“Not the odds, but the stakes.”
Journalism professor’s six-word mantra is a blueprint for how news outlets should cover the 2024 race
Analysis Oliver Darcy, CNN
Published 7:12 AM EST, Wed November 15, 2023
“Not
the odds, but the stakes.”
Those
are the six words that make up a mantra New York University journalism
professor Jay Rosen has evangelized across the news industry over the last
several months. With less than a year until the 2024 elections, Rosen has been
imploring newsrooms to organize their campaign coverage around the enormous
stakes of the presidential contest — not the horse race.
“The
stakes, of course, mean the stakes for American democracy,” Rosen told me by
phone Tuesday. “The stakes are what might happen as a result of the election.”
It
is not uncommon for critics of the news media to skewer political coverage for
focusing too much on who is up and who is down, instead of placing an emphasis
on policy and the effect a victor might have on the world. Such criticism is
even more pronounced and pointed during the heat of a contested election cycle.
But,
heading into 2024, the state of affairs is far more dire than usual. After all,
these are not normal times. With an insurrection-inciting, twice-impeached, and
four-time indicted candidate on the ballot, democracy is very much on the line.
As Rosen told me, “There is an urgency to it now.” Homing in on what the U.S.
could look like during — and after — a second Donald Trump
presidency is crucial, especially as the Republican frontrunner echoes the
language of authoritarian leaders to reveal his plans for a second term.
Needless
to say, sounding the alarm on Trump’s disturbing conduct is more difficult than
engaging in horse race coverage. Focusing on the polls can help news
organizations dodge thorny issues, such as Trump’s use of vile rhetoric. That
allows them, perhaps, to avoid the perception among some in the public that
they’re unfairly biased.
“And
[horse race coverage] is an easy way to make a complicated subject come alive
for audiences,” Rosen added. “It creates excitement of a kind. Suspense. These
things make it a formidable adversary.”
That’s
not to say all coverage of polling and political strategy is misguided, Rosen
stressed. Simply, it should not be the primary focus for news organizations,
given what is on the line come next November.
“I
don’t mean to say that news of the horse race is some sort of sin or poison
that has dot be driven from the news,” Rosen told me. “Rather, that the horse
race should not be the model for how you design your coverage. It should not be
the organizing principle of your campaign coverage.”
There
are some signs that news organizations are following such a blueprint as they
cover the 2024 race, with major outlets starting to report on Trump’s alarming
plans, should he be re-elected. The New York Times, The Washington Post, and
the Associated Press have all published detailed stories in recent weeks on his
twisted fantasies. On cable news, CNN and MSNBC have run segments on the topic
as well.
“We
are getting more and more stakes journalism from our national media,” Rosen
said. “And that’s an encouraging sign. And I think it is absolutely essential
to keep going.”
