American Press Institute’s Post

A lesson for all communicators: relying on your audience to come to you (on your social pages, on your website, at your front desk, etc) won’t get the job done. You have to take your message to your audience! Where are the people you want to target? That’s where you need to be, too. You can’t reach Gen Z on Facebook.

🎉 We just gave away $36,000 to support pro-democracy journalism! 🎉 The U.S Democracy Day team just awarded reporting stipends to 17 newsrooms that will spend the next 7 weeks working on projects that use journalism to spur civic engagement, demystify how elections are run, and — most crucially — put forth solutions to challenges threatening our democracy. The projects in this cohort are inventive (like The Austin Common using bar trivia to teach civics in Texas), necessary (like the Mississippi Free Press's work factchecking every polling location in the state), and collaborative (like Signal Cleveland working with Documenters to create multilingual voter education materials). None of this work would've been possible without the financial support of Democracy Fund and Hearken, Inc, or the team that helped me assemble such an amazing cohort: Stefanie Murray, Joe Amditis, Jaisal N., Rachel Glickhouse, Michelle Faust Raghavan, M.A., and Jennifer Brandel. Meet the full cohort here ⬇️

Voter Guides are great resources for people. Especially if designed well. And a smart way to engage your folks. Solid examples and insights here for news orgs (and nonprofits who are or should be putting together voter guides).

When I joined the Knight Foundation a few months ago, I emphasized the need for philanthropy to act swiftly—'at the speed of news'—to address urgent needs in real time. Today, I am proud to announce that Knight is investing nearly $7 million to help voters access accurate, independent, nonpartisan information about the 2024 elections. The loss of local newsrooms across so many American communities has a devastating impact. And it is felt acutely at times when residents most need quality information to make critical decisions — during major weather or public safety events and election seasons, for example. Without trustworthy news, voters could be in the dark about local and statewide elections and ballot initiatives. Exacerbating the challenge, the advent of generative AI has significantly accelerated the creation and distribution of mis- and disinformation, making it even more difficult for voters to arrive at fact-based decisions. To address this, Knight's grant supports a collaboration between The Associated Press and the Institute for Nonprofit News News and LION: Local Independent Online News Publishers. This initiative will make high-quality election content and services accessible to local newsrooms in battleground states. Local newsrooms will also receive the support needed to localize this information, making it relevant and accessible to their communities. Additionally, these funds will support the Knight Election Hub, a collection of 100 free and subsidized resources, including data, software, and training. As new challenges such as deepfakes arise, the Hub will continue to expand its offerings to meet evolving needs. These initiatives support local news organizations in two ways: 1) they empower them with high quality tools that provide critical information, ensuring voters can make informed decisions about elections, and 2) they enhance their capacity to engage communities beyond the election season. The time is now for philanthropy to move at the speed of news. Read more about it here: https://kf.org/461zcGi #localnews #journalismmatters Jim Brady Duc Luu Marc Lavallee

We've loved seeing all the creative ways our partners tap into their unique audiences to help recruit a new generation of poll workers! Check out this this perfectly titled article: "Swipe Right for Democracy" ft @meetBLK: https://lnkd.in/eAJHSnG4

Creative challenge: cut through the pre-election noise, grab the attention of younger voters, combat voter apathy. In the 2016 US presidential election, 41% of eligible voters didn’t bother showing up. The 2020 election saw more engagement but still 33% of voters didn’t bother to vote. Voters in many states now have more ways to vote than ever before and of course there’s more at stake.   In our first creative meeting we decided if we’re going to do what everyone else does then let’s not even bother - we go big or we go home. And that’s exactly what we did with a bold statement that reflects our exasperation with the endless excuses Americans like to use to justify not voting (and then complaining endlessly about the outcome of a process they don’t participate in). Meet Fuse Media’s pro social voter engagement campaign, these PSAs are available for anyone who’s interested - hit me up if you want to spread the word! Let's do this. #fusemedia #justfingvote #voterregistration #prosocial #multicultural #PSA

Campaigns can be won in the margins, which is why it is critical to engage with Hispanic voters, who have the highest number of registered independent voters in battleground states. To effectively reach and persuade Hispanic voters, it’s important to start talking to them NOW and IN-LANGUAGE. TelevisaUnivision has the power to reach nearly 100% of U.S. Hispanic households with precision. Plus, we have the resources and data you need to communicate with them on issues that matter most to their community. DM me for more information, and let’s strategize the best way to mobilize Hispanic voters so your campaigns can WIN.

📢 Engaging with the Hispanic Community: A Vital Approach to Addressing Key Voter Priorities 📢 As we gear up for the upcoming elections, it's crucial to address the issues that matter most to our community. According to a recent article by UnidosUS, key concerns for Latino voters include pocketbook issues, immigration, and gun violence. These priorities highlight the importance of effective communication and engagement with the Hispanic community. At Estrella TV West Palm Beach, we are dedicated to connecting businesses with our local and loyal Hispanic audience. As the only local Spanish-speaking television station from Boca Raton to Vero Beach, we understand the power of speaking to the community in their own language. Local television and digital advertisements are not just tools for promoting products and services—they are vital channels for sharing essential information and encouraging civic participation. Through strategic partnerships with Hearst Digital, we amplify our reach, ensuring that important messages about voter priorities, candidate information, and key events are delivered effectively. Together, we create impactful campaigns that resonate with our audience, driving engagement and fostering a well-informed community. Join us in making a difference. Let's ensure every voice is heard and every issue is addressed. Contact us to learn how Estrella TV and Hearst Digital can help you connect with the Hispanic community and achieve your goals. #HispanicCommunity #LocalTV #DigitalAdvertising #VoterEngagement #EstrellaTV #HearstDigital #LatinoVoices #CivicParticipation

🌟 Exciting News! 🌟 Black Voice News is proud to be among the 21 local media organizations honored with the API's 2024 Election Coverage and Community Listening Fund award! 🏆🎉 This recognition empowers us to elevate our community's voice and deliver impactful, inclusive election coverage. Stay tuned for more updates! #BlackVoiceNews #Election2024 #CommunityEngagement #LocalMedia #API2024 #ElectionCoverage #CommunityListening #localnews

The spread of disinformation, especially during elections, puts democratic processes at risk. It confuses voters, suppresses voter turnout, and erodes trust. Philanthropies are supporting organizations countering disinformation heading into the upcoming election. They’re funding journalism, media literacy initiatives, and research on how disinformation impacts our democracy and elections. MacArthur Foundation, THE WILLIAM AND FLORA HEWLWH FOUNDATION, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Democracy Fund, TIDES FOUNDATION https://bit.ly/4eVlvfY