What Do Publishers Owe To Democracy?

American democracy is in danger from not one but several critical threats at this moment in history. Namely, election denialism and the success of 2022 primary candidates that amplify those lies, the increasingly restrictive voting laws that suppress the votes of racial and sexual minorities, and gerrymandered districts in swing states like Texas, Florida, and Georgia where partisan lawmakers have hand-drawn district maps for their own benefit essentially. Plus, the volume of misinformation on social media (and cable news) directly influences how people think and vote about crucial issues. However, the most significant threats are looming just ahead of us, with their ability to metastasize directly tied to the results of the 2022 midterm elections.

The relationship between democracy and the media

It is easy to take media and local news for granted because they have been around our entire lives for many of us. But living in a society with established freedom of the press should not be taken for granted. Press freedom is restricted in over two-thirds of the world, and authoritarian regimes are becoming increasingly aggressive in their efforts to restrict independent and free media. For example, the Chinese press is said to be "almost entirely devoid of critical reporting" because, "under President Xi Jinping, such journalists have all but disappeared, as the authorities have harassed and imprisoned dozens of reporters and as news outlets have cut back on in-depth reporting".

But it was The New York Weekly Journal, led by John Peter Zenger that rejected censorship from the British government as early as 1734, that established one of the first court cases and precedents that contributed to the establishment of a free press in 1791 as a part of the Bill of Rights. The values that support the free press are why many media outlets can exist today.

The relationship between democracy and the media is reciprocal. Candidates and policymakers rely on a free press and the free flow of information about local candidates, issues, and policies to inform the electorate. We, the people, count on news outlets and media to hold powerful people, elected leaders, and our representatives accountable. Local news doggedly pursues corruption, crime, and injustice in our communities, making us more likely to engage civically and participate in a free and fair society. In other words, democracy relies on a free press, and a free press depends on democracy. So as leaders within media companies and local newsrooms, you must continue and do more to support the pillars of democracy at this perilous time. Your survival depends on it.

A majority of Americans understand that democracy is in crisis. So the question is not if the foundation of our government is under threat, but what are you going to do about it?

Democracy on the ballot in 2022

The most significant threats to democracy are currently happening at the local level. On the ballot in the 2022 midterms are candidates telling us precisely what they would do if in position during the 2024 elections. For example, a candidate in the race for governor of Arizona from the incumbent party said she would not have certified the 2020 election and told her supporters that her opponent is already trying to steal the 2022 election. If she wins, she will have a role in deciding whether or not Arizona's presidential election results are certified.

In Michigan, the Republican Party has endorsed Kristina Karamo for secretary of state, a Qanon-connected podcaster who challenged the Michigan election results in 2020 and continues to make dismissed claims of election fraud in the state.

In Pennsylvania, Doug Mastriano secured the GOP nomination for governor while actively urging electors to throw out the completely legitimate 2020 results. If elected, he will have the power as governor to certify (or not certify) the state's elector count. Again, another swing state already on fragile ground, most recently after a primary election campaign in Lehigh County, was called a warning sign for future election subversion.

Those warning signs add up to a high likelihood of chaos tied to election results in 2022 and a glimpse of what could be in 2024. Remember, these characters don't actually have to overthrow the government to bring democracy to its knees. All they need to do is create chaos by refusing to certify their state's crucial votes in 2024. Then suddenly, we are in a constitutional crisis with no historical precedent and uncertifiable election results. What happens then?

It's also not just democracy at stake. If we experience a constitutional crisis like this in 2024, not even the private sector will be safe from chaos. In a recent Harvard Business Review article titled "Business Can't Take Democracy for granted," Rebecca Henderson, a research fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research argues that:

"American business needs American democracy. Free markets cannot survive without the support of the kind of capable, accountable government that can set the rules of the game that keep markets genuinely free and fair. And only democracy can ensure that governments are held accountable, that they are viewed as legitimate, and that they don't devolve into the rule of the many by the few and the kind of crony capitalism that we see emerging in so many parts of the world."

