Election stories worth reporting in December 2020
By Kerrie Vila
Election SOS
One day this election process will be over, but for now there is still work to be done. In order to help newsrooms stay organized throughout a busy month the ElectionSOS team has put together a list of relevant topics and potential stories to cover this December.
Transition Part I: Biden’s cabinet and agenda
Guiding principles: When covering the transition and new Biden administration try to stay away from the traditional cabinet horse race stories. Although conjecture over potential local politicians becoming national stars is interesting it ultimately is not useful. Try to tie each appointment and policy proposal back to your community. What does having an education secretary with a public school background mean for your school district? Focus on how Biden’s executive orders could change immigration, environmental protections, or health care for your readers.
Pitch 1: How do different cabinet positions affect your area? Why are these appointments important?
Some obscure cabinet positions could have a big impact on your community. Depending on where you live, the director of the EPA, HUD, or secretary of agriculture could play an outsized role in regulating businesses and introducing reforms. Explore an agency that is important to your area.
Example: Capital Press’ “Top contenders for Biden’s cabinet could impact agriculture policy”
Pitch 2: What is on Biden’s first 100 days agenda and will it impact your city or state?
Biden’s team is updating its website regularly with new policy proposals and plans for the administration. Tell readers how these new policies will be felt in their daily lives.
Example: The Louisiana Courier Journal’s “From immigration to health care, how will a Biden presidency impact Kentucky?”
Pitch 3: How much power will Biden have over COVID vaccine distribution?
This pitch is particularly important because it should help readers who might not agree with Joe Biden understand the role of the federal government in vaccine distribution and hopefully de-politicize the issue. Biden will have a role in appointing people, organizing money and supplies, and be a symbol of stability, but ultimately doctors, public health officials and state governments will have a lot more control over vaccine distribution than the Biden administration.
Example: 6sqft’s “Here’s what New Yorkers can expect from Joe Biden’s COVID-19 plan”
Transition Part II: Trump and election results
Guiding principles: When covering the end of the Trump administration try not to repeat disinformation, even if trying to debunk it. The more it is written about, the more it is discussed, the more it spreads. Instead of chasing conspiracy theories and wasting valuable time and resources breaking down new court cases, try to explain the political processes that are still happening and what we should learn for the next election. As always, try to connect these stories back to the community you serve.
Pitch 1: What are the expectations for Trump’s last few weeks?
Readers have probably heard the term “lame duck Congress” but might not know what it means or the history of lame duck sessions. Explain the history (passage of controversial legislation and pardons) and implications of the next few weeks. Try to connect this story to issues important to your readers, for example how it could impact Congress’ ability to pass a relief bill.
Example: The Conversation’s “Lost in transition: how Trump’s lame duck presidency could have a lasting impact on US foreign policy”
Pitch 2: When the electors meet on Dec.14: What is the significance of the electors and what is their role in American democracy?
When covering this story try to stay away from explaining near impossible outcomes even if it is just for effect. A lot of coverage has given long convoluted examples of how it MIGHT be possible for Trump to steal the election if x, y, z. Don’t stoke fear. Explain the checks in our system and how it is working the way it was intended because of many everyday people doing their job.
Example: The Baltimore Sun’s “Who are Maryland’s electors? Must they vote for Biden? Here’s what to know about the process.”
Pitch 3: Ongoing recounts and challenges: Why did it take so long to count the votes and get a final result? What can we do better next time?
This does not only refer to the Wisconsin or Pennsylvannia presidential recounts. There are plenty of state and local races that took weeks to count and have had recounts and final tallies separating candidates by only a few votes. Some races are still just being called a month later. Dig into what worked and what the Board of Election learned during this election that they will use to make the process better in 2022 and beyond.
Example: The Fulcrum’s “The election went remarkably well. Here’s how to make the next one even better.”
Georgia runoff
Pitch 1: Why is this runoff so important and what implications could it have on your area?
There are still two elections left in Georgia that could have massive impacts on governing during the next two years. So even if you aren’t from Georgia there is value in explaining to your readers the importance of these races and how it will affect their health care, climate change legislation and potential COVID relief. You can also use this story to highlight civic engagement in your area!
Explainer Example: The New York Times’ “What’s a Runoff, and Why Are There Two? Here’s Why Georgia Matters”
Local Example: The Berkshire Edge’s “Georgia runoff postcard campaign is big success in Berkshires”
Fun stories!
Pitch 1: How are newly elected officials getting ready for their move to Washington DC or the state capital?
This story should help connect the reader to the new legislator and helps show a more human side of elected officials, which can be especially helpful if the race was close or extremely partisan.
Example: Honolulu Civil Beat’s “Kahele Plans To Go ‘Old School’ And Move Family To Washington To Build Ties”
Pitch 2: How did young people participate in this election? What do they want to see from a Biden administration?
Across the country young people who couldn’t vote made their voices heard. Profile the work that activists did, explain how young people organized and volunteered or explore what issues drive the next generation. Highlighting civic engagement is always a good thing.
Example: Teen Vogue’s “Oakland Students Won the Right to Vote in School Board Elections”
Pitch 3: How are local officials supporting each other through difficult times including the contested election or the stress of the coronavirus?
Some local elected officials are feeling the stress of their job and have created groups to support and learn from each other. See if there is a group in your area. This story can help to humanize legislators and it shows how government officials often go beyond their everyday work to learn from one another and find new ways of supporting their constituents.
Example: The Press Democrat’s “Black women in Sonoma County public sector lean on each other to deal with racism, bias”
As always you can see more story ideas at ElectionSOS’ Story and Pitch Database or sign up for the ElectionSOS newsletter, which highlights all our resources every Monday. If you have other story ideas, articles you want to share or work inspired by the pitch database please reach out to the database coordinator kerrie.vila@wearehearken.com.
