The Media and Democracy Project has issued an open letter to major media organizations calling for the adoption of pro-democracy election coverage guidelines. Signed by 3,258 individuals including prominent scholars and former media executives, the letter urges newsrooms to prioritize fact-based reporting, counter election misinformation, and promote voter engagement. The proposed guidelines comprise 18 recommendations aimed at shifting election coverage from polls and sensationalism to substantive issues impacting voters' lives.
Brian Hansbury, cofounder of MAD, emphasized the critical nature of this initiative, stating that democratic institutions are under attack and newsrooms must recalibrate their political coverage to adopt practices that are pro-truth, pro-voting, and pro-democracy. Key recommendations include prioritizing coverage of issues that matter to voters, crafting accurate and informative headlines instead of clickbait, reducing emphasis on predictions and polls, celebrating election workers and the voting process, and holding politicians accountable for their positions and behavior. The guidelines also stress exposing candidates who incite political violence and refraining from moral neutrality when covering obvious lies and bigotry.
The open letter highlights alarming trends threatening the democratic process, noting that lies about the 2020 election have led to a surge in death threats against election officials and poll workers, complicating recruitment and retention efforts. Additionally, half of all female state legislators are considering leaving public office due to increased intimidation. Ruth Ben-Ghiat, NYU Professor of History and author, underscored the importance of this initiative, stating that Americans deserve to know the scale and nature of the challenges we face this November and beyond.
The call for change comes at a critical time when democratic rights and freedoms are perceived to be at risk. Mark Jacob, former Chicago Tribune editor, drew a powerful analogy comparing media coverage of hurricanes to coverage of threats to democracy. Norm Ornstein, political scientist and Senior Fellow Emeritus at the American Enterprise Institute, emphasized that democracy is at stake and news media need to step up and be responsible. The Media and Democracy Project, a non-partisan, grassroots organization, is spearheading this effort to strengthen free and independent media in the public interest with the goal of improving national discourse and enabling American voters to make informed decisions.
As the 2024 election approaches, the adoption of these guidelines could significantly impact how political news is reported and consumed. By focusing on substantive issues, threats to democracy, and combating disinformation, news organizations have the potential to better inform the electorate and contribute to the preservation of democratic values. The open letter and proposed guidelines represent a call to action for the media industry to reassess its approach to election coverage as threats to democratic institutions continue to evolve. The success of this initiative could set a new standard for political reporting, potentially influencing the outcome of future elections and the overall health of American democracy.
