This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Oct. 19, 2012 - Dear Beaconites -
Beacon readers know that our political coverage this fall has been as deep and wide as any in the state. And through Beyond November -- a collaboration of the Beacon, St. Louis Public Radio and the Nine Network of Public Media -- we've been exploring races, issues and voters' concerns more extensively than any of us could do separately.
But even if you follow this coverage day to day, you might easily lose sight of the full range of work available to help you decide how to vote. As we enter the final frenzy of the election cycle, let's take another look at these resources; let's sketch the forest that sometimes gets lost in the trees.
Here are its main parts:
-- Breaking news. The turning points in any campaign are unpredictable, and recognizing them can be tricky. Sorting significance from spin is a strength of the Beacon's crack political team led by editor Susan Hegger, political reporters Jo Mannies and Jason Rosenbaum, and Washington correspondent Rob Koenig. This week's breaking news included the presidential town hall forum and the Missouri senate debate. Want to review other breaking developments? Browse our Elections section.
-- Candidate profiles. Campaign ads swamp voters with the impressions candidates want to convey. Our profiles and overviews drain the swamp, providing pertinent insights from the candidates' backgrounds, records, comparative positions and strategies. We've already profiled Missouri races for the U.S. Senate, governor and other statewide offices as well as Missouri and Illinois contests for the U.S. House. Look for reporting soon on Missouri legislative races. Use the search box on our homepage to find what you need.
-- Power Players. Wondering who wields influence behind the scenes? One measure is money. But tracking donors through the welter of campaign finance reports is devilishly difficult. Working with members of the Investigative News Network, the Beacon has analyzed federal and state records over several years to identify who's given the most and why. Our Power Players project includes details and an app.
-- Issues. Jobs, schools, health care, state and federal budgets, climate change, abortion. Many voters care deeply about these issues and more, and the election helps determine how they will be addressed. Yet the issues transcend any single campaign. A series of Beacon stories focuses on what's at stake and what options are on the table.
-- Ballot initiatives. In Missouri, advocates often take their causes directly to voters. This week, the Beacon explained what's behind ballot measures that would establish mayoral control of the St. Louis police, prohibit the state from setting up health care exchanges, raise the cigarette tax and raise taxes for St. Louis County's libraries.
-- Voters. The presidential race and other close contests will hinge on which key groups turn out in force and on how undecided voters break. Look for Beacon coverage soon that analyzes what's happening in three important groups -- African Americans, young voters and women -- as well as how rural, suburban and urban voters are reacting to the candidates and campaigns.
-- Voters Guide. Even if you've made up your mind on most things, you may want to check the Beyond November Voters Guide to clear up those inevitable down-ballot mysteries. Plug in your address, and the guide tells you what's on your ballot. It also includes information from the candidates and about their voting records and campaign donors plus links to related news coverage.
As this seemingly endless election winds to a close, Beacon reporters will continue to share what they know -- not just online, but also on air and in person at various events. Join us if you can for a Beacon and Eggs broadcast on polling next Friday at the KTRS studios in Westport. Look for us on election eve, when the Nine Network will air a Beyond November pre-election special.
Come Election Day, we hope our work will have armed you to cast an informed vote. And we hope you will look to the Beacon and Beyond November for insightful reporting as the results roll out.
Sincerely,
Margie