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• Avoid euphemisms that conceal and normalize extremism.

• Explain that disinformation by MAGA is a strategy.

• Don’t platform liars or act as stenographers for strategic MAGA lies.

• Include a public figure’s history of coup participation when quoting them.

• Inoculate Americans against a repeat of the Big Lie strategy.

• Build public trust by explaining the newsroom decisions you make about elections.

• Have a plan for managing deepfakes.

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Avoid euphemisms that conceal and normalize extremism. The words you use can either center truth or obfuscate it. Describing a well-funded, strategic disinformation campaign as mere “conspiracy theories'' is dishonest to readers. It is just as dishonest to downplay Big Lie generated voter suppression laws by headlining them as “curbs'' and “hurdles.” The goal should be to expose disinformation agents who are out to deceive the public and harm our democracy, not perform public relations for their nefarious efforts. Americans require accurate language, not timidity, to understand the threat we face.

Explain that disinformation by MAGA is a strategy. You know lying about elections is a repugnant strategy employed by an extreme wing of the Republican party, whose members went along with, or actively participated in, a coup, yet newsrooms are rarely forthcoming about this reality when reporting. It’s not biased to tell the truth about this matter or other obvious MAGA disinformation campaigns like the lie that the US faces a terrorist invasion at the border. Fully exposing near party-wide disinformation strategies is the most basic requirement of a political journalist.

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Don’t platform liars or act as stenographers for strategic MAGA lies. Only one party has several members lying about elections, January 6th, the border, and their support for major legislation. They rely on you to dutifully amplify whatever they say (a failure of journalism referred to as stenography) and in so doing, you become complicit. Choose responsible frames based on knowledgeable sources, not the frames and PR opportunities created for you by MAGA Republicans. Make it a policy to not invite known spreaders of disinformation to your newsroom or ask them for quotes.

Include a public figure’s history of coup participation when quoting them. Mark Jacob points out that lack of vital context, or as he calls it “media amnesia,” becomes amnesty for elected officials whose credibility should rightly be questioned. “I’m not saying the news media should bring up these ugly details just to whack misbehaving political figures. I’m saying they should bring them up when they’re relevant information for weighing the person’s credibility.”

Inoculate Americans against a repeat of the Big Lie strategy. Undoubtedly, the 2024 election will be immediately followed by claims of fraud by MAGA candidates who lose. Get in front of this. Convey to readers that lies, threats, and violence are illegitimate, anti-democratic political tactics designed to unfairly preserve or gain power outside of electoral processes. Show how the transfer of power works so people understand the norms, the culture, and the law of running elections. Write “here’s what to expect” articles ahead of election day, like this excellent example from The Keystone, “Will Pennsylvania see another “red mirage” in the 2024 election?”

Build public trust by explaining the newsroom decisions you make about elections. There is widespread distrust of how the media covers elections. Help the public better understand the decisions you make. As Margaret Sullivan said in an interview with the Guardian, “I call it radical transparency: journalists should explain how they came to conclusions and their reporting techniques, and share primary information. In other words: ‘Here are receipts, you can see them yourselves.’ We can’t change the craziness of the environment, but we can relentlessly explain ourselves.” Tell readers how you go about calling a race on election night. Publish your pro-democracy election coverage mission, as WyoFile did in 2022.

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Have a plan for managing deepfakes. Malactors around the world are increasingly using technology to manipulate voters and undermine faith in elections. Their efforts are often timed to unleash maximum chaos just as polls are set to open. A few days ahead of the New Hampshire primary, a “robocall used artificial intelligence to mimic President Joe Biden’s voice and discourage voters in the state from coming to the polls.” Journalist’s likenesses are now being used for deepfakes, further damaging trust in what people see and hear on the news. Take steps to ensure your newsroom remains a trusted source. Be prepared to quickly and accurately appraise deepfakes. Build trust with your audience by being transparent about your verification process. The FBI recently issued a warning to the public about election manipulation “enabled by new technology.” American newsrooms must heed this warning, as well.