Chalkbeat

Votebeat is coming to Wisconsin. Here’s what you can expect.

2024-02-13T22:14:38+00:00

Exciting news! Votebeat will soon be adding Wisconsin to our coverage area, with the hiring of a new local reporter there.

This is a critical time to cover voting in Wisconsin — a pivotal 2024 swing state that conspiracy theorists and hyper-partisans have affixed a target to. Former President Trump and Republicans want to win the state back, and one strategy has been to rewrite the voting rules from the policies of 2020, when Democrats won by a narrow margin. Court decisions and new laws since then have changed many rules, like outlawing drop boxes and tweaking the witness requirement for absentee ballots. Those debates continue in unpredictable ways — and with the Supreme Court’s new liberal majority, many rules may still change in 2024.

That kind of environment calls for Votebeat’s specialized journalism, aimed at helping people understand elections so they can participate in strengthening them. And thanks to generous supporters such as The Joyce Foundation, Moriah Fund, and Square One Foundation, we’re able to launch the coverage we’ve long wanted to bring there.

Much recent coverage in the state has focused on the disputes in the capital between the Republican-majority legislature and the state’s Elections Commission — climaxing most recently with an attempt to oust the state’s chief election official — and on conservatives’ conflict with the state Supreme Court as it revisits key voting decisions.

Votebeat will dive deeper — zooming in on the effect those fights have on the more than 1,800 local clerks and their ability to run elections for their communities of voters. We’ll also help voters stay up to date on what the rules of elections actually are, so they can fully participate.

Votebeat is no stranger to Wisconsin, having mobilized two reporters there in 2020 to cover election issues in partnership with Wisconsin Watch during our pop-up experiment in covering elections in a whole new way.

If this kind of mission-driven journalism sounds exciting to you or a talented journalist you know, you can apply here. Votebeat’s small team, again partnering with Wisconsin Watch, is tight-knit and energized, and we can’t wait to bring another talented journalist into our fold.

Hearing from readers who care about elections in Wisconsin will be crucial to our coverage. We want to start the conversation now. If you have ideas for us, you can reach us here. You can also sign up here to get updates about our launch.

Story Editor

2022-01-11T04:33:13+00:00

Votebeat, the nonprofit news organization created by Chalkbeat to cover local election administration and voting access, is seeking an editor who will elevate our copy to the highest journalistic standards, manage our workflows, and help lead our small but ambitious newsroom.

The story editor will edit all articles produced by Votebeat’s three reporters in Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Texas, ranging from daily news pieces to longer enterprise work. Our story editing process is thorough, precise, and collaborative. Story editors work one-on-one with the editorial director and reporters, providing crucial perspective, adding regional or national context, and ensuring that stories read logically, adhere to Votebeat style, and are properly sourced. While each piece is different, all of our stories taken together should add up to a coherent whole, and the story editor is essential to achieving that goal through a mix of line editing, copy editing, and pulled-back critical thinking.

The story editor will also manage publishing schedules, update the staff on content planning, and coordinate production work to ensure the newsroom hums along. The story editor will develop and update the Votebeat style guide in collaboration with the editorial director and editor in chief.

Who are you?

You know that good writing starts with good reporting, and that editing starts before any words hit the page. Although this position does not manage writers directly, you possess a mentoring spirit that’s able to coax the best story possible from reporters both green and seasoned. You are a word nerd who is fluent in AP Style but has made peace with the Oxford comma.

You’re used to daily deadlines and can nimbly navigate varying timelines. You are meticulously organized and enjoy serving as the nerve center of your team. You have a built-in radar to track constantly evolving newsroom plans and can communicate them clearly and efficiently to your co-workers.

Required background and skills:

5+ years experience in daily journalism
Expertise in story shaping, line editing, and copy editing.
Stellar news judgment.
Strong interpersonal skills with a knack for working with opinionated reporters and editors.
Ability to work autonomously while organizing and sharing real-time information up, down, and across.
Proficient using workflow management tools to manage and update content plans.
Experience working in a CMS.
Passion for political participation and civic health; knowledge of election processes is a plus, but not required.
Journalism experience in Arizona, Pennsylvania, Texas, Michigan, Wisconsin, and/or New York is a plus.

Note: Not all candidates will check all of the requirements listed above, and that’s OK — we still want to hear from you. We especially encourage candidates from communities that traditionally have been underrepresented in journalism.

