With any initiative Hearken does, we do our best to make time for reflection. It can be tough to do it — being reactive to incoming requests and planning for the future is constantly tugging at any blocked out time to just process, think, and learn. But it’s always, always worth it. We spent January…

This explainer piece is for reporters covering elections. It offers valuable, actionable tips and provides context for what many communities will experience around claims of voter fraud. Let’s get to it. Get perspective on the landscape Federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies are warning of a “heightened threat” of domestic violent extremism during the midterm…

Reporting during a contentious election cycle exposes both reporters and newsrooms to a host of cybersecurity concerns.  And, chances are, between campaign speeches, tight publication deadlines and on-background sources, you need tools and resources you can use right now to protect yourself.  Global Cyber Alliance’s Cybersecurity Toolkit for Journalists does just that.  Here’s a bite-sized…

We hosted a training in late September about Extremism and Police Violence that featured two speakers from More in Common (MIC), a nonpartisan research nonprofit that works to counter polarization and social division, who shared insight into how newsrooms can mitigate fear and pessimism.  Here’s a recap of this training and scenario planning with some…

The Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol offers an example of how refusing to accept election results can lead to violence. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images   James Piazza, Penn State An attendee at an October 2021 political rally hosted by right-wing activist Charlie Kirk asked: “How many elections are they going to steal…

As hard as it can be for journalists to appreciate, most Americans aren’t paying attention to the daily roller coasters of campaigns, polls, and exactly who is running for office. It’s common for people to show up at the polls scanning the ballot for their party over the particular person. This creates extra pressure on…

In our second webinar, Solutions Journalism Network’s Linda Shaw and Jaisal Noor presented key takeaways on how to use Solutions Journalism to engage with audiences:  Together, Solutions Journalism and Engagement Journalism can effectively be used to cover only who gets elected but hold them accountable. If you can show that others are doing it better,…

Our third webinar, “Reaching Republican Voters,” featured speakers from three organizations that shared insight into how journalists can connect and engage with conservative voters and politicians. Understanding how conservatives think and depolarizing conversations(3:15) are key, said Steve Saltwick on the national leadership team of Braver Angels, a national, grassroots, organization aimed at bridging the partisan…

With a highly consequential midterm election rapidly approaching, journalists are looking for ways to inform their audience with the information they need to be active participants in the democratic process. Here at Election SOS, we recently hosted three webinars that offer powerful insights from leaders in the field. In Best Practices for Voter Guides, a…

September 15 is the International Day of Democracy. To commemorate it, we are calling on newsrooms across the United States to turn their coverage toward threats to democracy and solutions to those threats.  Join us on July 20 for an introductory webinar on Democracy Day to learn more about how your newsroom can participate in…

Limited Time Offer: The Engaged Elections Cohort “This training provided WSHU with the needed framework to really understand the work that we need to do, how we want to accomplish the work and a way to communicate the change and importance of this work to our different stakeholders.” – Rima Dael, General Manager, WSHU Public…

Extremist groups have not disappeared from the radar after the inauguration. The threats continue, and there is a critical need for responsible and contextualized coverage. For journalists tackling stories on extremism, it’s vital to understand the history and the context behind the fascist movements. Whether you have time to read an article or looking for…