Colorado Springs‑based news outlet KRDO13 released its editorial roadmap for covering the 2026 general election. The station says its coverage will be guided by three core principles—truth, trust and transparency—and will prioritize local, county and state races while still reporting on national contests that affect Coloradans.
Six priorities steer the newsroom
KRDO13’s newsroom staff compiled a list of six coverage priorities after gathering audience feedback and holding internal discussions. The priorities, which will outrank any scheduled campaign events, include:
- Focusing on races that directly impact Colorado residents, such as state legislative seats, county commissioner contests and local school‑board elections.
- Providing a regularly updated online Voter’s Guide that links to registration tools, ballot‑lookup widgets and non‑partisan candidate information.
- Monitoring “horse‑race” polls as a springboard for deeper analysis, while clearly labeling them as poll data rather than predictions.
- Applying best‑practice guidelines from the Center for Racial Justice Innovation to guard against implicit bias in reporting.
- Assigning reporters to fact‑check candidate statements made at rallies, in advertisements and on social media, with full attribution of sources and sponsor disclosures.
- Encouraging readers to create personal profiles on KRDO13’s website to receive story alerts and help the newsroom track the topics that matter most to the community.
Addressing implicit bias
The station cites research from the American Psychological Association that defines implicit bias as an unconscious negative attitude toward a specific social group. KRDO13 says awareness of such bias is its strongest defense, and it has incorporated the Center for Racial Justice Innovation’s recommendations into its editorial guidelines. By doing so, the newsroom aims to ensure that coverage of candidates and issues remains fair and fact‑based.
Fact‑checking as a core service
KRDO13 will publish fact‑check articles that compare candidate claims with publicly available data, court filings, official statements and independent research. Each piece will note who paid for any advertising that is being examined, giving readers a clear view of potential financial influences.
Community engagement
To keep the public informed, KRDO13 will use its digital platforms to share the Voter’s Guide, poll analyses and fact‑check reports. The station also invites residents to click the bell icon at the bottom of the site to create a user profile, which will tailor news alerts to individual interests and help the newsroom prioritize stories that resonate with Colorado voters.
Looking ahead
While KRDO13 acknowledges that no editorial plan can anticipate every development in a dynamic election cycle, the outlet stresses that its transparent approach is designed to empower voters with reliable information. The station’s leadership hopes the framework will set a standard for local newsrooms across the state, reinforcing the role of a free press in a healthy democracy.
Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.