Summary of responsibilities:

Line edit and copy edit drafts of stories filed by Votebeat’s reporters
Work closely with the reporters to resolve questions and guide revisions, with a goal of developing stronger writing habits and skills.
Manage the editorial calendar, enforce deadlines, and make decisions on publishing timing.
Communicate updates about publishing plans to the rest of the staff.
Oversee the production process to ensure stories are published following best practices for art, headlines, and SEO.

This position will report to the editor in chief and will likely be home-based but may have access to an office if located in a city where Votebeat/Chalkbeat maintains a bureau. This is a full-time position with benefits. Votebeat offers a competitive salary, commensurate with experience, and a generous benefits package, including a paid one-week recess. Our virtual newsroom features daily interaction, social Slack channels, personal development sessions, and team exercise and meditation get-togethers.

This is a role covered by the CBA with the WGAE.

Our organization is committed to antiracism, and our staff is taking part in ongoing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging work.

To apply, complete the submission form at the bottom of this page.

About Votebeat:

Votebeat is the nonprofit news organization created by Chalkbeat, originally as a pop-up newsroom in 2020 and now relaunching as a permanent network. We are committed to providing local coverage about how elections work and holding public officials accountable for fair access to the ballot box. Read more about our mission, vision, and values.

Story Editor

2022-01-11T04:33:13+00:00

Who are you?

Required background and skills:

5+ years experience in daily journalism
Expertise in story shaping, line editing, and copy editing.
Stellar news judgment.
Strong interpersonal skills with a knack for working with opinionated reporters and editors.
Ability to work autonomously while organizing and sharing real-time information up, down, and across.
Proficient using workflow management tools to manage and update content plans.
Experience working in a CMS.
Passion for political participation and civic health; knowledge of election processes is a plus, but not required.
Journalism experience in Arizona, Pennsylvania, Texas, Michigan, Wisconsin, and/or New York is a plus.

Summary of responsibilities:

Line edit and copy edit drafts of stories filed by Votebeat’s reporters
Work closely with the reporters to resolve questions and guide revisions, with a goal of developing stronger writing habits and skills.
Manage the editorial calendar, enforce deadlines, and make decisions on publishing timing.
Communicate updates about publishing plans to the rest of the staff.
Oversee the production process to ensure stories are published following best practices for art, headlines, and SEO.

This is a role covered by the CBA with the WGAE.

Our organization is committed to antiracism, and our staff is taking part in ongoing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging work.

To apply, complete the submission form at the bottom of this page.

About Votebeat:

Pennsylvania Reporter

2022-01-11T04:25:45+00:00

We’re looking for a reporter to cover voting in Pennsylvania.

Votebeat, the nonprofit news organization created by Chalkbeat to cover local election administration and voting access, is seeking a passionate journalist to serve as our Pennsylvania reporter in partnership with Spotlight PA.

This is a pivotal time to cover voting in Pennsylvania, a state that saw one of the closest presidential elections of 2020 followed by a flood of lawsuits and unfounded claims of voter fraud, ongoing efforts to investigate the election, and legislation attempting to change the ways Pennsylvanians will vote. Votebeat will cover Republican lawmakers’ investigation of the 2020 vote and constitutional amendments to restrict voting; extremists’ efforts to take over local positions overseeing the next elections; and local administrators’ conducting of 2022’s contentious primary and general elections, many based on redrawn districts.

You will dive deep into the details of election administration and synthesize those facts into accurate, nuanced takeaways. Your journalism will inform the debate around voting and make an impact by spotlighting problems in elections and the politicization of voting, and by pointing toward solutions. Because the decision-making and preparations for elections are constantly ongoing, we treat this coverage as a year-round beat.

You will be responsible for reporting and writing stories — in close collaboration with your Votebeat and Spotlight editors — focused on voting access, election security, voting disinformation, and the disputes and lawsuits over election processes and results, including breaking news during the primary and general elections. At other times you will report on voting data, election tech, reform advocacy, and election policy changes. You also will serve as Votebeat’s public face in the community, working closely with our network team to cultivate reader engagement and represent the organization at public events.

This position can be based anywhere in Pennsylvania, primarily working at home and communicating remotely with the rest of the staffs. If based in Philadelphia, the reporter would have access to Chalkbeat’s office space there. The reporter will report to Votebeat’s editor in chief and will work closely with our partners at Spotlight PA, the statewide investigative reporting collaboration. Your work will appear on both websites as well as in distribution to Spotlight’s local media partners.

