Make legislative coverage less polarizing and more accessible

Published on January 8, 2025January 8, 2025 by Lynn Walsh | Reading Time: 4 minutes

Covering the statehouse and local government isn’t easy. The topics and process can feel nuanced and complicated, yet so much of what happens there directly affects people in our communities. 

As journalists, we are responsible for helping people understand what changes are being proposed and what ultimately becomes law. Choosing what to cover and how while navigating complex policies and partisan dynamics is hard. How we approach and frame the stories can significantly impact how audiences perceive and trust our work.

On top of all of this, almost any topic being discussed by lawmakers is probably being discussed through a polarizing narrative. 

If we want people to see beyond those narratives and actually learn about what is being proposed, discussed and voted on, we need to think carefully about story selection and story framing. We also need to let our community in on our process and decision-making. 

Here are four ways to help make your legislative coverage more accessible, engaging, and trustworthy.

1. Make legislative coverage an on-ramp for understanding democracy

For many people, the legislative process can feel confusing and overwhelming. By explaining how the legislature works — what committees do, how bills become laws, and how party control shapes the process — you provide critical context that provides your audience with the building blocks to more easily engage with their leaders’ actions and understand what might come next.

Nik Usher summed up the importance of this in their Nieman prediction:

“Journalists’ imperative to explain all this to the public isn’t just about giving America (and the world) a civics lesson — rather, it may well amount to the best defense we have for maintaining democratic norms and holding politicians accountable.”

You can write separate stories explaining how the legislature works: what committees do, when the legislature meets, etc. Once those are published you can link to them in daily coverage or consider adding explainer boxes, glossary terms, or sidebars to daily stories about legislative action. These tools can serve as “on-ramps” for readers who may otherwise avoid the news because they feel disconnected or uninformed.

2. Explain how you decide what and who to focus your coverage on

The party in control of the legislature often dictates which bills are most likely to pass and become law. Understanding and communicating this dynamic can help your audience understand why you may be covering Republicans more than Democrats or certain bills over others.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution did an excellent job of explaining this and other elements of their approach to covering the Georgia legislature in this explainer. In it, they note how party control informs their priorities.

Other elements to explain could include:

• focusing on local impact (some bills impact your community more than others)
• focusing on what the public has indicated they care about
• paying more attention to what local lawmakers are proposing or doing vs. more outspoken ones who typically get attention across the state

3. Highlight local impact

While comparisons to other states can provide helpful context, your audience is most interested in how proposed legislation will affect their daily lives. Sometimes they may not be aware of how their lives will be impacted because reading the language of a bill isn’t that easy — and because news coverage too often focuses on drama over outcomes. 

When covering a bill, consider answering questions like:

• How would this change affect local schools, businesses, or public services?
• What are the potential costs or benefits to residents in your coverage area?
• Are there local advocates, experts, or community members who can provide insight?
• Is there any enforcement attached to what is being proposed?

For example, if covering a bill on housing policy, include stories about how it might impact local renters or homeowners by breaking down the impact to rental costs or property taxes. By focusing on hyperlocal angles, you help your audience see why these issues matter to them.

4. Show common ground and compromise, not just conflict

The general sense people tend to have about politics is that no one can agree, it’s all a big battle and not much is getting done. If that’s true, our coverage should reflect it. But is it also true that plenty of bills are getting passed — some unanimously? And that people are working across the political divide?

Legislative coverage does and should address partisan differences. But what if more stories emphasized areas of agreement? For instance, instead of framing a story around a divisive debate, focus on shared values or goals.

One example from a newsroom using our Anti-Polarization Checklist: A reporter covering two council members from opposing parties chose to highlight their shared military service and their agreement that more should be done to support veterans. The resulting headline emphasized unity: “Fort Worth Council members: Policies must go beyond ‘a free appetizer on Veterans Day.’ “

This approach doesn’t mean ignoring conflict but reframing the narrative to show cooperation and shared interests, which can resonate with audiences tired of partisan politics.

Two quick ideas:

• Check out the Similarity Hub from AllSides and More Like US. They have fascinating data about how much Americans agree on that we’d love to see added to stories on divisive topics.
• See if you have state legislators involved in Future Caucus. a project to connect young lawmakers across political divides. Ask what motivates them and what they hope to accomplish.