IGP and Columbia Journalism School Convene Panel on the Campaigns and the Coverage

On November 14, Columbia University brought together top journalists and academics for a panel discussion, The Campaigns and the Coverage, to analyze the media’s role in the recent presidential election. Co-hosted by the Institute of Global Politics and Columbia Journalism School, the event opened with remarks from SIPA Dean Keren Yarhi-Milo and Columbia University Interim President Katrina Armstrong, who set the stage for a candid, self-reflective conversation on how the press framed and reported on the candidates and issues during this election cycle.

The panelists discussed the candidates’ campaign strategies and ability to reach different segments of the electorate, the challenges of predicting election outcomes, and the impacts [on voter perceptions] of the shift away from legacy media to alternative news sources like social media and podcasts. They spoke about the difficulties in capturing voter moods and addressing misinformation, the media’s coverage of polls, and the importance of reaching and engaging with voters who have turned away from traditional media sources. Their conversation highlighted solutions for the media to regain its credibility and trust from the public, emphasizing the need for transparency and adapting to new media platforms.

The event featured Andrew Gelman, Higgins Professor of Statistics and professor of Political Science; Garrett Haake, senior congressional correspondent at NBC News; and Errin Haines, editor-at-large at The 19th News and MSNBC political commentator. Sewell Chan, executive editor of Columbia Journalism Review, moderated the event.