Who are you?

You are committed to local journalism and respect the transformative power of a good story. You’re a self-starter who is hungry to break news, eager to understand and inform vital public policy debates, and enthusiastic about creating new models for sustainable journalism. You’re a strong beat reporter who can develop reliable sources and find overlooked stories. You have the ability to write a range of stories, from breaking news to enterprise and long-term projects.

Most importantly, you can serve as a guide for our readers — election administrators, policymakers, voting advocates, and voters themselves — in explaining how elections work in Pennsylvania. And you’re not afraid to call officials to task when warranted.

What background and skills do you have?

Experience covering elections, government, public policy, or legal affairs
Knowledge of Pennsylvania elections, local demographics, and political culture
Experience with building sources and generating story ideas
Comfort or experience working with data, research, and reports
The ability to write clearly, cleanly, and on deadline for quick-take, daily, and longer-form stories
Autonomous work habits, including proactive initiative and diligent task management while working remotely
Team-oriented mindset with a generous spirit toward supporting your colleagues
Interest in or experience with reader engagement, including finding creative ways to connect with a diverse set of readers
A firm grasp of AP style and proper grammar
The ability to accept feedback and use it to grow
A passion for political participation and civic health in Pennsylvania
Ability to report in a language other than English is a plus

Not all candidates will check all of the requirements listed above, and that’s OK — we still want to hear from you. We especially encourage candidates from communities that traditionally have been underrepresented in journalism and especially in leadership positions.

This is a full-time position with benefits. Votebeat offers a competitive salary, commensurate with experience, and a generous benefits package, including a paid one-week recess. Our virtual newsroom features daily interaction, social Slack channels, personal development sessions, and team exercise and meditation get-togethers.

This is a role covered by the CBA with the WGAE.

Our organization is committed to antiracism, and our staff is taking part in ongoing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging work.

To apply, complete the online form at the bottom of this page.

About Votebeat:

About Spotlight PA:

Spotlight PA is a nationally award-winning independent newsroom covering Pennsylvania’s Capitol and urgent statewide issues. The mission of Spotlight PA is simple: to hold powerful private and public forces to account by producing journalism that gets results and serves the public good. Spotlight PA has the largest collaborative network of its kind in the United States, with stories shared across 79 partner newsrooms, allowing our journalism to reach Pennsylvanians in all corners.

Arizona Reporter

2022-01-11T04:22:37+00:00

We’re looking for a reporter to cover voting in Arizona.

Votebeat, the nonprofit news organization created by Chalkbeat to cover local election administration and voting access, is seeking a passionate journalist to serve as our Arizona reporter.

This is a pivotal time to cover voting in Arizona, a state that saw one of the closest presidential elections of 2020 followed by a flood of lawsuits and unfounded claims of voter fraud, a contentious partisan audit, and new laws affecting the way Arizonans will vote. Votebeat’s coverage will focus on the rise of new voting restrictions and conflicts in the wake of the Supreme Court’s Brnovich decision, the aftermath of the Maricopa County audit, and increasing far-right influence among the state’s officials, including candidates for secretary of state.

You will be responsible for reporting and writing stories — in close collaboration with your Votebeat editors — about voting access, election security, voting disinformation, and the disputes and lawsuits over election processes and results, including breaking news during the primary and general elections. At other times you will report on voting data, election tech, reform advocacy, and election policy changes. You also will serve as Votebeat’s public face in the community, working closely with our network team to cultivate reader engagement and represent the organization at public events.

This position will be based anywhere in Arizona, working at home and communicating remotely with the rest of the staff in Colorado, Texas, and Pennsylvania. The reporter will report to Votebeat’s editor in chief.

Who are you?

Most importantly, you can serve as a guide for our readers — election administrators, policymakers, voting advocates, and voters themselves — in explaining how elections work in Arizona. And you’re not afraid to call officials to task when warranted.

Required background and skills:

Experience covering elections, government, public policy, or legal affairs
Knowledge of Arizona elections, local demographics, and political culture
Experience with building sources and generating story ideas
Comfort or experience working with data, research, and reports
The ability to write clearly, cleanly, and on deadline for quick-take, daily and longer-form stories
Autonomous work habits, including proactive initiative and diligent task management while working remotely
Team-oriented mindset with a generous spirit toward supporting your colleagues
Interest in or experience with reader engagement, including finding creative ways to connect with a diverse set of readers
A firm grasp of AP style and proper grammar
The ability to accept feedback and use it to grow
A passion for political participation and civic health in Arizona
Ability to report in Spanish or Navajo is a plus

This is a role covered by the CBA with the WGAE.

