We do this because it’s part of our mission: To serve our communities with the reporting they need to make informed decisions at the polls, and to educate the public about why exercising their right to vote is so important. As editor of the Dayton Daily News, here is my commitment to you around election coverage.
- We advocate for participation and education. Our goal is to encourage everyone to participate in democracy. That means we’ll provide information about the local candidates and local issues, as well as information on how to register to vote and where to find your polling place. Democracy works best when everyone’s voice is heard.
- We focus on the issues, not the horse race. We don’t prioritize covering the blow-by-blow of jabs and punches traded by candidates, or supporters on either side of an issue. We’re focused on the facts at hand, the potential outcomes of a vote, and the impact it will have on our local communities. Our reporters focus on where candidates stand on the issues, as well as their goals and principles.
- We need you to be involved. Telling you about candidates and issues isn’t enough – we want to know how the outcomes of elections impact you. The Dayton Daily News is committed to cultivating ongoing discussion around the impact of election results, but that requires your participation. We don’t accept contributed columns that endorse particular candidates – but we do invite you to submit your ideas on the problems facing your community and how you’d advocate for change. This is something we’re committed to year-round, not just during an election cycle.
To illustrate those commitments, we’ve done the following:
- Created a Voter Guide, which includes responses from hundreds of candidates and their positions, in their words, who are running in local races. Find it online at daytondailynews.com/voter-guide.
- Wrote a story about everything you need to know to vote in November’s election, such as how to register and how to vote early.
- We’ve included an application for an absentee ballot and tips for voting by mail in Sunday’s paper.
This is one of the most mission-critical things that the Dayton Daily News does, and we are honored to have your trust.
As always, I welcome your feedback and questions about our election coverage. You can reach me at ashley.bethard@coxinc.com.
Every voice is important – please vote. Democracy needs all of us.
Credit: Knack Video + Photo
Credit: Knack Video + Photo
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