Fox News to Pull Back Curtain On How It Makes Election Day State Calls

Fox News to Pull Back Curtain On How It Makes Election Day State Calls

As a seasoned journalist with decades of experience under my belt, I find myself deeply intrigued by the transparency Fox News is aiming for this election cycle. Having lived through the tumultuous 2020 elections, it’s refreshing to see networks like Fox taking strides towards openness and clarity in their decision-making processes.


On a Sunday evening in New York, Fox News anchor Bret Baier dined at an Italian restaurant frequently visited by co-host Harold Ford Jr. from the show The Five.

One evening, I found myself sharing a meal with Ford and Alex Castellanos from Fox, when unexpectedly, a voice that echoed in my memories drew near to our table.

As I glanced over my shoulder, there I was face to face with Alec Baldwin and his wife, Hilaria. With a warm smile, he extended his hand and said, “It’s a pleasure to meet you in person. I must admit, I found playing your role on Saturday Night Live quite enjoyable.” Indeed, it was just two weeks prior that he had mimicked my interview with Vice President Kamala Harris on the show.

He was delightful, his spouse was equally charming. We engaged in a pleasant conversation. Then, he remarked, ‘Harold, why didn’t you snap a photo?’ To which he replied, ‘Come on, we’re more significant than that.’ I responded, ‘I may not be bigger than that, but I would have cherished that photograph.’

“Only in New York,” he added with a laugh.

Baier’s conversation with Harris could become a pivotal event in the 2024 election cycle. During Fox Corp.’s financial conference call on Monday, their CEO, Lachlan Murdoch, highlighted it, stating that it established a new standard for political interviews, attracting a massive audience of nine million viewers.

However, SNL parodies further emphasize that Fox News is under intense scrutiny on Tuesday night and in the following hours and days. As the most-watched cable news channel, it even ranks among the top TV channels overall. The conservative opinion shows, panel discussions like “The Five,” and programs such as Baier’s wield significant influence and impact. Consequently, how Fox News handles Election Night will ripple throughout various media and political landscapes.

As I nestled myself in my gaming den on a Monday, within the heart of Fox’s New York headquarters, I shared my convictions with The Hollywood Reporter, alongside my election night partner-in-crime, Martha MacCallum. We both were certain that we’d provide an engaging viewing experience, regardless of how long it takes to determine the outcome. We couldn’t help but acknowledge the heavy tension and apprehension our country is experiencing due to this high-stakes event.

MacCallum expresses that this topic holds a great deal of emotional significance for Americans. Given the tension surrounding the election, many people seem to rely on us for information. To ensure our coverage is helpful and comprehensible to viewers who may be dropping in for brief periods, we’ve been making an effort to provide detailed explanations about what we’re discussing.

Baier jokes, could we possibly expect the situation to resolve by election night or the following day? Let’s just speculate, whatever the outcome may be, shall we?

Absolutely, Fox, along with other broadcasting channels, is making arrangements should the election drag on till Wednesday or even later.

In the past, we’ve encountered tight elections with unexpected twists. You can visualize scenarios where there are doubts about ballots, pauses in counting, or premature declarations of victory before the race is officially called,” Baier explains. “We have a general strategy and a rough idea of how to proceed, but remember, we adapt as necessary.

If the situation prolongs, you’ll simply need to manage it,” he continues. “We’ve dealt with similar scenarios before, and in those periods, unwanted events may arise, requiring additional attention. So, it’s crucial to move beyond tomorrow and Wednesday morning, focusing on a mindset that looks ahead.

Initially, let’s focus on Election Night. Fox Network is well-prepared with a range of TV-friendly resources they intend to unveil.

On Monday during our technical run-through, host Bill Hemmer was experimenting with his interactive “Bill-screen,” as well as his innovative augmented reality data presentations. These new features will make it appear to home viewers as if election results from various states are hovering right in the middle of the studio.

A large, suspended video fixture descended from the ceiling, enabling news presenters to display data in innovative manners, as a massive, two-story screen behind their desks played pre-recorded footage of New York’s 6th Avenue.

One interesting gadget Bill Hemmer owns is one that highlights the voting trends in states like North Carolina, for instance, demonstrating how heavily leaned democratic it was during the past four elections, and the two instances where it barely tipped red for Trump. The same goes for Arizona. When you consider how slight these differences are, states such as Wisconsin have been decided by a mere handful or few thousand votes in recent elections. This underscores the significant challenge involved in flipping some of these states to win them.

In fact, much like other networks, Fox News aims to offer some transparency regarding their decision-making processes, a topic that has garnered significant attention within the media industry following 2020. The network’s early call on Arizona, which generated headlines all by itself, served as a catalyst for this increased scrutiny.

Baier notes, “We’ve definitely picked up some valuable insights.” He continues, “When it’s a tight race and the night is really late, we find ourselves eagerly anticipating the final results from certain states. In such situations, our team is geared towards uncovering the truth behind the delayed outcome. This often involves inviting those who are analyzing the data to share their insights, and they might suggest, for instance, ‘let’s check out county X.’ At this point, as the data decision desk person speaks, we can literally watch the situation unfold on our screens as they explain, ‘this is where we’re stuck right now.’

Over time, it seems clearer that being open and transparent by revealing more, according to Baier, benefits the audience even more.

As an enthusiast, I find myself deeply rooted in data analysis. I’m constantly tuned into the latest news developments, ensuring a smooth, sequential delivery of information to my audience. In this journey, I strive to be meticulous, breaking down complex topics step by step. To aid clarity and understanding, we’re introducing some fantastic new visual aids. These graphics will highlight key areas like the population density around Philadelphia, offering insights into past events for a more comprehensive view.

She mentions that we’re monitoring all the current events and aiming to present them in a manner that gives context and tells a coherent story, making it easier for our audience to understand.

Following the tallying of votes and the official certification of the election results, the narrative won’t end; a fact that both Baier and MacCallum have already begun contemplating.

MacCallum expresses her curiosity about the internal operations of the Biden Administration following the disappointing June debate that eventually resulted in his withdrawal from the campaign.

MacCallum expresses her belief that we will uncover a great deal more about the events following the Biden White House debate and the series of changes leading up to her gaining the nomination. She emphasizes that there’s still a significant part of this story left to be shared.

Baier is optimistic that whichever individual, whether Trump or Harris, will strive sincerely to bring the nation together. He expressed this sentiment in a published article on Monday, and reiterated it during his discussion with THR.

Baier expresses his belief that the story following the election is centered on uniting the country, as some families find themselves unable to engage in conversation during Thanksgiving gatherings. He wrote the op-ed as a means to emphasize that unity, regardless of the election outcome, should be our primary focus.

He expresses that when a winner emerges, we should approach it as we do any other topic in a respectful and impartial manner. However, he emphasizes that the message of unity is crucial not only for us to convey but also for the candidates themselves to address, as the nation is currently divided.

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2024-11-05 20:25