U.S. democracy is facing a serious threat, with politicians utilizing rigged maps to solidify their power and ignore the will of voters, hundreds of officials denying the results of the last presidential election, and a potential 2024 candidate openly discussing the abuse of federal power against political opponents. A recent report by the Safeguarding Democracy Project warns that the acceptance of election results as legitimate can no longer be taken for granted, as the United States continues to face threats to peaceful transitions of power. This has led to a growing concern among Americans, with over 80% of respondents in a recent poll expressing worry about the state of American democracy.
However, the media’s coverage of this danger has been lacking. At the first Republican presidential debate, not a single question was asked about democracy. Even when the subject is addressed, it is often treated in the same way as traditional issues like taxes or healthcare, with reporters quoting both sides and assessing the political implications. This approach fails to recognize that democracy underlies all other issues and without a healthy democracy, collective decisions lack legitimacy and the free press can’t effectively cover the debate.
To address this issue, a pro-democracy coverage initiative is underway. States Newsroom is joining 135 news organizations for Democracy Day 2023, a nationwide reporting collaborative organized by Montclair State University’s Center for Cooperative Media and the Institute for Nonprofit News. Participating newsrooms will produce various forms of pro-democracy journalism, including shining a light on threats to democracy, holding anti-democratic actors accountable, providing citizens with the tools to participate in the democratic process, explaining how local government works, and highlighting ordinary Americans working to protect and strengthen democracy.
The goal of Democracy Day is to catalyze a transformation in the media industry, shifting towards content that doesn’t treat politics as a game or cater to political insiders, but instead caters to the people who want to understand how their government works. By focusing on solutions to threats and amplifying the voices of those working to enfranchise people and protect civic rights, pro-democracy journalism can provide a more comprehensive and informative coverage of democracy.
As part of Democracy Day, States Newsroom’s outlets have produced several stories. The Alabama Reflector is investigating the decline in voter turnout despite an increase in the number of registered voters. The Kansas Reflector is exploring ways to ensure young voters stay engaged in the democratic process. The Michigan Advance is examining the impact of voting rights expansion in the state and advocates for further accessibility. NC Newsline is educating North Carolinians on navigating the voting experience with the state’s voter ID law in effect. The Pennsylvania Capital-Star is shedding light on the exclusion of over 1 million registered voters in the state’s closed primary system.
While Democracy Day is only one day, its aim is to initiate a more permanent shift in the media’s approach to democracy coverage. The goal is to provide content that informs and engages the public, rather than treating politics as a spectator sport. By doing so, Democracy Day hopes to contribute to a stronger and healthier democracy in the United States.
Original Story at michiganadvance.com – 2023-09-16 09:10:34
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