“Democracy Dies in Darkness.”
“Supporting [D.C.] statehood would not be [fine] – that would be an expression of public advocacy on a matter we cover.”
— The Washington Post
Right now, at one of the largest and oldest legacy newsrooms in the U.S., you can say you believe in democracy, but you can’t publicly say you believe you should have representation in Congress.
Journalism and democracy are intertwined, but if you’ve watched the way legacy and cable news have covered rising authoritarianism and attacks on voting rights in the U.S., that may no longer seem evident.
As part of its participation in Democracy Day, The Objective committed to taking a critical look at how democracy and journalism co-exist in the U.S., including democratic practices and anti-democratic trends. You can read more about our commitment here or read on to see what we’ve been up to since.
Reclaiming Democracy
Q&A: Emily Ramshaw of The 19th*
After pledging “accountability,” Reveal laid off all Black unionized staff
After 2020, Black-led newsrooms ask: Where is the long-term support?
Business Outsider? Strike publications offer a glimpse of worker-owned media
New youth-led climate protest group will ‘blockade’ White House Correspondents’ Dinner
Q&A: Daniel Nichanian on the nuts and Bolts of local democracy coverage for a national audience
This initiative is graciously supported by
With special thanks to
Democracy SOS (Hearken) & the Missouri School of Journalism
The Objective is a nonprofit newsroom holding journalism accountable for past and current systemic biases in reporting and newsroom practices. We are written by and for those underrepresented in journalism.
