In full transparency, I’m writing this the week before the election. It’s quite possible that election results won’t be known yet as you read this, but they are definitely not known here in the final days of October. So why bother writing something now? 

I’m writing because there are things I know to be true, regardless of how the election turns out.

I know that on this first post-election day, and all the days that follow, the PublicSource team will be working hard to combat misinformation and bring facts to light.

I know that no one will tell our fiercely independent newsroom what we can and can’t publish. 

I know that as a nonpartisan organization, we will seek out a variety of voices and perspectives — and we will fact-check everything in our stories.

I know that our coverage will document what’s going on in our community, from the halls of government, to the public streets, to the kitchen tables of residents — and we’ll explain what it means and why it matters.  

I had the privilege of sitting in on one of our editorial team’s pre-election planning meetings this morning. I listened to reporters and editors discussing how breaking information will be verified before we share it, how they’ll ensure that we can check in with sources as events develop and new information comes to light, and how they’ll keep themselves safe amid a markedly tense climate. “This has been challenging even for those of us who have a lot of experience covering elections,” Editor-in-Chief Halle Stockton said. I was struck by how thoughtful and prepared our team is, and how dedicated they are to making sure they can provide the information our region — and our democracy — needs.

One phrase Halle said in that meeting especially stuck out to me — “We will be collectively processing this with our region.” And after almost five years on the PublicSource team, that’s something I know for sure: we’re in this with you, working hard to be a reliable signal among the noise.

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