It’s a big week for politics coverage.
As a preview of leadership questions likely to emerge in coverage of 2004 campaigns, the California recall has it all:
- How do you weigh issues of fairness and thoroughness when your newsroom completes a major investigation just days before an election?
- How do you make coverage decisions when the ballot is packed with many more candidates or issues than can be addressed equally by your staff?
- What are the best ways for news organizations to approach and present such new publishing tools as Weblogs?
These and other critical issues have been flashing by in recent days like so many California campaign buses whipping up and down the state.
What a great backdrop for participants in the seminar we’ll conduct at Poynter next month for editors and reporters directing coverage of next year’s elections. Representatives from 30 newsrooms will spend four days sketching plans for their yearlong coverage.
In essays included in their applications, the participants have highlighted issues they intend to address.
They have more questions than answers, but these journalists are eager to make their coverage indispensable to voters. They’re ready to challenge the conventional and to push for new ways to tell the story. Here are some excerpts from their essays:
Purpose and goals of coverage
“We have a presidential election ahead and that’s always a great American story¡ we want to tell it very well and do more innovative and human coverageÂ. Which issues — or primaries — will really make a difference for our readers?”
“This election cycle promises to be a watershed for America. The new Hispanic population is coming of age; the debate over health care and education is reaching fever pitch; the war on terrorism will infuse the campaign debate with the tensions of ‘patriotism.’ Our newsroom hopes to help readers sort it all out and become engaged.”
“ÂMy overriding goal is to not go through another election cycle just adding to the mass of facts out there, but to convey, as often as possible, some of the wisdom of the ages.”
Challenging the Coverage
“Our coverage should take the campaign and election process to Main Street — and we should be mindful of the electronic avenues that may take us there.”
“Break the cycle of traditional coverage¡ take calculated chances that lead to meaningful coverage¡ help voters see their vote matters.”
“Explore ways to make our copy more distinct and accessible — how to do the obligatory candidate profiles so they’re not so obligatory, how to explain inexplicable issues¡ ways to make daily coverage more authoritative and incisive, infusing it with history.”
Insight from the California recall election
“I mention the recall for a reason. It’s been a very serious lesson for me about how much people care about elections¡ — more than ever before they’ve got opinions and are demanding information. I believe their increased interest will hold over to the 2004 election. And I want to meet their expectations¡ If ever there was a time for a California journalist to get better at covering an election, it is now.”
The essays expose many more issues: covering the horserace, serving as a watchdog, becoming more inclusive, emphasizing standards, initiating cross-media development. But the most impressive overall message is the passion for leading the coverage.
When Poynter first began planning this workshop a few months ago, we had no idea what interest would emerge. We believed the subject — covering the 2004 election — was important. We wanted to focus on those editors and reporters in charge of the story, the people with the best shot at shaping the coverage.
Stay tuned. We will share activities leading into the workshop and beyond. Also, throughout the year we will track what newsrooms around the country are doing to bring this “great American story” home to their readers. You can follow it all on a new Poynter Weblog: STUMP, available for e-mail delivery to your inbox.
