McClatchy brings the power of the people to midterm election editorials

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McClatchy wants to change how its media outlets cover elections by straying away from horse race journalism to journalism that focuses more on who the candidates are and what they stand for. National issues are no longer going to be at the forefront of reporting, but instead, local issues and elections that have a serious potential to affect the community members that will become the constituents of newly elected candidates.

The company is striving to better election reporting with three new programs. The programs range from reporting on policy issues that are important to the communities McClatchy covers to surveying community members and leaders to hone in on the most important information that needs to be told and reporting on it. McClatchy is taking it a step further with its "Influencer Series", a publication that will allow readers to contribute their own ideas about what topics need to be covered and allows journalists to be able to respond to readers' ideas.

McClatchy's other works in progress publications include "magazine-style coverage" of campaigns for the upcoming midterm elections. This project will include data on the fundraising efforts of each campaign that is covered.

Its last project that aims to make political information more accessible, is a documentary featuring Democrat Beto O'Rourke's efforts to replace Texas Senator Ted Cruz. With these new projects, McClatchy hopes to provide local political coverage that is different from the usual vague, drama-filled reporting that has taken the internet by storm in the past few years.

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