Our organization is committed to antiracism, and our staff is taking part in ongoing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging work.

To apply, complete the online form at the bottom of this page.

About Votebeat:

Votebeat is dedicated to equal employment opportunities for all applicants and employees. Votebeat encourages people of all races, colors, national origins, ancestries, creeds, religions, genders, ages, disabilities, veteran status, sexual orientations and marital statuses to apply.

About Votebeat

2021-07-28T22:49:27+00:00

Votebeat is a nonprofit news organization committed to reporting the nuanced truth about elections and voting at a time of crisis in America.

Our mission is to help people understand our system of democracy so they can participate in strengthening it. Our approach is to cover and explain the mechanics of voting — no political polls, candidate platforms, or Election Day results; instead we will focus on how elections are run, from early and mail-in voting to voter registration and election security. Because we believe that elections are fundamentally a local issue, our coverage is rooted in local communities. Votebeat’s stories available at no cost to readers, as well as to all local and national news outlets.

As a nonprofit, Votebeat’s support comes from a diverse mix of sources, including sponsors who pay for opportunities to share messages with our readers and donors who believe in our mission. As most local news sources shrink, creating more so-called “news deserts,” Votebeat is building a sustainable model that is local, substantive, and independent. View our current supporters and learn more about becoming a sponsor.

Votebeat is a Civic News Company newsroom. Learn more about Civic News Company here.

Supporters

2021-07-28T22:19:05+00:00

All donors commit to helping us preserve our editorial independence. They agree that Votebeat’s only duty is to telling the truth and that editorial decisions are ours alone. To read more about the code of ethics governing this project, click here. The following list represents all donors who have given $1,000 or more to Votebeat.

Battery Powered

Caswell-Jin Foundation

Craig Newmark Philanthropies

Democracy Fund

Elizabeth Haas Edersheim

Emerson Collective

Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation

Girl Reporter Fund—Amanda Bennett

Claire Goldsmith

Good Words Foundation

Mark Gorton

Garrett Graff

Independence Media Foundation

Joyce Foundation

Doug and Wendy Kreeger

Sue Lehmann

Jessica Lessin

Loud Hound

Jamie Lynton

Meeker Charitable Fund

Moriah Fund

New Venture Fund

Emily Newmann

Linnea Roberts

Naomi and Michael Rosenfeld

Maxine Sclar

Lisa Scott

Erin and John Thornton

Walker Family Foundation

William and Flora Hewlett Foundation

William Penn Foundation

Yellow Chair Foundation

Juliet Zavon

Natasha and Dirk Ziff

Privacy Policy

2021-07-28T22:11:10+00:00

Last updated on December 13, 2017

This page contains Chalkbeat Inc.’s (“Chalkbeat”, “us” or “we”) privacy policy (this “Privacy Policy”), which explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect the information that we obtain from you on the Votebeat website. We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting it through our compliance with this Privacy Policy. The content on our site is delivered by Chorus, a product of Vox Media, and their interaction with you is described in these Terms of Use and Privacy Notice.

This Privacy Policy applies when we collect data from users (“you”) through a website, emails related to the use of a website, and features controlled, whether partially or otherwise, by us (the “Features”). If a Feature is co-branded or developed by a third party, the third party’s privacy policy may also apply.

“Personal Information” includes information that alone or when in combination with other information may be used to readily identify, contact, or locate you (e.g., name, address, telephone number, email address, and location). We do not consider Personal Information to include information that does not allow a third party to identify you.

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully to understand our policies and practices regarding your information and how we will treat it. By disclosing your Personal Information to us, including by using the Features, you agree to this Privacy Policy (which is expressly incorporated into our Terms of Use). If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our Features.

This Privacy Policy may change from time to time. Your continued use of our Features after we make changes will be deemed an acceptance by you of those changes, so please check this Privacy Policy periodically for updates.

The content on our site is delivered by Chorus, a product of Vox Media, and their interaction with you is described in these Terms of Use and Privacy Notice.

HOW WE COLLECT INFORMATION

1.1 You can visit the Features without identifying yourself or revealing any of your Personal Information. In a few areas on the Features, we ask you to provide Personal Information in order to enhance your use of the Features or for other purposes, such as facilitating correspondence with you, registration to use certain features of the Features (e.g., the jobs board, the events calendar, the newsletter, etc.), or completing transactions, such as donations. In other cases, we collect Personal Information you post through the Features. It is always your choice whether or not to provide that Personal Information. If you choose not to provide requested Personal Information, you may not be able to use certain functionalities of the Features.

