Reporting on the 2024 Presidential Campaign with Context
By Amber Roessner, author of Jimmy Carter and the Birth of the Marathon Media Campaign (LSU Press, 2020); posted Oct. 1, 2024
Longtime Associated Press campaign reporter Bill Barrow noted in his 2022 Dartmouth Bernard D. Nossiter lecturethat at “a critical juncture for American journalism and self-government … a nuanced take is necessary to meet the moment.”
Barrow’s perspective aligned with those of reporters that University of Tennessee, Knoxville Professor Amber Roessner and fellow media historians Nicholas Hirshon and Kristin Gustafson interviewed for a 2020 Columbia Journalism Review piece.
For example, University of Tennessee alumnus R.J. Vogt acknowledged to the scholar-reporters that a historical mindset might give journalists pause before describing current events as unprecedented, even in this seemingly anomalous moment of presidential politics.
Vogt, who had gained a deep appreciation for media history during his undergraduate days, learned this lesson firsthand when covering President Trump’s efforts to nix federal funding for legal aid as a reporter for the legal newswire Law360. Vogt interviewed sources who made it clear that legal aid had been politicized for decades. “With historical context,” he said, “an individual story becomes part of a larger narrative.”
Vogt has carried that appreciation of historical context and nuance into his career as a law clerk with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
To connect past and present, offering the sort of radical context Barrow suggests is critical “to meet the moment,” University of Tennessee School of Journalism & Media history students are pairing with student reporters in the College of Communication and Information’s Media Center, which offers hands-on media experiences, and the Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs, a nonpartisan institute on the campus of the University of Tennessee devoted to education and research concerning public policy and civic engagement, to offer responsible and nuanced coverage of the 2024 election.
They recognize the value of radical context in reporting and echo the call of the American Journalism Historians Association, which recently encouraged universities and colleges across the country to reaffirm their commitment to teaching accurate media history in journalism curricula, noting that these courses strengthen critical thinking, stress the value of the press in democracies, and offer insights into how past moments connect to the present.
The organization and its affiliated academic journal, American Journalism, invite local, regional, and national reporters to consider contacting the organization’s media history experts, including:
- A.J. Bauer, an assistant professor at the University of Alabama with expertise in conservative news, right-wing media, mis/disinformation, propaganda, partisan journalism, media activism, and media criticism
- Brian Creech, a professor at LeHigh University with expertise in fake news/misinformation or journalism practices, journalism criticism, and/or ethics of political journalism
- Rachel Grant, an assistant professor at the University of Florida with expertise in social movements, social justice, and Black feminism
- Jon Marshall, an associate professor at Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism with expertise in investigative journalism and the relationship between presidents and the press, especially after Watergate
- Thomas A. Mascaro, professor emeritus at Bowling Green State University with expertise in documentary journalism history, documentary television, and network news longform reporting and co-author with William E. Porter of Assault on the Media: The Nixon Years, Updated with Analysis of 21st Century Threats to Democracy (Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 2024), among others.
These sources, along with the University of Tennessee’s Baker School Faculty Experts, will help round out your election reporting with proper context, which, as Nieman Lab contributor Jasmine McNealy explained, offers an understanding of “the political, economic, historical, and social environments of the places, people, and events that [you] report on.”
Baker School Election Experts
Andrew Busch is the Associate Director of the Institute of American Civics. His teaching and research focuses on American political institutions, elections, and public policy.
Professor Lyons retired from the University of Tennessee in December 2011 and has recently returned to the university. He is currently serving as the Interim Associate Director for the Institute of American Civics. His expertise is in elections, federal, state and local governments, and polling.
Multimedia Reporting Student Work
Preparing for the Polls: a UT Students Guide to Voting
By: Averi Simpson
September 30, 2024
The 2024 presidential election is just around the corner, and it’s essential for people planning to vote to get a plan in place, especially college students, who often face more challenges and decisions when it comes to voting.
