewed narratives, etc. And many complaints are legitimate. Focus on what *your team* does — your values and credibility. (2/)
Remind your audience that this situation was expected. We knew counting votes would take longer than usual. Link to previous coverage, and point out that this narrative has been consistent. Get inspiration from posts like this one from @PhillyInquirer. (3/)
Explain how elections are called. If it's the @AP, borrow language from them. https://twitter.com/AP/status/1324143519280279552
And explain why news outlets differ in when states are called. Here's a helpful @washingtonpost story. https://www.washingtonpost.com/media/2020/11/04/fox-ap-arizona-biden/ (4/)
And explain why news outlets differ in when states are called. Here's a helpful @washingtonpost story. https://www.washingtonpost.com/media/2020/11/04/fox-ap-arizona-biden/ (4/)
Meet myths with facts. Have local officials demystify the vote counting process. Emphasize that it's nonpartisan. And be on guard for misinformation. This @firstdraftnews dashboard is a great resource. https://firstdraftnews.org/dashboard-insights/ (5/)
Explain your mission. If you work hard to be fair and have a goal of being a public service, tell your audience that. Don't assume they know. Consider a social video, a column or a newsletter dedicated to your goals and ethics during a chaotic time. (6/)
Participate in comments. Read them, and make time to engage. Don’t let the public conversation you’re hosting be a place for misinformation to flourish. Delete or correct false statements, and link to factual information. Here's why that matters. https://medium.com/trusting-news/want-a-relationship-based-on-trust-invest-in-interactions-d047a48c6071 (7/)
And remember to focus on the people you can reach.
Your goal is not to persuade every commenter to believe in facts and wait patiently for the outcome. Instead, help people who want responsible information find it and rely on you for it. (8/)
Your goal is not to persuade every commenter to believe in facts and wait patiently for the outcome. Instead, help people who want responsible information find it and rely on you for it. (8/)
More on these tips is in today's newsletter (which you should subscribe to!). Feel free to DM us or email [email protected] if we can help. And thank you for the work you're doing. https://mailchi.mp/b112c7c7be35/trust-tips-92-help-your-audience-navigate-the-aftermath (9/)
