Democracy Day: A Collaborative Effort for Strengthening Democracy

Democracy Day, an initiative tied to the International Day of Democracy on September 15, has grown into a vital effort to enhance democracy-related reporting across the United States. What began as a simple idea from Rachel Glickhouse of Grist three years ago has evolved into a collaborative movement involving over 150 newsrooms, many of which are small, community-rooted, and BIPOC-led organizations.

The genesis of Democracy Day was a spontaneous suggestion on Twitter, where Rachel Glickhouse proposed a collaborative effort focused on democracy-related issues. “Rachel tweeted something about how it would be great if there was a collaborative that focused on issues related to democracy, and the idea just took off from there,” recalls Stefanie Murray, one of the initiative’s key organizers. “We started with a small group, just brainstorming over Zoom, and it quickly became clear that there was a lot of interest in making this happen.”

Since its inception, Democracy Day has sought to shift the focus of news coverage from the usual political horse race to more substantial issues of democracy and civic participation. “There’s so little reporting on how democracy actually works in many parts of the country, and that’s where we wanted to make a difference,” Stefanie explains. “Our goal was to encourage newsrooms to produce stories that highlight the functioning—or dysfunction—of democracy in their communities.”

However, the journey has not been without challenges. One of the most significant hurdles has been capturing the attention of newsrooms in an already crowded media landscape. “The biggest issue we have is just getting people to notice us,” Stefanie acknowledges. “There are so many things that news organizations can cover, and we’re just one more initiative vying for their time and resources.” Despite this, Democracy Day has managed to align with the missions of many newsrooms, particularly those that are nonprofit and community-focused.

Democracy Day’s strongest support has come from small and nonprofit news organizations, especially those serving marginalized communities. “We primarily work with community-rooted media,” Stefanie notes. “These are the newsrooms that often have the closest ties to their communities, and they’re the ones that can really bring these democracy-related issues to light in ways that resonate locally.”

Financial support has been crucial in making Democracy Day a reality. Grants from organizations like the Knight Foundation and the Democracy Fund have enabled the initiative to offer stipends to participating newsrooms. “We know that many of the organizations we work with are already stretched thin, so we try to provide as much support as we can,” Stefanie says. “Even small amounts of funding can make a big difference for these newsrooms.” These grants have been particularly important for ensuring that smaller, resource-constrained newsrooms can participate fully in the initiative.

Looking ahead to the 2024 elections, the goals for Democracy Day are ambitious. “We want to expand our reach to all 50 states, particularly in areas where democracy-related reporting is lacking,” Stefanie shares. “Our hope is that by providing resources, training, and financial support, we can help newsrooms continue this important work, not just on Democracy Day, but throughout the election season and beyond.”

In addition to growing its reach, Democracy Day aims to provide ongoing support to newsrooms in the form of resources, training webinars, and sharing content produced by participating organizations. “We’re not just about one day,” Stefanie emphasizes. “Our focus is on planting the seeds for sustained and impactful reporting on democracy throughout the year, especially in the critical months leading up to the 2024 elections.”

As the 2024 elections approach, Democracy Day’s mission is more crucial than ever. The initiative is not merely a one-off event but a sustained effort to inspire and equip newsrooms to cover democracy-related issues in a meaningful way. “This isn’t just about one day,” Stefanie concludes. “It’s about fostering a culture of democracy-focused journalism that can have a lasting impact on communities across the country.”

Democracy Day continues to be a beacon for news organizations committed to strengthening democracy through thoughtful, impactful journalism. As it grows and evolves, the initiative stands as a testament to the power of collaboration in addressing some of the most pressing issues facing our society today.