For many students at the University of Tennessee (UT), this will be their first time voting in a presidential election and, for some, their first time voting altogether. Maggie Johnson, a sophomore at UT, is excited about the opportunity to vote in the upcoming election.
“I will definitely be voting in this election, and I am so excited because it is my first time ever voting,” said Johnson.
However, voter turnout among college-aged individuals is typically lower than any other age group.
“In the presidential primary election back in March for Knox County, only 3% of people ages 18 to 24 registered actually voted,” said Chris Davis, Knox County Administrator of Elections. “I don’t know that your percentages will be much different this election, but I would say they will be much closer to 10% or 11% rather than 2% or 3%.”
Pictured to the left is a Knox County Sample Ballot for the 2024 presidential election. Voters can use this sample ballot so they know what to expect when it is time to vote. Photo contributed by: Knoxcounty.org
One reason for the low turnout could be the various challenges and decisions college students face when trying to vote. Students from outside Knoxville must decide whether to vote absentee by mail, travel home to vote, or change their voter registration to Knox County.
“This particular time of year, we see this in our office literally every day,” said Davis. “The other day, an individual from Shelby County came in with her boyfriend, and she couldn’t decide whether she wanted to vote absentee by mail in Shelby County or if she wanted to change her registration to Knoxville, and we were able to answer all of her questions for her.”
Voters must be aware of all registration requirements ahead of time.
“When you are a new voter, 18, 19, or 20, and you have not voted before, you need to either register in person or have voted in person at least once in order to vote absentee by mail,” said Davis. “We need to have laid eyes on you and a photo ID because of the potential voter fraud.”
Davis also explained that if a student has not previously voted in person or cannot return home to register, they can visit the Knox County Election Commission office in person with a photo ID and get registered in their home county if they are from Tennessee.
For those considering voting absentee, the deadline to request a ballot is one week before Election Day, which falls on October 29. However, Davis urges everyone to get this done much sooner.
“I tell everyone I talk to not to wait until the deadline,” said Davis. We have to get the application, approve the application, find the ballots, find the correct ballot, put it in an envelope, mail it to you, and then you have to fill it out and mail it back all within seven days.”
Tennessee residents can also register in any county where they wish to vote but they can only be registered in one place at a time.
“If you live in Nashville but go to school at UT, you can be one or the other, but you cannot be both,” said Davis.
Many students, like Johnson, are unaware of their voting options.
“I honestly had no clue that I could even vote here in Knoxville,” said Johnson. “With all the talk about mail-in ballots last election, that kind of scared me, so I decided I am just going to travel back home to Nashville to vote.”
This decision, however, can cause inconvenience in students’ busy lives.
“It is annoying because it is like a three-hour drive that I am going to have to make on top of all my other school stuff going on,” said Johnson.
Davis urges students to explore the different resources available to help them navigate the upcoming election.
“I think as a student you need to be somewhat proactive, and I do think there are a number of resources on campus; I know Vols Vote is one of them,” said Davis. “Everything is at your fingertips, and I encourage students to do some research.”
All of these options each have their pros and cons and it is up to the individual to decide which is best for them.
“More often than not, I tend to see many students vote absentee and keep their registration in their town of residence where their parents live,” said Davis. “Sometimes the kids who know a bit more about this stuff will have people from their hometown that they really like and want to vote for, but it is really just up to the students and what they want to do.”
The deadline to register to vote in Knox County is October 7, 2024. Early voting will be held from October 16-31, and election day will be November 5.
“The Bakers school is going to be an early voting spot on campus the last week of early voting, which will be October 28-31, and it will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for three days, and then on the 30th, it will be open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and anyone registered in Knox County can come,” said Davis. On election day, there will also be a voting spot at the Bakers School open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., but it is only for students and staff who live on campus.”
Students with questions about the election can visit KnoxCounty.org/election/ or call 865-215-2480.