1.2 When you make payments through the Features, such as when making a donation, you may need to provide Personal Information, such as your credit card number and billing address. That information will be provided directly to our third-party payment processor, and we will not have access to and will not collect or maintain your credit card information.

1.3 The Features may collect location data to provide location-related functionality (“Location Data”). We and our service providers may also collect your usage activity and preferences (“Usage Data”). We may link Location Data and Usage Data to other information we have collected about you.

1.4 We and third parties, including but not limited to providers of social media, software, mailing, survey, and advertising services, may use cookies, pixel tags, web beacons or other similar technologies to operate the Features. These technologies may collect and store Personal Information as well as usage statistics and other non-personal information. Browsers allow you to block and delete cookies. However, if you do that, the Features may not work properly. By using the Features, you are authorizing us to gather, analyze, and retain data related to the provision of the Features.

1.5 If we combine or associate information from third parties with Personal Information that we collect through the Features, we will treat the combined information as Personal Information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

HOW WE USE INFORMATION

2.1 We use information, including Personal Information, to complete a transaction with you or do something else that you have asked us to do, and we may provide it to third parties to allow us to facilitate the Features. For example, if you request support or other information, we may need to use Personal Information to respond to your request. We may use and retain any data we collect to provide and improve our Features.

2.2 We may use information, including Personal Information and data collected through cookies and similar technology, to provide online advertising on the Features and for our fundraising, advertising or marketing purposes. At any time, you can opt-out of receiving any communication from Chalkbeat by either: (a) contacting us at contact@chalkbeat.org and requesting to have your name removed from our mailing list; or (b) clicking the “unsubscribe” link in any email from us.

2.3 We may anonymize and aggregate data collected through the Features and use it for any purpose.

2.4 We use Location Data to provide location-based functionality.

2.5 Any user-generated content submitted on or through public Features will be treated as being non-confidential and nonproprietary, and we will be free to use such information for any purpose whatsoever. In doing so, we may edit your user-generated content for clarity or brevity and identify you by name and location as the author of the user-generated content if that information has been provided.

2.6 Any information you share in a public forum, including any Personal Information, is public information and may be seen, collected, or used by anyone, including third parties that do not adhere to this Privacy Policy. We are not responsible for events arising from the distribution of any information you choose to publicly post or share through the Features. We may use Personal Information and non-personal information about you to identify you with a posting in a public forum.

HOW WE SHARE INFORMATION

3.1 Our service providers and research institutions with which we collaborate may have access to your Personal Information and other information, for the purpose of performing services on our behalf. All such service providers and such research institutions who have access to your Personal Information are required to keep the information confidential and not use it for any other purpose than to carry out the services they are performing for us or as otherwise required by law. We may also use third-party service providers to help us analyze certain online activities. We do not share any Personal Information about our users with these third parties, and these third parties do not collect such information on our behalf. However, we retain the right to share your Personal Information with third parties for marketing purposes.

3.2 The content you share on the Features may be displayed on the website or you may elect to post information through links to social media services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of other users who will view and use the information.

3.3 We may allow our affiliates, vendors, and suppliers to have access to aggregate statistics about our users, traffic patterns, and related Features information. These aggregate statistics do not include Personal Information.

3.4 We may access, preserve, and disclose your Personal Information, other account information, and content if we believe doing so is required or appropriate to comply with government reporting requirements, law enforcement requests, and legal processes such as a court order or subpoena; or to respond to your requests; or to protect your, our, or others’ rights, property, or safety.

3.5 Information about our users, including Personal Information, may be disclosed and otherwise transferred to an acquirer, or successor or assignee of Chalkbeat as part of any merger, acquisition, sale of assets, or similar transaction, as well as in the event of an insolvency, bankruptcy, or receivership in which information is transferred to one or more third parties as one of our business assets.

3.6 We may also disclose your Personal Information with your permission or as communicated to you at the point of collection of this information.

HOW WE PROTECT INFORMATION

4.1 We maintain safeguards that are designed to improve the integrity and security of Personal Information in our custody and control. While we strive to protect your Personal Information, we do not ensure or warrant the security of any information you transmit to us, and you do so at your own risk. We also cannot guarantee that such information may not be accessed, disclosed, altered, or destroyed by breach of any of our safeguards.

