BPR News is approaching the 2024 Election in a way that is different from other coverage.
Our focus is on the voter. What matters to voters in Western North Carolina?
We are asking one key question: What do you want candidates to talk about as they compete for your vote?
Our work is based on a model called The Citizens Agenda, a framework developed in North Carolina in the early 90's.
The audience-centered design means you drive the conversation. Learn more here.
We are asking for your perspective, and your priorities will form the agenda for our work.
Transcript:
Laura Lee: Primary day is just two weeks away, and early voting has already started. I'm BPR News Director Laura Lee, and I'm here with Senior Regional Reporter Lilly Knoepp. Hi Lilly.
Lilly Knoepp: Hi Laura.
LL: We're approaching the election coverage a little bit differently this year. Can you tell us about how we're doing that?
LK: That's right Laura. When we sat down and
talked about what we wanted to do for the election this year, we really wanted to do something different. We didn't want to do traditional sporting event coverage this political season. This candidate is ahead. This one is behind in the polls. We really wanted to talk to our community and hear from them and hear what's important to them and where these candidates stand on those issues. So there is actually a theory behind that called the community agenda and that is how we are covering this election is by creating a community agenda listening to the community members of Western North Carolina.
LL: And through that Community. Agenda, we ask one specific question. Can you tell us what that is and why we ask that?
LK: Yes, we really wanted to start off super broadly and ask folks, "What do you want candidates to talk about as they compete from your vote?" We want to hear not just the issues that you are interested but specific questions for specific candidates and really just let people lead the conversation and say whatever it is that they want to say.
LL: And that has worked. So far we've had more than 150 people respond and give us suggestions of a little over 300 items that they think are important -the items that they want candidates to talk about as they're competing for their votes. What topic areas are you seeing emerge from those responses?
LK: That's right. So we put together a survey— you probably heard about a here on BPR or online on our social media —and over 150 people filled out that survey and shared with us the issues that are important to them. So really what rose to the top of that was housing and homelessness followed by issues of democracy, governance, transparency. People really wanted to know what candidates are going to work for them and listen to them. We also had a lot of questions about affordability in this economy and social issues like access to abortion, reparations here in Asheville, and a lot of specific questions about Mission Health and HCA.
LL: So can you tell us a little bit about our plans and how we're going to use that in the reporting?
LK: So a lot of the folks who sent in survey responses were from here in Buncombe County. So we've put together those questions into questions for the actual city council candidates. Our Buncombe County reporter Laura Hackett has sent those out to the Asheville city council candidates, and we will get back there responses.
But we're also going to use this as a guide to inform our reporting as we head out to the general election. And this is not the only time that we're going to ask folks what they're interested in as we get closer to the general election. We're going to be out in the community talking with folks and sending out that survey again to say what do you want to hear from candidates? What are your questions?
LL: In addition to the community agenda, we are still providing all the information that you need to vote. Lily, can you tell us about how we're breaking that up this year?
LK: We're also going to put out Regional guides for the counties in our coverage area: 13 counties in Western North Carolina from Cherokee County all the way to east of Buncombe County. Those are going to break down the local candidates who are running with their bios links to their campaign websites, and explain a little bit about who's running in this primary election and where to vote, where your early voting polls are and how to access sample ballots.
LL: Lots of great information. People can find that bpr.org this week and can also check out the results of the community agenda and give us their input. Thanks so much for talking with me Lilly.
LK: Thanks Laura.
