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We help journalists cover elections.

The Election SOS newsletter is a dedicated resource for journalists covering the 2020 election. We provide critical resources to help with your coverage, safety and service.

Keep going!

It's been a long night! It's a tight race. What's next? Right now, it is a crucial time to calm down the public, set expectations that counting will take more time, and support the democratic process. Election SOS will continue providing you with tools and resources through Inauguration. We've got your back.

Don't normalize claims of premature victory

Because many saw this coming, and because it's in character for the President to say brazen and dangerous things that undermine the democratic process, it can be easy to shrug off his claims of victory and call to stop vote-counting. Keep in mind, that makes it easier for other politicians now and in the future to see that they can get away with trying to disenfranchise voters and subvert the process. If you are reporting on results at the national level, please do not report on the President's claims as if it is an acceptable form of "politics as usual." It is not.

To avoid confusion and to not provide legitimacy to his words or any politician who follows suit, do not simply quote or repeat the false claims in your headlines. Consider what would happen if audiences only read the headline. See examples in this helpful thread from journalist Julia Chan.

First Aid Kits

It's Wednesday, Nov. 4, and here are top resources to inform your reporting in the coming days. Tools and advice to cover the results responsibly, mitigate misinformation, cover litigation and potential conflicts, and more.

READ NOW

Dealing with trauma

We shared physical and digital safety checklists with you last week. Today, with the stress of the election news cycle, the uncertainty and threats, we remind you to prioritize your mental health.

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Trusted Elections Expert

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Pitch This

Our pitch database is here to provide you with audience-first story ideas every day! Based on the week's progression, we'll continue providing you with timely pitches.

MORE STORY IDEAS

Reporting resources:

Election Week 2020: Who Young People Voted For - CIRCLE

There has been much speculation this election cycle about whether or not the youth vote would turn out and what its impact would be. We can stop speculating and dive into the data thanks to CIRCLE (Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement). The report drills into which candidates young voters supported.

Guidance for Reporting Election Violence

Election SOS has joined eighteen other non-partisan organizations to provide some basic dos and don'ts for journalists covering possible election violence. The emphasis is on opting for context over conflict and being thoughtful about word choice.

Scenario Guidance for During Election Messaging - More In Common

The polls have closed but votes are still being counted. It’s unclear which scenario we’re in, but violence is possible in all. More In Common put together guidance on how to message for peace in any of the scenarios in order to reduce violence.

Resources to Prevent and Mitigate Political Violence

If you’re looking for a comprehensive round-up of resources to help guide your coverage of political violence and a way that does not escalate it, look no further.

Before and After the Vote: A Journalism-Resource Database - Free Press

Newsrooms, non-profits and universities have published hundreds of resources to help journalists cover this election and stay safe while doing so. But finding the right resource on deadline can be challenging, so Free Press put together a massive easy to navigate database of these resources.

Election SOS Fellows Reporting Highlights:

Thanks to generous support from our funders, we've matched 39 fellows to support 20 newsrooms in battleground states. Check out their local coverage on Election Day.

WRAL Election Night Coverage: North Carolina General Assembly - Izz LaMagdeleine and Luke Shealy for WRAL

Young, first-time voters cast ballots in 2020 election, perhaps in record numbers - Kristen Grau for TCPalm

Why Dearborn election misinformation texts alarm voting rights experts - Alison Saldanha for Detour Detroit

Oregon and Washington set records for total votes cast - Hanna Merzbach for KGW

Election SOS Live Support

Our Election SOS team of experts is here to support you. We are readily available on Switchboard and Twitter to answer your questions and provide you with the resources needed. Take a few minutes to join Switchboard to browse other journalists' requests, ask a question, or offer help to fellow journalists. We are in it together!

GET SUPPORT NOW

What we watched:

Vote Counting Live Streams

When we needed a break from horse race coverage, we turned to live streams of poll workers counting Philadelphia votes. That is what democracy looks like.

Election Relief:

We suggest a short walk around the block to breathe in some fresh air. You can also try some of these seven meditation techniques to practice at work, like counting your breath for a few minutes or repeating a silent mantra.

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