4.2 If you post Personal Information online that is accessible to the public, you may receive unsolicited messages from other parties for which we are not responsible.

4.3 You provide us with this data at your own risk; no data transmitted over the Internet can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

THIRD-PARTY SITES

5.1 Please be aware that other websites that may be accessed through the Features may collect Personal Information about you. These third-party websites may send their own cookies and other tracking devices to you, log your IP address, and otherwise collect data or solicit Personal Information. This Privacy Policy does not cover the information practices of those third-party websites. You should read the privacy policies and terms and conditions of linked or referenced sites that you enter.

CHILDREN’S PRIVACY

6.1 The Features are not intended for or directed to persons under the age of 13.

6.2 Consistent with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, we do not knowingly collect information from children under 13 without obtaining verifiable parental consent. If you are a parent or legal guardian and believe that your child under 13 years of age has volunteered Personal Information on the Features, and you do not consent to our possession of it, you may alert us at contact@chalkbeat.org and we will delete that child’s Personal Information from our systems.

6.3 If we learn that Personal Information on children under 13 has been collected without verifiable parental consent, we will take appropriate steps to remove that information from our database.

CALIFORNIA USERS

7.1 California residents may opt-out of our disclosure of Personal Information to third parties for their direct marketing purposes. It is important to note that this opt-out does not prohibit disclosures made for non-marketing purposes.

7.2 If you are a California resident, you have the additional right to receive: (a) information identifying all third-party companies to which we have disclosed Personal Information pertaining to you and your family for those companies’ direct marketing purposes, within the past year; and (b) a description of the categories of Personal Information disclosed.

7.3 To opt-out of the disclosures referenced in Section 7.1 or to obtain the information referenced in Section 7.2, please email your request to contact@chalkbeat.org.

INTERNATIONAL USERS

8.1 The Features are hosted through servers located in the United States and are intended for visitors located within the United States.

8.2 By providing any information, including Personal Information, on or to the Features, you consent to its transfer, storage, and processing within the United States. This is true regardless of whether you are located in a region of the world with laws governing data collection and use that are different and potentially stricter than the laws of the United States.

UPDATE OR DELETE PERSONAL INFORMATION

9.1 To update any of your Personal Information we hold about you, to request that we delete any information about you that we have obtained from the Features, or to communicate your consent choices regarding your Personal Information, you may contact us at contact@chalkbeat.org.

9.2 Your right to access or update your Personal Information is subject to applicable legal restrictions. We may take reasonable steps to verify your identity before granting access or updating your Personal Information.

9.3 We may retain your Personal Information for as long as the website is active or as needed to provide you with the Features, and to maintain a record of your transactions for financial reporting and compliance purposes. Additionally, we will retain and use your Personal Information as necessary to comply with our legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements.

CONTACT US

Please contact us with any questions or comments about this Privacy Policy, your Personal Information, or our use and disclosure practices, by email at contact@chalkbeat.org or by writing to us at the following address:

Votebeat c/o Chalkbeat Inc.

450 7th Avenue, 32nd Floor

New York, NY 10123

Privacy Policy

2021-07-28T22:11:10+00:00

Last updated on December 13, 2017

The content on our site is delivered by Chorus, a product of Vox Media, and their interaction with you is described in these Terms of Use and Privacy Notice.

HOW WE COLLECT INFORMATION

HOW WE USE INFORMATION

2.3 We may anonymize and aggregate data collected through the Features and use it for any purpose.

2.4 We use Location Data to provide location-based functionality.

HOW WE SHARE INFORMATION

3.6 We may also disclose your Personal Information with your permission or as communicated to you at the point of collection of this information.

HOW WE PROTECT INFORMATION

4.2 If you post Personal Information online that is accessible to the public, you may receive unsolicited messages from other parties for which we are not responsible.

4.3 You provide us with this data at your own risk; no data transmitted over the Internet can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

THIRD-PARTY SITES

CHILDREN’S PRIVACY

6.1 The Features are not intended for or directed to persons under the age of 13.

6.3 If we learn that Personal Information on children under 13 has been collected without verifiable parental consent, we will take appropriate steps to remove that information from our database.

CALIFORNIA USERS

7.3 To opt-out of the disclosures referenced in Section 7.1 or to obtain the information referenced in Section 7.2, please email your request to contact@chalkbeat.org.

