Think Out Loud

How media coverage, propaganda and COVID-19 are influencing the 2020 election

By Allison Frost (OPB)
Oct. 8, 2020 11:45 p.m.

Broadcast: Friday, Oct. 9

A sign points to a ballot box in downtown Bend, May 19, 2020.

A sign points to a ballot box in downtown Bend, May 19, 2020.

Emily Cureton / OPB

THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:

The 2020 presidential election is less than a month away, with voting already underway in some parts of the country. Regina Lawrence, associate dean of the University of Oregon’s journalism school, specializes in political communication. She says the news media’s coverage of the presidential campaigns has improved compared with the 2016 election. However, she says reporters and editors are still grappling with the challenge of covering misinformation, propaganda and outright lies without appearing partisan. Lawrence is part of the U of O’s series of civic conversations leading up to the election. We talk with her about those hurdles and how COVID-19 and President Trump’s diagnosis is playing out so far.

Contact “Think Out Loud®”

If you’d like to comment on any of the topics in this show, or suggest a topic of your own, please get in touch with us on Facebook or Twitter, send an email to thinkoutloud@opb.org, or you can leave a voicemail for us at 503-293-1983. The call-in phone number during the noon hour is 888-665-5865.

THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:
THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:
THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:

Related Stories

Oregon movie theaters trying to survive the pandemic

Oregon movie theatre owners and operators are awaiting a response to the letter they sent Gov. Kate Brown asking why theatres are subject to different reopening metrics than other places, like churches. Meanwhile, some theatres are turning to online screenings, private showings and selling concessions.