Tuesday, Nov. 3 marks Election Day for the highly anticipated 2020 United States presidential election. This election will have crucial ramifications for the entire country, and journalists have an obligation to prioritize accuracy in their coverage in the face of uncertainty. Accuracy must be emphasized over speed when it comes to reporting, especially in an election with so much hanging in the balance. 

As this election will likely take longer in determining results due to the large number of mail-in and absentee ballots this year, the delay will likely lead to an increased amount of false or premature information. All media outlets must do their part in being accountable and maintaining journalistic integrity. 

The age of social media has greatly influenced the nature in which news is released. Rather than waiting until a print newspaper is published, we are constantly exposed to new and breaking information, often well before that information can be thoroughly researched. While this can be a strong advantage when it comes to sharing vital information, it also facilitates the quick spread of inaccurate information. With so much uncertainty surrounding this election, news on social media mustn’t be taken at face value. 

Social media allows for false images and information to spread quickly, often being promoted by news outlets before proper research has been conducted. It often only takes one prominent figure to retweet or comment on an unvalidated source for it to gain significant traction online. Incorrect information can sway an individual’s views, and during an election season, such incorrect posts are far more influential.

Social media platforms have instituted new policies ahead of the 2020 election in order to mitigate the spread of misinformation and baseless claims. Twitter expanded their civic integrity policy, added more warnings on misleading tweets and attempted to reduce the quick spread of misinformation through retweets by bringing the user to the “quote tweet” screen first. Facebook has also worked to counter foreign interference and improve transparency in political advertisements. 

These efforts are a major step in the right direction, but individuals must continue this work themselves. We cannot take social media posts at face value regarding the results of this election.

At The Fordham Ram, we seek to remain unbiased in all reporting and have not endorsed a candidate for the presidential election. We believe that an unbiased perspective allows us to maintain journalistic integrity and ensure that factual and responsible reporting is carried out across the board. We will continue to certify that all of our reporting is rooted in valid and confirmed sources of information. 

As a college publication, we know that we only represent a small outlet in terms of media coverage, but our dedication to our community remains strong. We will continue to learn and grow as a staff as we navigate this intense time. The results of this election will affect each and every one of us, and journalists must do their part to ensure that information is shared reliably and accurately. The Ram is and will continue to be, a platform for all Fordham students. We hope that our work can provide comfort for those who feel overwhelmed amid uncertainty and a voice for those who wish to express their thoughts. 

With so much at stake, the anxiety surrounding this election is weighing heavily on all Americans. False information will only serve to aggravate these emotions. With images and videos of boarded-up storefronts and warnings to stock up on food and other necessary supplies, it is hard not to feel overwhelmed and frightened. 

However, we cannot rely on social media to ease our anxiety about such uncertain times. In fact, it is often far better to disconnect from it for a moment. 

In the next few days, please make an extra effort to investigate any information that is shared on social media to prevent the spread of misinformation. Whenever you see unverified information, take the initiative to dig deeper and find the initial source to confirm accuracy before jumping to sharing the information further.

The work does not end when the final results are confirmed. We all must continue our civic duty long after Election Day, pushing ourselves to stay educated on important issues and be skeptical users of social media. 

We wish that we could provide more comfort about what the future will hold. The divisions that are embedded in American politics will not be mended overnight, no matter who wins the presidential election. The Fordham Ram will continue to report all breaking news as it relates to the election results.