INTERNATIONAL USERS

8.1 The Features are hosted through servers located in the United States and are intended for visitors located within the United States.

UPDATE OR DELETE PERSONAL INFORMATION

CONTACT US

Votebeat c/o Chalkbeat Inc.

450 7th Avenue, 32nd Floor

New York, NY 10123

Code of Ethics

2021-07-28T22:00:16+00:00

Votebeat is a nonprofit news organization covering voting access and election integrity year-round. Our mission is to increase Americans’ participation in democracy by championing access to voting. Democracy is stronger when voters are engaged in elections and trust the results. To that aim, we show how all aspects of elections work, what safeguards protect the integrity of the vote, and where the process needs improvement.

This mission demands that our readers and sources alike be able to have the utmost confidence in the accuracy of our journalism; the fairness of our reporting process; and the independence of our news judgments from the influence of advocates, partisan actors, and financial supporters.

One way we protect our commitment to accuracy, integrity, and independence is by actively designing a business model that relies on diversified streams of support. Our revenue sources include major donations from foundations and individuals; contributions from readers; paid sponsorships that appear on our website and email newsletters; and paid sponsorships of our live events. We believe the more diverse our revenue sources, the more solid our independence and the stronger our prospects for long-term sustainability.

In addition to building a business model that bolsters our independence, we have also adopted a code of ethics to govern the conduct of our team members and those we work with.

The Votebeat code of ethics, which mirrors Chalkbeat’s code, draws inspiration from those of other nonprofit news organizations, including the Marshall Project, ProPublica, Texas Tribune, and the Center for Investigative Reporting, and from those of professional organizations such as the Education Writers Association and the Society for Professional Journalists. Our code of ethics also reflects longstanding values and standards of practice of the journalism profession. Exceptional circumstances may require exceptions to this code, and we will revise it as our experiences and norms in journalism and digital media evolve.

Any team member inside Votebeat who has questions or issues raised in these policies is encouraged to bring them to their supervisor or editor. When in doubt, we suggest asking.

Our stories are accurate.

Journalism must be accurate, fair, and clear if readers are to trust it. To build trust, Votebeat journalists will:

Check facts; correct errors transparently and swiftly; and learn from mistakes so that they aren’t repeated. If you find an error, email corrections@votebeat.org.
Never plagiarize and never deliberately distort facts or context, including visual information. (Plagiarism and deliberate distortion are grounds for discipline, including termination.)
Identify the sources of their reporting, whether the information comes from people, documents, or exclusive reporting that appeared elsewhere.
Seek independent verification from multiple sources to confirm (or contradict) claims, especially those made by public officials or anyone with an agenda beyond merely reporting the truth.
Work to the best of their ability to assess evidence and claims without bias, always examining ways in which personal experiences and values may shape our reporting.
Provide context that readers need to make sense of the facts.
Acknowledge areas of uncertainty, which will always exist despite our best efforts to resolve them.

Our newsgathering is conducted comprehensively, ethically, and transparently.

Reporting about elections involves developing sources who do not interact frequently with journalists, including county administrators whose work has historically taken place outside of public view. To ensure that we minimize harm while maximizing truth, Votebeat journalists:

Identify ourselves to sources openly and accurately, never misrepresenting ourselves to get a story. When we seek an interview, we identify ourselves as Votebeat journalists and explain how our reporting might be used.
Avoid using unnamed sources whenever possible. When sources who are providing insights that others could also provide seek to keep their name out of our reporting, make every effort to speak to someone else.
Recognize that election administrators can be vulnerable to negative consequences of speaking to the press, and so it may be appropriate to cite unnamed administrators when reporting about the effects of election laws and processes. Editors should make that call, and a story should never rely on a single unnamed administrator to provide such insights.
Show compassion for those who may be affected adversely by news coverage. Use special sensitivity when dealing with inexperienced sources or subjects.
Explain why a source is not named when using an anonymous source is unavoidable and appropriate, and negotiate with those sources to provide readers with as much information as possible about them so that readers can assess the sources’ reliability.
Share information about sources with editors, so that editors and reporters can jointly assess whether and how to use the information they have provided. Any anonymous quotes must reflect conversation between a reporter and editor.
Have clear conversations with sources about how to use the information they provide, especially when the sources do not have significant media experience. Clarify a source’s expectations for keeping information “off the record,” “on background,” and other statuses because those terms can mean different things to different people.
Give people the right to respond to reporting that might portray them in a negative light, and explain to readers the efforts we went to seek a response in cases where sources do not respond.
Actively seek sources who lack access to broad public platforms, in addition to documenting the claims of those with influence and power.

