September 15 is Democracy Day, and journalists and media outlets across the country are coming together to promote our nation’s democratic ideals. From our country’s beginning, the right of a free press to challenge the government, root out corruption and speak freely without fear of recrimination has been central to our democracy.
Our nation is at a crucial crossroads where the trust, integrity and authenticity of journalism is at stake. Building trust with our audiences is vital not only to our industry’s future, but to our democracy. Given the divisiveness in Congress and potential tsunami of political attacks that will accompany the upcoming election season, America’s leadership may need to come from our newsrooms delivered in the form of facts.
As Tim Tunison, news director, Hearst Television’s WBAL-TV in Baltimore, Md., recently told NAB, “We’ve spent decades building trust with our audience-that’s not something we take lightly. We feel this responsibility each and every day.”
Local TV and radio stations are dedicated to keeping the public informed with trusted news and information, shining a light on the many challenges our nation faces today. And, broadcasters provide this service freely to all Americans, regardless of socioeconomic status.
For journalists working in the election space, NAB is providing tools and discussion forums to share best practices. The Election Coverage Summit at NAB Show NY on Thursday, October 10 will feature experts in media trust and political coverage who will provide actionable strategies for navigating the complex media landscape during and after election season. In addition, a recent virtual learning event with leading broadcast journalists is now available on demand.
At the NAB Election Toolkit, you’ll find resources for encouraging voter engagement, combating disinformation and ensuring journalists’ safety.
Every American citizen has a role to play in keeping our democracy healthy and vibrant, and NAB looks forward to doing our part to support broadcasters leading up to Election Day. We are always interested in hearing from our members about your work and about needs NAB can help meet – please reach out to WeAreBroadcasters@nab.org with your stories or suggestions.
Learn more about Democracy Day and how you can participate.
