One thing we know for sure about news coverage of election night: It’s going to be noisy. On a typical day (especially during election season) news is like a fire hose: It comes at us constantly and from all directions.
Expect that noise to amplify exponentially on Tuesday.
So, how are we all going to survive?
I teach a News Literacy class where we spend the semester studying how best to evaluate concepts such as truth, fairness and verification when it comes to the delivery of news stories. So, in the hopes of limiting some of your “doomscrolling” Tuesday night, here are some election night survival tips:
Patience: We live in a culture dominated by instant gratification. Don’t expect instant results Tuesday night. We talk a lot in News Literacy about “following the story over time.” There are many scenarios (too many) possible for how this election will play out. And one is that we may not know who the winner is Tuesday night or Wednesday morning (or longer). Remember 2000? Be patient; determining the winner may take some time. Which brings me to the next point:
Skepticism (Part 1): It’s easy to be cynical. The “I don’t believe anything the media says” crowd is made up of lazy people who cop out and don’t do the work to confirm information. It’s harder to practice skepticism — where you question whether information is true and seek to confirm it on your own. This takes time. Allow yourself the time and effort to confirm and verify.
Skepticism (Part Deux): If it’s too good to be true … it probably isn’t. Oh, how many times have we been duped?! Remember the “photos” of the sharks swimming in lower Manhattan after Sandy? Don’t fall for the hoaxes (there will be many). Verify. Verify. Verify.
Reporting facts vs. giving opinions: It’s a fine line everyone dances on election night. As news consumers, we need to be active listeners discerning between reportable facts and opining. There will be much of both, but there will also be much blurring of the lines. Don’t mistake opinions for facts.
Propaganda: There will be a mix of news, analysis, opinion and propaganda on any news show you’re watching. Be aware of who is speaking and what their title/position is. Many of these on-air election night roundtables include either current or former political operatives. In most if not all cases, their analysis is nothing more than propaganda for their side.
Sharing is caring: There’s something about human nature and social media and the need to SHARE NOW! Please, for the love of Mike, take a moment before sharing information on social media. It can take all of 30 seconds to check with reputable news sites as to whether the information is true.
Disinformation campaigns: Misinformation is the spreading of bad information whereas disinformation is the spreading of false information by bad actors with an agenda. Both will be present Tuesday night. Again, as my old boss used to say: “It’s better to be second and right than first and wrong.”
“The media.” There’s no such thing. No, really, there isn’t. Despite the efforts of many to describe news organizations and journalists as one large breathing organism acting in concert, that’s just not the way it works. Having said that, seek out alternative news organizations that may not support your views of the universe. It’s going to be important for us as news consumers to track what the “other side” is reporting.
Avoid snark. Many before me have described social media as a cesspool. And, yes, it can get nasty. Having said that, many will be following the news on their social feeds. You may get into a few “discussions” and feel the need to dip into the “snark” comments bin. Remember that no one is ever as funny as they think they are. Humor is the toughest form of writing, and many have failed. Think twice, OK, three times before you post that snarky comment.
“Doomscrolling”: My new favorite Twitter follow is Karen Ho. She’s a reporter for Quartz with the Twitter handle: “Doomscrolling Reminder Lady.” Her Twitter bio includes: “I remind people to stop doomscrolling every night.” Here’s one sample from an Oct. 28 tweet: “hi, if you’re doomscrolling, I understand why because of the election. You’re likely also really tired. No matter what happens, you are someone worth taking care of. You still deserve extra sleep, nightly breaks from this website, good food, and other kinds of nourishment.”
I can’t say it any better than that.
Steve Fox is a senior lecturer in the University of Massachusetts Journalism Department and is the director of the Sports Journalism concentration.