“If you don’t do government, government will do you, so I encourage people to get involved,” said Davis. “At some point, whether you are 18 or 30, something is going to happen, and you are going to want to get to the polls.”
Students from outside of Knoxville determine where they’ll cast their vote for upcoming election
By: Emma Kohstall
September 26, 2024
KNOXVILLE, TN – Many students attending the University of Tennessee-Knoxville will be voting in November’s upcoming presidential election. However, for those who don’t reside in Knox County outside of the typical school year, deciding where they will cast their vote is a bit more complicated.
For many out-of-state students, a significant amount of thought goes into whether they want to vote in Knox County or in their home county; however, what is it that may specifically sway them to vote here or vote absentee.
“To me it’s a matter of do you feel like you live here,” said Hannah Arning, a PhD student in American government and graduate assistant at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. “If you identify with your hometown then maybe it’s more relevant for you to vote there, but if you live in an apartment and are paying taxes in Tennessee, then maybe you should vote here.”
Along with considering what feels more like “home,” many students also take into heavy consideration the current political situation in each state. With Tennessee being a predominantly red state, students from swing states have felt more obliged to vote in their home counties.
“I chose to register in the county I am from,” said Katherine Bale, a sophomore from Midlothian, Virginia, attending the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. “I really think it comes down to political beliefs and where you think your voice will be heard. Virginia is a swing state, so I feel my vote will have a greater impact there.”
While the voting process should be easy, voting absentee can be a bit more difficult than the typical ballot casting at in-person polls. Some states offer early in-person voting; however, it is not always convenient for an out-of-state student to make the trip home.
“Having to mail in my ballot is a slight deterrent when it comes to absentee voting,” said Bale. “It’s just not a process I’m all too familiar with.”
Navigating the upcoming election can be difficult, especially for college students and new voters. For those wanting more information regarding how to register to vote and checking their registration status, Tennessee’s Vols Vote has provided a website with all needed information.
University of Tennessee’s Voter Registration Event Draws a Long Line of Students
By Raegan Kalasz
September 13, 2024
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – As the 2024 elections draw near, the University of Tennessee Knoxville (UTK) hosted a voter registration event on September 12 at the Student Union (STU) Plaza.
This event lasted from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and was buzzing with students full of anticipation for November’s election.
Coordinated by the Vols Vote Coalition organization and College Events Board (CEB), this event helped make certain students are properly equipped to do their part and vote in the electoral process.
“I believe that the younger demographic of voters will ultimately determine the outcome of this election,” says Payton Caroline Martin, a senior undergraduate student at UTK. “I already registered to vote but attended this event to confirm that I took care of everything needed to ensure I can vote in November.”
Martin said she brought a group of friends that haven’t officially registered to vote to get them to register and emphasize how much everyone’s vote actually matters.
Apart from helping students register, this event provided the option of mail-in registration, virtual registration online, volunteers to help answer any questions, as well as confirmation that students are in fact registered to vote.
Students who attended the event had the option to receive mail-in voter registration forms or an internet link to register to vote.
UTK is also participating in a Tennessee vs. Florida Voter Competition to challenge students at both universities to see if either Vol Nation or Gator Nation can get the largest number of people to fulfill the following requirements: check the status of their registration, (if needed) register to vote, and join the list for election reminders to be sent their way.
“Having this event at the STU Plaza made this process easy and convenient,” said junior undergraduate political science major Hayden Swanner. “With how busy and chaotic my schedule is as a full-time student, it was very helpful having this event at the heart of campus so I could swing by in between classes.”
Swanner is an out-of-state student from Texas and emphasized how this event was useful for students both from Tennessee and other states.
UTK is hosting many events in preparation for November’s elections, this voter registration drive being one of them.
UTK’s Vols Vote website helps provide students with guidance in registering to vote and the voting process as well as a calendar with information of future events in preparation for November’s election.
Another resource regarding registering to vote nationally is the government website.
