As Election Day approaches, news/talk radio programmers are preparing for one of the biggest nights on their calendars. Leaders from Salem Media, iHeartMedia, Audacy and top local stations shared their advice for staffers heading into Tuesday’s midterm coverage. First, they set the stakes.
“At Salem we consider election night our Super Bowl,” Salem Media Senior Vice President of Spoken Word Formats Phil Boyce said. “There will be a huge interest in the outcomes of a ton of races. Like other networks, Salem is going wall-to-wall on both the radio network and Salem News Channel. We’ll instruct our hosts, anchors, and producers to be fair, impartial, and accurate. No need to call a race before it’s time. There will be countless stories to be told on this night, and we just want to be there to help tell them.”
“Although everyone says they hate politics, it has evolved into the #1 contact sport in America…bar none,” said Salem Media Vice President of News & Talk Programming Tom Tradup. “So news/talk stations need to look at dates like Tuesday, November 3rd as our Super Bowl and marshal all our resources for coverage that delivers solid results to our listeners. A station that opts for ‘brokered’ programming or high school sports on Tuesday night will not be considered a vital information source the other 364 days of the year. Democracy is at stake, and reporting the election results quickly and accurately is Job One for news/talk.”
Credibility Before Speed
Beyond the excitement, accuracy dominated the advice. Several programmers made clear that credibility must outrank speed.
“Election coverage is simply an extension of what we do every day,” said Audacy New York Vice President of News Ben Mevorach. “We want to be fast, but we must be right, first. This station is built on the pillars of credibility and trust. Do not deviate from that. Everything else is an unnecessary distraction.”
Meanwhile, patience emerged as another theme, along with humility about what remains unknown.
“Remember that we are covering an election, not a sporting event,” 830 WCCO Brand Manager Brad Lane said. “Sure there are winners and losers, but these are results with real consequences that affect real people and real communities. Be comfortable saying, ‘We don’t know yet.’ Our fans need to know that we’ll tell them when we have something supported by sources, and that we won’t pretend or guess before we do. The night may be slower than expected. A race that we all anticipated would resolve quickly may take hours…be patient with how the storyline develops instead of thinking you need to manufacture a narrative while waiting.”
Preparation and Teamwork
Of course, strong coverage starts well before the polls close.
“Success on election night comes from the prep that is done before that day,” WTOP Director of News & Programming Julia Ziegler said. “Know the candidates, know the issues, know your history so you can connect the dots for consumers. Teaching people something or giving them a tidbit they don’t get elsewhere will help your coverage stand out. They can get the vote tallies anywhere…but context is what makes a difference.”
Likewise, local focus can separate one station from its rivals.
“While local newsrooms should track major national stories, the competitive advantage lies in focusing reporting on local races and ballot initiatives, where a station can differentiate itself on-air and across platforms,” WBBM Newsradio Brand Manager/News Director Craig Schwalb said. “I’d also recommend coordinating with cluster stations to cross-promote coverage and drive tune-in heading into Tuesday.”
Inside the newsroom, communication matters too.
“Accuracy is a MUST,” 105.9 WMAL Operations Manager Luis Segura said. “Follow the plan but feel empowered to change it, if needed. Overcommunicate. We are all working as one team. Ask me anything. If you’re not sure about an angle, think about how results affect the taxpayer’s wallet. And lastly… yes, there will be food.”
Wednesday and Beyond
However, the work doesn’t end when the polls close.
“We spend hours talking about the election in the weeks leading up to it, so you have to pay that off for our audience — but in a midterm cycle you need to work smarter, not harder,” said iHeartMedia Executive Vice President of News, Talk, and Sports Programming Chris Berry. “On Election Night, let your network partners do the heavy lifting while sprinkling in local cut-ins where you can. The reality is that most political junkies are watching the returns on TV. Our real moment to shine is Wednesday morning drive, when radio listening is much higher and your Morning Team can own the reaction and analysis.”
Similarly, another leader urged staff to save energy for the days ahead.
“Don’t pour all your energy into a spectacular Election Night production and leave Wednesday — and the rest of the week — running on fumes,” said Audacy News/Talk Format Vice President Drew Anderssen. “Plan for the aftermath with the same urgency you bring to the results. When listeners return to their morning routine, they need more than a scoreboard: they need to know what’s decided, what’s still in play, and what’s next. Give them a reason to keep coming back long after Election Night.”
Pace Yourself
Lastly, one veteran offered practical advice for a marathon night.
“The first advice is pace yourself,” said 95.5 WSB Director of Branding & Operations Ken Charles. “It’s a long night with multiple story lines. And goes beyond just election night. Staff both for the day, covering voting, potential for irregularities and also other stories so you have more than just the election. There is other news. Then remember the night itself can go after midnight, have a plan for coverage of your key races for the duration. Then make sure whatever is covered can provide the whole story for election night then what it all means for morning drive.
“Finally, there is a story beyond who wins and loses locally on election night in this midterm. It’s who controls the House and Senate. And also the potential for multiple legal challenges from both sides across the country. Staff accordingly and for comprehensive coverage for possibly days beyond the 5 hours after your polls close.
“Most importantly, order enough pizza for the whole team. Pizza is traditional election night food for every newsroom. Like I said, it’s a long night.”
