On Election Night, TV News Promises More Transparency. Will Viewers Care?

On Election Night, TV News Promises More Transparency. Will Viewers Care?

As someone who has spent countless hours glued to television screens during election nights, I find myself deeply intrigued by the strategies that news networks are employing this time around. Having witnessed the intensity of the 2020 elections and the subsequent aftermath, it’s clear that transparency and credibility are paramount.


One key aspect that seems to unite all the well-prepared strategies for television news coverage during the 2024 election night could be described as a strong emphasis on “openness” or “transparency.

Given the lessons from four years past, it appears that each platform is carefully strategizing on not just displaying the figures, but also explaining their origins, interpreting their true significance, and demonstrating their importance.

In a world where a single phone call from a television network could disrupt a political campaign significantly, it’s clear that all parties comprehend the gravity of the situation at hand.

2020’s early Arizona election call by Fox News and the Associated Press remains a significant memory in newsrooms today. Although both parties eventually confirmed their initial call, which was proven correct later on, industry leaders and on-air personalities from various television networks, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter, still feel the impact of that decision.

Chris Stirewalt, for instance, previously worked on a team that declared Arizona for Fox News (a team headed by experienced consultant Arnon Mishkin). Later in 2021, Stirewalt was dismissed from Fox, but now he is employed at the cable news channel NewsNation, owned by Nexstar, and will make appearances as an analyst on their broadcasts.

Stirewalt explains that there was a mysterious ‘Wizard of Oz’ type operation, where magical beings in another location were predicting presidential election results. However, he suggests that this approach might not function well in today’s fragmented and individualized media landscape, where powerful figures no longer dominate as they once did. Instead, it’s crucial to demonstrate the methods used and be open about the processes involved.

Tonight, as viewers join us, we’ll unveil insights in a dual manner. Firstly, by engaging directly with our data scientists, and secondly, through technological means and clear broadcast narration, ensuring that complex data becomes more accessible for all.

In the realm of technology, each broadcast network has its unique features (such as Fox News’ augmented reality graphics and NBC News’ CGI backdrop of Rockefeller Center). However, it’s not just about eye-catching gimmicks anymore; there are also essential additions to the table, like advanced touchscreen data analysis tools. What was once pioneered by CNN as “The Magic Wall” in 2008 is now a standard feature, with every network sporting one and a data-savvy reporter or anchor on standby to dissect the figures for viewers.

Once more, John King will be on duty at CNN, while Bill Hemmer takes up position at Fox, and Tom Llamas does the same at NBC. At MSNBC, Steve Kornacki will preside over the proceedings, and he’ll also provide a “Kornacki Cam” experience for Peacock viewers, with a GoPro fixed to his desk giving them a round-the-clock view of him throughout the night.

Kristen Welker from Meet the Press remarks that Steve Kornacki never unnecessarily includes live shots and always chooses his words carefully. When he shares information with viewers, it’s because he believes it is crucial and underscores significant themes in this election, such as the gender gap, the right track/wrong track numbers, or how voters feel about important topics like the economy, immigration, reproductive rights, and climate change.

We enjoy delving deep into topics with Steve Kornacki, as he manages to make complex information understandable for everyone. This is crucial for us, as we always aim to ensure no one feels excluded from our discussion.

At Fox, Hemmer’s “Billboard” function or his enhanced reality visuals will serve the same purpose.

Martha MacCallum, a Fox News anchor, mentions one of Bill Hemmer’s favorite new gadgets: it displays electoral maps showing the leaning of states, like North Carolina, for instance, and highlights how close these states were in the last four elections, with Trump just barely edging over the line in two instances. The same pattern is seen in Arizona. MacCallum explains that when you consider the narrow margins, such as Wisconsin being decided by a few thousand votes in recent elections, it emphasizes the substantial effort required to flip these states from one side to another to win them.

In our current times, there’s an abundance of things to observe,” her co-anchor from Fox News, Bret Baier remarks. “We aim to ensure they comprehend the data being presented and present it in various engaging ways, as Bill suggested with augmented reality, to make it more captivating to watch.

Although networks primarily concentrate on their television programming, they also place significance on data-driven content beyond the television screen. For instance, CNN offers an interactive version of its Magic Wall within the CNN app, allowing users to engage with it directly.

At NBC News, you’ll find an abundance of explainer articles and supplementary content being shared across multiple social and video platforms.

Rebecca Blumenstein, President of NBC News Editorial, stated that Steve Kornacki is delivering many explanatory posts on TikTok. She also mentioned that instant vote cards will appear across various social media platforms. In a time when people are uncertain about the reliability of information, she emphasized that NBC News is striving to be the trusted source of news in whatever format people prefer to consume it.

It appears that more and more, these networks are focusing on featuring the individuals who are making the actual calls, often addressing them directly with queries or requests for additional information.

At Fox News, Baier expresses their preparedness to invite Mishkin or other key figures for an explanation on the reasoning behind their decisions… or alternatively, why they might choose not to do so.

When it’s close and the night is very late, and we’re still waiting on results from certain states, we find ourselves eager to reveal the behind-the-scenes workings and share the insights with our viewers. This involves asking questions like, ‘why can’t we make this call definitively?’ and then listening as someone guides Bill to a specific county. As the data decision desk person explains, ‘this is where we stand, we’re stuck here,’ it gives us a clearer picture of the situation. Over time, we’ve found that being open and transparent enhances the viewing experience.

At NewsNation, they’ve chosen to step away from their own election forecasts and instead rely on Decision Desk HQ for these predictions. Reporters and cameras from the channel are present in the room with them at Georgetown. Stirewalt contends that this outsourcing of the call enhances the news organization’s independence, as it minimizes the possibility of lobbying or pressure from political campaigns, a lesson learned from the 2020 election where the Trump campaign exerted significant influence on Fox News regarding the Arizona call.

He suggests maintaining a neutral approach for fairness in race calls. This is beneficial as it prevents personal biases from commercial, self-serving, or political motivations. By keeping things clear and distinct, we can observe their actions, ask questions, and gather information. However, they will act independently, and our role is to report on their actions, offer context, and provide explanations.

But all the data and transparency in the world won’t mean much if viewers don’t buy it.

This year, one of the biggest questions for news organizations revolves around consumer behavior. With the media landscape being highly fragmented, it has turned into an interactive story where consumers can pick their own adventures. At any given moment, they have easy access to comforting data right at their fingertips.

Approximately half of the nation may experience defeat in next Tuesday’s voting. Will clarity about the process ease their concerns? Or might it push them towards data sources that reinforce their beliefs and offer comforting perspectives instead?

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2024-11-06 00:25