Democracy is messy at best. And in turbulent times, it is ever more important for media to provide clarity for audiences—voters—trying to make sense of what’s happening.
“No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.…” -Sir Winston Churchill, 1947
In a period of increased attacks on democratic institutions, Churchill’s three-quarters-of-a-century old missive reminds us that, imperfect as it is, democracy is the best bet in an imperfect world.
History shows that, despite its warts, democracy is best placed to foster peace and security, economic opportunity, and social equity.
In many ways, this has been the story of America’s leadership in the world.
But in the context of a weakened rules-based international order and the proliferation of misinformation and disinformation, the sense of safety that US democracy once offered, too, has taken a hit.
As the buds of the US election season begin to bloom, now more than ever, unbiased, consumable information delivered through a free and fair media is needed to make sense of the sometimes-overwhelming messiness in which we live. Many onlookers can’t help but wonder about this campaign’s impacts on the future of hemispheric and global security and economics. Let alone the state of democracy.
“Living next to you [the US] is in some ways like sleeping with an elephant…one is affected by every twitch and grunt,” once quipped Pierre Eliot Trudeau.
Indeed, in this era, the elephant snores loudly.
While November 5th, 2024, may still be a year away, the opening primaries are just around the corner. Eleven weeks from the Iowa caucuses, it appears that we are on a collision course for a rematch of the 2020 contest between Democrat Joe Biden and Republican Donald Trump.
For the Democrats, it’s tough to primary a sitting President. And for Republicans, Trump is in a runaway lead, 40 points clear of his nearest rival. Is it a fait accompli? Or can someone emerge from the Republican field and make it a two-horse race moving into Super Tuesday?
And what role will third-party candidates play? Will the “Kennedy” name disrupt? Will others’ trial balloons burst?
Clear as mud, right?
Democracy is messy at best. And in turbulent times, it is ever more important for media to provide clarity for audiences—voters—trying to make sense of what’s happening.
With over 20 years’ experience bringing data to life, the iK Insights platform cuts through the noise to help media carry out their essential democratic function to deliver unbiased, consumable information to viewers.
Widely recognized as the Gold Standard for election coverage, the CNN Magic Wall—an iK Insights creation—is known for its ability to aggregate thousands of data feeds and information points, allowing for a free-flowing presentation of what is happening in real time. Since 2012, it has helped millions of viewers sift through the messiness to get a clear picture of what’s going on.
As 2024 approaches, iK Insights is ready to help other media organizations, too, give their viewers the tools needed to best decide on the fate of their democracy, and quite frankly, on the trajectory of democratic institutions the world over.
No small task. But we’re up for it. Clear as day.
Explore how broadcasters bring election nights to life with IK Election Insights, InterKnowlogy's cloud-native election graphics platform.
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