For Tennessee’s Youngest Delegate to the DNC, The Future Looks Bright and Blue
Author: Chloe Carmichael
August 25, 2024
For 18-year-old William Mendoza-Euceda, politics runs in his blood. As the youngest delegate for the state of Tennessee at the Democratic National Convention, Mendoza-Euceda was the first member in his family to be born in the United States. In his parent’s hometown in Honduras, his uncle ran against his mother’s cousin for mayor, and his grandfather was a congressman. Following in familial footsteps, William Mendoza-Euceda has had an interest in politics since he was 15, when he noticed a lack of Hispanic and youth involvement in his hometown of Knoxville. This led Mendoza-Euceda to become the change he wished to see and he fell in love with politics. On only his second day of getting involved in politics, Mendoza-Euceda knocked on 75 doors.
Despite facing struggles within his party over preconceived notions about his young age, Mendoza-Euceda became the chair of Knox County District 2. However, in order to become an At-Large delegate at the Democratic National Convention, Mendoza-Euceda had to raise $4,900 via GoFundMe to support the costly trip to Chicago, where he listened to passionate speeches given by people he dreamed of seeing in person and learned more about his party’s views for the future
Mendoza-Euceda is hopeful about the path that the Democratic Party envisions for America that he learned about at the Democratic National Convention. Mendoza-Euceda stated, “I’m very hopeful and I think we’re on the right track of working for the people. I think a lot of people think that the political parties aren’t here to help you and work for you, and I get that and I get how that feels, and I think that with this path and all the people who are speaking that we’re getting back to that trail of working for the people, working for the working class, and the day-to-day citizens. I’m really hopeful and really excited.”
Mendoza-Euceda felt momentum and excitement growing at the Convention, and he believes that this energy will carry on into the election. He stated that the Democratic Party wants to change perceptions to show the public the working class origins of the candidates, because people vote when they feel a connection with the candidate. Due to this growing energy in the Democratic Party and potential connections for the South to make with their candidate, Mendoza-Euceda believes that Tennessee will flip to be a blue state in the future. “I think that we can flip the state in maybe 25 years, all depending on the trends and how it’s been going. In Knox County, we just flipped two districts… This momentum is building.” With the momentum that is growing, Mendoza-Euceda believes that the Democratic Party and its candidate Gloria Johnson has the potential to win the Senate race, but admits that it will be difficult.
According to Tennessee Lookout, in 2022, Tennessee had the lowest average voter turnout at only 45.4% of registered voters casting their vote. On this issue, Mendoza-Euceda says, “I don’t believe that Tennessee is a red state, I believe it’s a non-voting state.” In order to solve this issue, Mendoza-Euceda believes that voting should be seen as a non-partisan issue, and people should be encouraged to get out and vote. After discussion with another delegate at the Convention, Mendoza-Euceda believes that the Hispanic, working class, youth population—which are commonly undecided groups— needs to be encouraged and targeted to by speaking to their specific, personal concerns. Mendoza-Euceda believes that this will encourage people to vote and it will give the Democratic Party the Undecided vote.
In regards to his own future, Mendoza-Euceda wants to be as involved as possible. “Well, my end goal is president, but that’s a long shot. My end goal is to do as much to help as I can… It doesn’t matter what position it is, as long as I’m helping as many people as I can.”
Mendoza-Euceda starts college at Pellissippi State Community College when he returns from the Democratic National Convention, where he will continue to work to improve himself so that he can improve the United States in the future.
William Mendoza-Euceda’s Facebook allows voters to follow his journey as an aspiring politician: https://www.facebook.com/p/William-Mendoza-Euceda
Tennessee’s DeKalb County to Vote on $65 Million Bond for Judicial Center
By: Logan Starkey
DeKalb County’s November ballot features a $65 million bond referendum that aims to fund a new judicial center and jail. The rural county of about 20,000 people is located about 70 miles east of Nashville.
In February 2023, DeKalb County’s jail was given temporary certification, called a certification with a plan of action.
