The November elections will be among the most consequential presidential contests in living memory, while also posing myriad challenges to voters seeking to cast a ballot. Now more than ever, reporters are feeling a civic imperative to produce timely, nuanced watchdog journalism so that the American public is equipped with the information it needs to press for a free and fair voting process and vote tabulation.
But how do you prepare for the unpredictable? Join the National Press Club Journalism Institute’s “What if” workshop, which will bring journalists together with experts to generate unanswered questions and unanticipated scenarios that can guide coverage.
Registration is now open for the free workshop, which will be held Thursday, Sept. 3 from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Following opening remarks by FEC commissioner Ellen Weintraub, participants will join small breakout groups on one of four topics:
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Voter suppression, polling access and Election Day pandemonium led by Sylvia Albert, director of voting and elections at Common Cause
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Mail-in ballots and US Postal Service readiness led by David Becker, executive director and founder of the Center for Election Innovation & Research
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Election interference, led by Maria Barsallo Lynch, executive director of the Defending Digital Democracy Project
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Contested election results, led by Rick Hasen, Chancellor’s Professor of Law and Political Science at the University of California at Irvine
Following the breakout discussions, participants will reconvene to learn about story ideas and reporting tips generated by each group. Spots are limited for this program to ensure its hands-on value.
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When Portland Press Herald social media editor Josh Linehan saw yet another tweet confusing Portland, Oregon with Portland, Maine he saw an opportunity for the Press Herald’s Twitter account.
The question: “Can you help me understand the Portland riots. Why haven’t you stopped the violence?”
Linehan stated the obvious: “Well, we're a newspaper in Maine is the main reason.” This simple response has been retweeted about 9,000 times and liked more than 70,000 times.
The Journalism Institute emailed Linehan for the story behind the viral reply and his top tips for managing a local news social media account.
You mention on Twitter that the Portland Press Herald receives daily messages about the other Portland. How do you decide which ones to address publicly? And what are the various ways you reply?
Linehan: We actually have a long, long history with this issue in various forms on Twitter. A few years ago we got swept up into the MLS soccer rivalry between Portland and Seattle when the Seattle team filmed a commercial here but we declared our allegiance to #OnePortland.
In general, though, we will just point them to the Oregonian for any genuine inquiries. Every once in a great while we’ll play it for a laugh.
Can you describe the response to the tweet today about the Portland, OR protests?
Linehan: Overwhelming. I was honestly just going for a little behind the scenes chuckle for our Twitter regulars, but it struck a nerve.
What are your top three tips for managing a successful local news social media account?
Linehan: Be honest, be genuine, have fun when you can.
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Advice from Jill Geisler, Bill Plante Chair in Leadership & Media Integrity, Loyola University Chicago, Freedom Forum Fellow in Women’s Leadership
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The holiday season is months off, but if we’ve learned anything during the pandemic, it’s this: Time flies. Don’t leave your earned vacation time on the table.
If you’ve pinned your hopes on a back-to-normal holiday season, consider that you’re not alone. With some employers not rolling over PTO, the use-it-or-lose-it requirement could cause a crunch come holiday request season.
Some tips:
- Talk to your supervisor about the end-of-year staffing plan. With uncertainties like the presidential election, traditional holiday staffing needs may be altered.
- Submit your requests as early as possible, even if you don’t have concrete plans to travel.
- Ask your employer what, if any, PTO will roll over into 2021, and by when it must be used.
- Get creative: If you’d rather not take a week off, schedule three-day weekends through the end of the year.
- If you don’t plan to use your time, for whatever reason, ask about a payout for your accrued PTO.
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Safety for journalists has taken on a renewed sense of importance as newsrooms grapple with the convergence of hostility toward those in the field and systemic racism that pervades even the most revered journalistic institutions. It seems journalists have more reason than ever to be allies for each other as the industry confronts itself while serving conflicted communities.
Registration is open for this program, which will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020.
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This newsletter is written & edited by the National Press Club Journalism Institute staff: Beth Francesco, Holly Butcher Grant, and Julie Moos. Send us your questions and suggestions for topics to cover.
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