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The Guardian

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Betsy Reed
Editor, Guardian US

Hi there,

It’s not surprising, but it is now clear: this November’s US presidential election will be Donald Trump v Joe Biden – again. If you're like me, you may at times feel weary about the prospect of living through a bitter replay of a campaign we’ve seen before. But with so much at stake, both for the United States and the rest of the world, exhaustion is not an option for any of us.

The media will play a crucial role in shaping the outcome of this election – and this time, journalists must get it right. I want to lay out for you how the Guardian approaches our coverage, as it differs from many news organisations.

First, we are unafraid to say plainly that American democracy is facing a unique historic threat. Instead of obsessing about who’s up and who’s down, our journalists are acutely focused on the real stakes – the fact that fundamental human rights, democracy and the fate of the planet are all on the line.

We take this approach because it reflects our values and what we believe journalism is for in a democracy. With no billionaire owner or shareholders to please, we are fully editorially independent. That means we are not being pushed by anyone to amp up false scandals for clicks, or cover the election like a reality TV contest.

Without democracy, there can be no free press – and without a free press, there is no democracy. You can help safeguard both by supporting the Guardian as we prepare to cover an election which will have major consequences far beyond US borders.

We always strive to be fair, but we avoid the trap that befalls much of the media, especially in the United States: the tendency to engage in false equivalence in the name of neutrality. Sometimes reporting truthfully means calling out the lies of powerful people and institutions – and making clear how misinformation and demagoguery can damage democracy.

In an era of AI-generated scandal and social media virality, we are acutely aware of how the media can be manipulated to promote political agendas. Our election coverage is in many ways defined by what we choose not to cover: amplifying false scandals drummed up by opposition researchers, platforming lies and misinformation, and engaging in “he said-she said” coverage without adequate context.

Behind all the noise of a US presidential election lies the very real impact on people around the world. And that's where our attention is focused.

If you value political journalism that cuts through the noise to focus on what’s really at stake, you should support us here. It’s quick and any amount helps.

As a global, 200-year-old news organisation, we are deeply committed to journalistic rigour, factual accuracy and uncovering the truth. Our reporters cover politics free from outside interference. While we are independent of partisan allegiances, we will always defend democracy over dictatorship.

We are relying on you to help us do that this election year.

Support us

Thank you,
Betsy Reed
Editor, Guardian US