How to Turn Your Election Coverage from Horse-race to Pro-democracy

With a dwindling number of days until the general election, it can be easy to get caught up in the day-by-day minutiae of campaign theatrics, mudslinging and insider politicking — even if that doesn't help voters understand what candidates stand for, let alone how they plan to accomplish it.

Research shows that episodic, horse-race coverage is driving Americans to disengage with news, and creating gaps in civic understanding at all levels. How to fix it? Shift from the odds to the stakes. Led by Beatrice Forman and SJN's Democracy Cohort Manager Jaisal Noor, this training will help journalists have working understanding of pro-democracy journalism and its impact, develop reporting plans for thematic election stories, and pull from a set of quick tips to immediately elevate their coverage beyond the horse race.