Covering Political Violence: Risks Throughout the Election Cycle

Covering election-related violence presents newsrooms with unique challenges. Media coverage can inadvertently amplify fear, chill public participation, play into extremists’ hands, or justify government crackdowns. Reporting in line with best practices can help mitigate these risks.

–––––

Covering political violence and violent extremism can be a fraught endeavor for the media. In an environment of polarization, social tension, and widespread misinformation, it is essential but also challenging to avoid inadvertently spreading false narratives, fueling conflict, or providing platforms to extremists.

In partnership with Over Zero, Protect Democracy is working with organizations like the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection and Dangerous Speech Project to compile best practices for newsrooms looking to accurately and responsibly cover political violence and violent extremism in a range of contexts.

Each guide includes core principles, key questions reporters and editors can ask to guide coverage, examples of thoughtful coverage from a range of outlets, and links to additional resources on conflict sensitive reporting.

‍