See this report on steps that reporters should take now to consider how to present evidence related to vote counts and the inevitable delays in counting a flood of absentee ballots that will flow thanks to COVID: law.uci.edu/faculty/full-t…
The first cable news personality I am aware of to address the importance of the media presenting accurate information about vote counting and delays to preserve confidence in 2020 election results is @smerconish. He interviewed me about it Saturday. Watch: cnn.com/videos/tv/2020…
The message is getting through in print media, but it is so important for broadcast networks and cable news to understand the importance of "too early to call" statements and explaining to voters that changes in vote margins as absentee ballots are counted isn't evidence of fraud
Consider for example, when news says that "100% of precincts" have reported, when there are still hundreds of thousands of absentee ballots to count. Voters will be suspicious if the candidate ahead changes after that. It is important to explain COVID-delayed absentee vote count.
Our committee report has suggestions for how election officials can process absentee ballots more quickly (but carefully) and how media and social media should explain vote counts and changes as we may have days before we know presidential election winner: law.uci.edu/faculty/full-t…
The problem for network and cable news is desire to be first in declaring a winner and to complain when vote totals from election officials are delayed. TV media need to change their own expectations and the public's or else we risk many people questioning legitimacy of results.
So I am hoping this message gets through to the decision desks and to folks like @SteveKornacki @JohnKingCNN @BretBaier @GStephanopoulos @chucktodd Please read the committee recommendations on the media's presentation of 2020 election results and delays law.uci.edu/faculty/full-t…
