With Election Day nearing, local journalists need to look beyond conventional reporting to inform audiences about the consequences of their votes. National stories leading up to, during, and after the elections can be challenging to localize and relate to smaller communities. Reporters must find new and effective ways to connect with voters, develop sources, and engage with their readers, viewers and listeners.
By attending this class, you’ll learn:
• How to approach voters and find relevant, timely sources for your stories.
• How to identify new election-related stories and report on under-served communities.
• How to localize stories about national elections and keep election coverage relevant to your audience.
About Your Instructor
Emma Platoff is a political enterprise reporter at The Boston Globe, where she started in 2021. She has covered Beacon Hill, Boston City Hall, and the ever-evolving relationship between them, as well as national stories from New Hampshire, Texas, Iowa, and across the midwest. At the Globe, Platoff has focused on representation and redistricting, State House accountability, chaos on the Boston City Council, and the historic rise and tenure of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. She has more than six years of experience covering politics and government at the local, state, and national levels.
The New England First Amendment Coalition launched a monthly educational series in 2020 featuring short, practical lessons on journalism and the First Amendment. The goal of the program — called “30 Minute Skills” — is to provide reporters and other citizens knowledge they can use immediately in newsgathering, data collection, storytelling, and other areas of journalism and First Amendment law.
The lessons are provided in a 30-minute format to accommodate the demanding schedules faced by many working in New England newsrooms. The program is free and open to the public. Registration for each lesson is required.