What can local media do to support democracy right now

Publishers of all shapes and sizes have an opportunity to help our democratic practices right now. Your audience is filled with potential voters (in fact, your audience is more than likely to be a voter), making your relationship with them critical now. Here are some ways to start:

Be explicitly pro-democracy

Jay Rosen, a journalism professor at New York University, argues compellingly that "the American press needs to become more explicitly pro-democracy, as opposed to allowing it to sit in the background as an assumption or condition." Of course, this doesn't mean you have to become a political outlet or change your entire editorial strategy. Still, Rosen suggests this takes shape in "coverage that clearly shows what the stakes are in this battle for American democracy…."

Engage your audience and your community around voting

There seems to be a direct correlation between a feeling of connectedness with your community and civic participation. Engage your audience in a healthy and productive conversation about the candidates and local issues through polls and survey results. Host, support, or amplify candidate debates in your community or voter registration events.

Additionally, you can remind your audience about upcoming voting deadlines and dates. SourceNM, a non-profit publisher in New Mexico, features a "Democracy Toolkit" at the footer of every page of their website with links to register to vote, look up a bill, or contact your state legislator.

Amplify the good work of local influencers and non-profits

There are non-profit organizations, influencers, and activist groups in your community already doing hard work to increase voter registration and turnout, ensuring that the threats to democracy do not go unnoticed. For example, in Arizona, there is an organization called the Citizen Clean Elections Commission that focuses on voter education and promoting public confidence in the local political process by creating TikTok videos on voting, redistricting, and more.

Rather than create this kind of content yourself, amplify the work of influencers and organizations in your market by sharing their content on your social media, offering a guest blog spot on your website, or inviting them to speak at your events.

Encourage and support educational initiatives

In addition to sharing content with your audience, use your influence and reach to support public education. My favorite example is Big D Reads, a program started by D Magazine in Dallas. Big D Reads creates a curriculum around a single book and facilitates roundtables and panels, community events, and public discussions. In addition, they donate books to schools, book clubs, and libraries to encourage participation. They recently selected their 2022 read to "increase an understanding of Dallas' history among students, young professionals, leaders, and residents while encouraging candid community conversations on how we create a more equitable future for our city."

Staff up to support the need

This suggestion might not be an option for all newsrooms, but consider increasing your staff covering civic and political issues this fall. I recently commented to Sara Guaglione at Digiday on how encouraging I find the trend of news outlets beefing up and expanding their political coverage right now. While I recognize not all local media companies, have this luxury, those that don't should consider sponsorship dollars to support content initiatives. Plus, there are grants and funding opportunities for adding or enhancing this type of coverage to your newsroom. Win-win.

Connect issues on the ballot to your reader's values

You know your audience better than anyone. You have insights into their demographics, reading habits, content preferences, where they live, and more. Dedicate content that ties the issues on the ballot to the things that matter to your readers. If your readers come to you for ideas and information about neighborhoods or schools, help your readers understand where the candidates on the ballot stand on support for public education. I challenge you to connect an issue as central to your audience as powerfully as MetroParent, a parenting title in Michigan, did recently.

Participate in Democracy Day

Democracy Day is an effort by Montclair State University's Center for Cooperative Media to "draw attention to the crisis facing American democracy, provide the public with the context and information they need, and bring all types of media together to sound the alarm collectively. We want to incentivize media coverage through a nationwide journalism collaborative, one day where print, radio, TV, and digital media on the national and local level can come together to report on the threats to democracy that we're facing." Democracy Day is Sept.15, 2022, to coincide with the International Day of Democracy, and they are actively recruiting newsrooms to participate.

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2022 can be the year our country affirms our commitment to democracy, free and fair elections, and the people's will. Unfortunately, however, it also has the potential to be the year that our institutions are brought to their knees by individual bad actors in the right place at the right time. These anti-democratic candidates in key positions will cause turmoil in 2024 and beyond, casting us into a constitutional crisis for which there is no roadmap to follow.

When things feel shaky, and the world feels out of control, I often ask myself what is something, no matter how small, I can do to help. For us, supporting and participating in Democracy Day was a no-brainer. We've also supported non-profits like The 19th and the National Association of Black Journalists. Our employees have guaranteed time off to vote. If you have an audience, no matter how small, I hope you find ways that you can support democracy right now. When you do, please share it with us; we'd love to share and shout it from the rooftops. Please let us know if TFD can support you in any of these initiatives.