“As long as the county is working to try to remedy what problems it has, then they will allow us to keep our certification, but if the county stops doing that then they will decertify it,” DeKalb County Sheriff Patrick Ray said in an interview.
The reclassified certification eliminated 50 beds from the jail, leaving the jail 52 beds for only male inmates, DeKalb County Mayor Matt Adcock said in an interview. Currently, female and excess male inmates are being sent to surrounding counties to be held. DeKalb county pays jails $50 per day, per inmate, to hold them, averaging a cost of $50,000 to the county per quarter.
The reduction in beds meant that inmates, such as sex offenders and inmates entrusted to do prison work, who are meant to be separated from the general population, had to be moved.
The bond was approved by the commission on June 26. A petition against the bond was signed by more than 10% of available voters in DeKalb county in July, which allowed the issue to go to a referendum on the ballot in the upcoming election.
“There’s some confusion about this bond resolution,” Ray said. “The bond is up to $65 million, it is not to say it will cost $65 million. Some people are under the assumption that if this fails that there is a 51 cent tax increase that was added this year to property taxes, that will go away, and that is not the case.”
Along with the bond, the county commission voted for a 51-cent increase to property taxes, a 25.5% increase from the previous $2 tax. Another referendum on the ballot concerning wheel taxes would lower the proposed property tax if passed.
The proposed new center would house 190 inmates and include a connected courthouse. Inmates are currently walked across a street from the jail to the courthouse. If the new center is built, the current courthouse would become an administrative building. A majority of the building costs are spent on just the jail.
“When factoring in the price of buses, drivers, fuel…it is actually cheaper to build a judicial center rather than building a jail and transporting inmates to court,” Adcock said.
Beth Pafford, a county commissioner and Northside Elementary’s vice principal, voted against the bond in June.
“The jail is connected to the court system,” Pafford said in an interview. “Our courthouse, our judicial system is not functioning properly. I do think we need renovations for the jail. The overall needs of our community, a $65 million jail is not the move that puts our county in a position to be stronger.”
Many opposed to the new center cite the county’s need for new schools. Pafford, as an educator, agreed that played a role in her decision to vote against the bond.
“A week or two ago we had a joint meeting with the school board about building a new elementary school next to the Northside,” Pafford said. “It was the first meeting I’ve ever been in where nobody raised objections to supporting that. We are so far behind the eight ball on new schools, one school is not going to take care of our concerns. We need a new high school and middle school.”
If the referendum is not passed, Tennessee Corrections Institute (TCI) decides the next course of action. This could include decertification of the jail, or continuing the certification with a plan of action if another plan is made.
In the case of decertification, DeKalb would no longer be allowed to house inmates, said Ray. Inmates would come in for booking and court, and if they can’t make bond, would be taken elsewhere.
“I can recognize it is not an ideal space,” Pafford said. “If we can do things to help that space work for 20 or 30 more years, I would much rather much rather put money into that so we can build schools and maybe even do some other things for our country than sink $65 million into a jail.
“I could tell you that, speaking with the judges, that if we had a place to hold inmates, there would probably be more people in jail,” Ray said.
DeKalb County early voting is underway. Residents can vote early at the county election commission from 9 a.m to 3 p.m., Tuesdays from noon to 6 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon. The county election commission building is at 1 Public Square in Smithville, and is open through Oct 31. The Sandlin building will be used as an early voting location on Oct 22 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Oct 29 from noon to 6 p.m. The Sandlin building is located at 102 Fairground Road, in Alexandria.
Ad Campaigns and the Fight for Tennessee’s Senate Seat
By: Kyle Atchison & Ryan Beatty
The 2024 Tennessee Senate race is nearing its close, and both candidates are actively advertising across the state. Rep. Gloria Johnson, the Democratic candidate, and Marsha Blackburn, the incumbent Republican candidate, have both made their presence known on television commercials, social media platforms, printed mail and more.
