Giving Readers What They Want & Need with Election Coverage

This year, we’ve closely followed how publishers are delivering engaging, audience-centric election journalism. While this election year is winding down, the strategies they use will remain relevant for many elections to come.

Some Ideas for Your Audience-Centric Coverage

An audience-first focus means taking the time to truly listen to audiences and creating content that reflects their needs and wants.?Here are some of the strategies publishers can use to enhance their audience-first approach:

• UGC: Crafting an Inclusive Narrative. Involving readers in the content creation process allows media outlets to better understand and meet audience expectations, while fostering deeper connections. Use surveys and polls to gather insights, or encourage readers to share their thoughts on social media using a custom hashtag, which you can later incorporate into your coverage.
• Personalized Connection: Journalist-Audience Relationships. Today’s audiences appreciate content that feels authentic and personal. You can "humanize" journalists by encouraging conversational writing, adding detailed journalist profiles, or simply displaying their names and photos alongside their articles and posts.

You Covered the Election - Now What?

While elections grab headlines, many publishers overlook possibilities that post-election coverage has to offer. Here are some ideas of how you can continue to connect with your readers after the polls have closed:

• Provide a Space for Readers to Share Their Reactions. Elections can leave readers with a range of unresolved emotions, from excitement to frustration. While many turn to social media to express these feelings, such discussions often become chaotic and unproductive. Publishers can offer a better solution: a moderated comment section where readers can share their thoughts in a controlled environment. This allows newsrooms to filter out uncivil comments and share fact-checked information right in the discussion, creating a space where readers engage in constructive dialogue. MDR MITTELDEUTSCHER RUNDFUNK 's post-election coverage after the state elections in Thuringia and Saxony is a great example of this approach - check out their coverage for inspiration.
• Help Them Understand Other People's Perspectives. Post-election period can see heightened polarization between individuals with different views, beliefs, and backgrounds. Media outlets can address this by showcasing a variety of voices, creating a more inclusive narrative. Thus, publishers help readers understand how various segments of the population are affected by the electoral outcomes, bridging gaps in understanding across beliefs and backgrounds to mitigate polarization. For example, see how DIE ZEIT followed five voters of various ages and political views throughout the evening, integrating their routines and thoughts into a captivating coverage.

?? Stat of the Month

The European Parliament Election in June was one of the most live-blogged events by our clients. We wondered: how engaging was their coverage for readers?

We crunched the numbers and let the data speak for itself!

?? Upcoming Events

Join our live conversation on Sep 25th on how to build trust & connections with readers in this and all election seasons to come.

Featuring speakers from leading European editorial teams:

?? Victoria Steveley , Deputy Chief Audience Editor at Belfast Telegraph

?? Pip Tomson , former Presenter & Journalist at GB News

?? Daniel Mollitor, Business Editor at dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH

?? Naomi Owusu , CEO at Tickaroo

Moderated by the communication expert Rich Uridge .

Register here! (Webinar recording will be provided)

#TeamTickaroo recommends:        

• Putting audience first in election coverage, by Amalie Nash from International News Media Association (INMA) .
• Media Briefs: How live blogging adds an audience-first dimension to election coverage, a podcast by Media Voices with Naomi Owusu .
• Make your election coverage findable and useful, by Lynn Walsh from Trusting News .

> Liveblog Highlight Section <        

Debates are often the most intense part of any election race. Publishers have a great opportunity to help audiences avoid the stress of watching the entire event live and yet stay informed. Check out how New Zealand Stuff condensed 90 minutes of heated US presidential debates into one engaging live blog:

Big thanks for sticking with us, and see you soon!

Happy Liveblogging,

Tickaroo Team

Tickaroo is your live content software expert. Based in Regensburg, Germany, we equip publishers to deliver real-time updates, captivating content, and standout live coverage effortlessly. From breaking news to events and sports, we've got the tools to make your coverage a success. Interested in more? Let's chat!