Our journalism reflects our independent conclusions.

Voting debates can be highly polarized, and Votebeat provides balanced, unbiased, fact-based coverage aimed at informing the public conversation. To ensure that we remain independent and trustworthy, Votebeat team members involved in newsgathering, shaping stories, or overall program strategy will not:

Seek or accept secondary employment, political involvement, and other outside activities — particularly related to election policy issues — that could compromise integrity or cause the perception of compromised integrity.
Accept gifts, favors, fees, free travel, and special treatment from sources and potential sources. When attending events or conferences put on by sources or potential sources that offer free gift bags, reporters should decline to take any item of more than nominal value.
Pay for access to news, either with money or other favors.
Work on stories, projects, or initiatives in which they have a personal connection, vested interest or financial interest. This policy extends to the involvement and activities of a business partner, spouse, or domestic partner. In cases where reporters have an indirect personal connection to a story, we will always err on the side of disclosing to let readers make an independent judgment.
Give favored treatment to sponsors and donors. Team members will resist pressure from inside or outside Votebeat to influence coverage because of an advocacy agenda or financial need.
Participate in political activities such as marches and demonstrations. We will not make donations to candidates or lobbying groups.

Additionally, Votebeat team members will:

Disclose the relationship whenever we produce stories that involve Votebeat or Chalkbeat board members or financial supporters who have given more than $1,000. When these situations arise, editors and reporters are responsible for identifying the conflict and producing a disclosure.
Adhere to principles that protect our journalism from the influence of sponsors and donors, as outlined below.

Our donors and sponsors do not influence our reporting.

Votebeat is open to a wide range of financial support because we believe the more diverse our revenue sources, the more solid our independence. We have adopted a set of principles that enable us to accept this support while safeguarding our reporting from the influence of our supporters.

Major contributions from foundations and individuals: Accepting funds from foundations and individuals is a necessity for Votebeat’s financial viability, but those who contribute do so knowing that our only duty is to our mission. In some cases, we accept funding to cover certain topics, if we were going to cover those topics anyway. We never accept funding for specific story ideas. Feedback from major supporters is treated like that of any entity: we listen to the feedback, but ultimately, decisions about our editorial direction are Votebeat’s alone. We recognize that foundations are sometimes major players in the stories we cover, and we don’t shy away from covering these stories. When we cover the work of foundations that support Votebeat, we disclose the relationship for the sake of full transparency.
As a news organization that values transparency, Votebeat will always disclose the sources of gifts larger than $1,000 — both to staff and to readers.
Website and newsletter sponsorships: Sponsors cannot influence our decisions about what to cover and how. We acknowledge sponsors on our websites and in our newsletters. We reserve the right to reject a sponsorship if we believe the content is misleading, fraudulent, or distasteful, and in no way does a sponsorship represent an endorsement from Votebeat. Votebeat requires people-first language when referring to persons with disabilities and will not run sponsorships that reinforce negative racial, ethnic, or gender stereotypes. All content will be clearly labeled to be distinguishable from Votebeat’s editorial content.
Events sponsorships: Event sponsors are recognized at events and in Votebeat’s marketing materials, but they do not co-create or influence event content. If sponsors make announcements or distribute materials at events, Votebeat will describe this as a paid sponsorship.
Donations from readers: Votebeat gladly accepts contributions from our readers. As with other donations, there is no expectation that supporting Votebeat will influence reporting decisions.
Sponsored content and dedicated emails: Sponsors may also reach Votebeat readers in the form of sponsored articles on Votebeat.org and dedicated emails. The views expressed in any sponsored content, whether articles or emails, do not reflect those of Votebeat, and sponsors have no role or influence in Votebeat’s editorial decisions. Votebeat editorial staff has no involvement in writing this content. Votebeat will always identify the organization paying for the content on the article page, within the email, and/or in any related social media promotion. When the sponsored content is an article about a Votebeat-specific promotion, such as a Votebeat contest, Votebeat will be listed as the sponsor and Votebeat’s logo will be displayed.

We acknowledge that new revenue strategies will be developed in the future that may require additional enumeration of relevant ethical policies. We assume, however, that the underlying principles will be the same, even as our strategies for serving our audience and generating revenue develop.

First adopted 2015. Updated 2020.