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Covering Political Extremism in the Public Square (September 2022)

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Covering Political Extremism in the Public Square (September 2022)

Increased intimidation, threats and violence surround democratic process and participation in the United States. This free, one-day online workshop will help journalists stay safe and produce ethical, excellent stories for voters leading up to the 2022 midterms. Broadcast date: Sept. 20, 2022. Enroll now to watch the replay.

September 20, 2022

Overview

  • Join PolitiFact editors and fact-checkers — plus special guests — to discuss best practices during heightened situations
  • Make lasting connections with other local journalists who can help you navigate these stories in the future
  • Broadcast date: Sept. 20, 2022. Enroll now to watch the replay.

$0.00

SKU: NUOGS21-22 Tags: , ,

Learning Outcomes

Participants in this one-day online workshop will:

  • Understand the laws that govern election security, firearms possession at polling places, election intimidation and threats of violence
  • Explain how and where gun rights run up against the law in polling places and other sensitive places like state capitols
  • Recognize the cultural phenomenon of threats, violence and armed intimidation in the public sphere
  • Identify attempts by extremists to normalize this behavior, including downplay and denial
  • Grapple with the ethics issues of how journalists cover violence or threats of violence at public institutions
  • Learn best practices for dealing with online harassment and threats
  • Develop new story ideas and reporting strategies for reporting on tense situations where violence is possible
  • Apply lessons to other areas of coverage, including statehouse, school boards and public health agencies
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$0.00

Overview

  • Join PolitiFact editors and fact-checkers — plus special guests — to discuss best practices during heightened situations
  • Make lasting connections with other local journalists who can help you navigate these stories in the future
  • Broadcast date: Sept. 20, 2022. Enroll now to watch the replay.

Training five or more people?
Check out our custom training.

Broadcast date: Sept. 20, 2022. Enroll now to watch the replay. 

Though it received the most global attention, the insurrection at the U.S. capitol is just one example of a disinformation-fueled attack on the American democratic process. And it didn’t end the trend toward mainstream extremism. 

How do you cover elections for a public that is extremely fractured? This free online group seminar will help local journalists stay safe and produce ethical, excellent stories about voting, security and local issues leading up to the 2022 midterms and beyond. 

With guidance from PolitiFact executive director Aaron Sharockman and PolitiFact staff writer Amy Sherman, participants will learn how to track and debunk election-related disinformation that could fuel violence on the local level. Participants will also gain an understanding of First and Second Amendment protections to strengthen their reporting about activities that are prohibited by law. Finally, participants will also review best practices for reporting on these issues without legitimizing them or having a chilling effect on democratic participation.

Informing the electorate and holding powerful people accountable are journalists’ great responsibility. This training program will help journalists do so responsibly.  

Questions?

If you need assistance, email us at info@poynter.org.

This online group seminar will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern time on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022. Though all the sessions will be recorded and available for replay within the course, we hope most participants can attend live to get their questions answered and contribute to a robust conversation.

10:15 a.m.-10:30 a.m. – Zoom is open

10:30 a.m.-10:40 a.m. – Aaron and Katie welcome

10:40 a.m.-11:30 a.m. – Katie Sanders 1:1 interview with Tim Alberta of the Atlantic

11:30 a.m-11:35 a.m. – Break

11:35 a.m.-12:15 p.m. – Reporting panel: Heath Druzin, Kira Lerner

12:15 p.m.-12:45 p.m. – Fact-checking with Amy Sherman

12:45 p.m.-12:55 p.m. – Break

12:55 p.m.-1:00 p.m. – Aaron and Katie

1:00 p.m.-1:45 p.m. – Aaron interviews Joanna Lydgate and Jennifer Dresden

1:45 p.m.-2:20 p.m. – Katie interviews Jessica Huseman

2:20 p.m.-2:30 p.m. – Break

2:30 p.m.-3:20 p.m. – Amy interviews elections officials Natalie Adona, Stephen Richer and Derek Bowens

3:20 p.m.-3-25 p.m. – Break

3:25 p.m.-3:55 p.m. – Building your own Election Day plan exercise

3:55 p.m.- 4 p.m. – Takeaways and final thoughts from Aaron and Katie. Goodbye!

Who should enroll

Journalists who cover government, elections, police, courts, general assignment or who think they may be in potentially dangerous or threatening situations covering public institutions or events leading up to the midterms. Those who work in or report on battleground states in the 2022 midterms will especially benefit.

Cost

This online group seminar is free, thanks to support from the Joyce Foundation. 

Instructors

Moderators

  • Katie Sanders
    Editor-in-Chief, PolitiFact
    Katie Sanders is the editor-in-chief of PolitiFact. Previously, she fact-checked talking heads and opinion-shapers for PunditFact as well as the Legislature and Gov. Rick Scott...
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  • Aaron Sharockman
    Executive Director, PolitiFact and Vice President for Sales & Strategic Partnerships
    Aaron Sharockman is the executive director of PolitiFact, the largest fact-checking organization in the United States. Aaron leads the growth and development of PolitiFact, manages...
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  • Amy Sherman
    Staff Writer, PolitiFact
    Amy Sherman is a staff writer with PolitiFact and based in South Florida. She was part of the team that launched PolitiFact Florida in 2010...
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Guest Speakers

  • Natalie Adona
    Assistant Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters, Nevada County, California
    Natalie Adona is the assistant clerk-recorder/registrar of voters and the incoming clerk-recorder elect for Nevada County, California. Natalie has held the position of assistant since...
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  • Tim Alberta
    Staff writer, The Atlantic
    Tim Alberta is a staff writer at The Atlantic. He was previously the chief political correspondent for Politico. He is also the author of American Carnage: On the Front...
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  • Jessica Huseman
    Editorial Director, Votebeat
    Jessica Huseman is the editorial director of Votebeat, and a regular contributor to CNN and the Daily Beast on voting and elections issues. She was...
    Read More
  • Kira Lerner
    Democracy reporter, States Newsroom
    Kira Lerner is a democracy reporter for States Newsroom where she covers voting, elections, and efforts to subvert democracy. Before joining States Newsroom, she was...
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  • Joanna Lydgate
    Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the States United Democracy Center
    Joanna Lydgate is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the States United Democracy Center. Prior to launching States United, she served as the Chief...
    Read More
  • Derek Bowens
    Director of Elections, Durham County, N.C.
    Derek Bowens joined the Durham County Board of Elections in June of 2017 as the Director of Elections. Previously, Mr. Bowens was the Director of...
    Read More
  • Stephen Richer
    Maricopa County Recorder
    Stephen Richer is the Republican-elected Maricopa County Recorder.  His office is statutorily responsible for recording public documents, registering voters, maintaining the voter registration database, and...
    Read More
  • Heath Druzin
    Podcast host and creator, Extremely American Podcast
    Heath Druzin is the host and creator of the Extremely American podcast, an examination of the intersection of extremism and American politics. Druzin is the former...
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  • Clara Hendrickson
    Fact-checker, Report for America
    Clara Hendrickson fact-checks Michigan issues and politics as a corps member with Report for America, an initiative of The GroundTruth Project. Prior to joining the...
    Read More
  • Jennifer Dresden
    Policy Strategist, Protect Democracy
    Jennifer Dresden is a Policy Strategist at Protect Democracy, where she helps teams leverage leading social science research to inform their work in defense of...
    Read More
  • Aaron Baird
    Communications, Protect Democracy
    Aaron Baird develops strategic communications and policy advocacy strategies to fight the threat of democratic decline in the United States. In particular, he leads Protect...
    Read More

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