At the Knox County Courthouse in downtown Knoxville, Tennesseeans file into the building to fulfil their civic duty of voting. Signs line the streets encouraging voters to vote for respective candidates throughout the many different elections happening in this cycle.
As voters exit the building repping their state of Tennessee “I Voted” sticker, smiles can be seen across their faces. One in particular, Anna Roddy, a student at the University of Tennessee Knoxville, seemed very excited walking out of the building sporting her new sticker for everyone to see.
Roddy said she sees advertisements through social media almost every day, but that they didn’t affect her position or voting preference. She said she “doesn’t care too much,” about the quantity of ads that she sees on a daily and weekly basis.
In a world where technology is changing every day, candidates have had to adjust their approach to campaigning by using platforms such as Instagram, Youtube, X, Facebook, TikTok and even Snapchat.
Instagram has become a large platform for candidates. Blackburn currently has 120,000 followers, while Johnson has 78,900. Both accounts are very active, with content being posted every day.
On X, Johnson currently has over 174,000 followers, while Blackburn tops her at 1.2 million.
Blackburn’s ads focus on national issues such as immigration, abortion, national security and gun violence, issues that she says represent the state’s concerns. Contrary to Johnson’s campaign, Blackburn has yet to mention her opponent in any of her ads.
Blackburn’s “Breaking China” commercial has been her most viewed, with over 430,000 views on YouTube alone. Her focus in this video is highlighting her persistence in being tough on China throughout her terms.
In the commercial, Blackburn is seen throwing plates that feature the Chinese flag on them. “Some say I’m too tough and that I should be more delicate. But you know what? It’s time to break some china,” said Blackburn. “China stole our jobs, sent us a virus; they’re buying up our land and spying on us. I’m Marsha Blackburn, and I approve this message, because we’re going to have to break a lot more china to save America.”
Blackburn has consistently been a voice against China in the Senate. One example recently is being an active proponent of the DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes and Chinese Entities of Concern Act, which has just hit the senate floor. Also, there is record of her pushing for the attorney general to report efforts for national security against China.
The House of Representatives went through “China Week” back in September, which passed 25 pieces of legislation to ostensibly protect the United States from the Chinese Communist Party. All 25 of these pieces of legislation have since hit the Senate floor, with all of them referred to committees at the moment.
Blackburn voted against the CHIPS and Science Act which was signed into law by President Biden. . The bipartisan legislation aims to increase American manufacturing production and lower Chinese reliance in these fields.
Blackburn has used endorsements from former President Donald Trump, Riley Gaines, Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs and others as important components to some of her advertisements.
Johnson has taken a different approach in her ads by calling out Blackburn, saying she is “out of touch with Tennesseans.” Her “Stand Tall” campaign focuses on her background in education and caring for “real people” in the state.
In April 2023, Johnson along with two other Tennessee House of Representatives members were expelled by Republican counterparts for protesting after the school shooting at Covenant School in Nashville. They demanded that gun control be passed in an effort to prevent this from happening again, but they were shut down and removed. Johnson uses this event as proof that she stands for all “real people” in the state. All three were later reinstated.
Johnson’s most-viewed commercial totals more than 485,000 views on YouTube. This commercial is directed towards Blackburn, specifically saying that “My home is Tennessee, not DC.” It calls Blackburn out for striking down deals in the Senate that could help Tennesseans, such as lowering the cost of insulin and taking millions from insurance companies.
Not all voters gather their information through social media and other online platforms. Voters Robert and Heather Lundy, who cast early votes downtown on Monday, said they see advertising through television and mailers.
Of Blackburn’s China ad, he said, “She’s breaking China; I love it.”
Another voter, Courtney Whitt, said that she sees political ads “Probably a couple times a week all over Hulu, they like to make all of their commercials political. Can we just go back to any kind of commercial?”
Blackburn has spent over $10.5 million between Jan. 1, 2023 and Oct 16, while Johnson has spent about $5.7 million.