Reynolds Fellow Scott Swafford spoke about how to cover election day and night at RJI's "Down-home Democracy: Empowering Citizens With Outstanding Coverage of Local Elections" on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2014.

1. ELECTION NIGHT
REPORTING AND MAKING SENSE
OF THE DECISIONS VOTERS MAKE

2. DON’T SELL YOURSELF,
OR YOUR READERS, SHORT
 Make a commitment to do as much as you can
throughout Election Day and on Election
Night.
 You’ve got that website. Use it.
 Don’t cede the news to the competition.
Be first, and be comprehensive.
 Create a memorable print edition.

3. WHAT SHOULD WE BE TRYING
TO ACCOMPLISH?
 To share the voices of voters.

4. WHAT SHOULD WE BE TRYING
TO ACCOMPLISH?
 To share the voices of voters.
 To update results and publish final numbers as
quickly as possible, online and in print.

5. WHAT SHOULD WE BE TRYING
TO ACCOMPLISH?
 To share the voices of voters.
 To update results and publish final numbers as
quickly as possible, online and in print.
 To capture the drama and engage in real
story-telling.

6. WHAT SHOULD WE BE TRYING
TO ACCOMPLISH?
 To share the voices of voters.
 To update results and publish final numbers as
quickly as possible, online and in print.
 To capture the drama and engage in real
story-telling.
 To take excellent documentary photos.

7. WHAT SHOULD WE BE TRYING
TO ACCOMPLISH?
 To share the voices of voters.
 To update results and publish final numbers as
quickly as possible, online and in print.
 To capture the drama and engage in real
story-telling.
 To take excellent documentary photos.
 To engage in forward-thinking journalism.

8. PLANNING FOR ELECTION NIGHT
 Get everyone on board. (Hire help, if necessary.)

9. PLANNING FOR ELECTION NIGHT
 Get everyone on board. (Hire help, if necessary.)
 Learn where candidates will be ahead of time.

10. PLANNING FOR ELECTION NIGHT
 Get everyone on board. (Hire help, if necessary.)
 Learn where candidates will be ahead of time.
 Decide where photographers should go.

11. PLANNING FOR ELECTION NIGHT
 Get everyone on board. (Hire help, if necessary.)
 Learn where candidates will be ahead of time.
 Decide where photographers should go.
 Create a precise and thorough budget.

12. PLANNING FOR ELECTION NIGHT
 Get everyone on board. (Hire help, if necessary.)
 Learn where candidates will be ahead of time.
 Decide where photographers should go.
 Create a precise and thorough budget.
 Pre-write, pre-write, pre-write — then pre-edit.

13. PLANNING FOR ELECTION NIGHT
 Get everyone on board. (Hire help, if necessary.)
 Learn where candidates will be ahead of time.
 Decide where photographers should go.
 Create a precise and thorough budget.
 Pre-write, pre-write, pre-write — then pre-edit.
 Consider non-narrative templates.

14. WORKING THE POLLS
 Ground rules.
 Engage in conversation, not interrogation.
 Learn to have a thick skin; be polite and
professional.
 Exit surveys?

15. EXAMPLES: PRINT & ONLINE

16. EXAMPLES: PRINT & ONLINE

17. EXAMPLES: ONLINE

18. Results graphics
Mapping election
results precinct
by precinct
can reveal
interesting
patterns.