You probably remember where you were when the alerts started hitting your phone in July. First, the chaos in Butler, Pennsylvania. Then, the stunning Sunday afternoon letter from Joe Biden. It felt like the 2024 presidential election coverage was basically a high-speed chase that never actually ended.
Honestly, most of us were exhausted by October. Pew Research found that around 60% of Americans felt completely worn out by the sheer volume of news. But here’s the kicker: even though we were drowning in content, a lot of people feel like they actually missed the "real" story.
Why 2024 Presidential Election Coverage Left Us Feeling Skeptical
Mainstream news outlets often have a specific way of looking at the world. In 2024, that perspective didn't always line up with what was happening at the kitchen table.
For months, the big networks focused on "the horse race." Who’s up in the Pennsylvania polls? What did the latest focus group in Arizona say? While they were obsessed with the numbers, voters were looking at the price of eggs.
Actually, the media spent a massive amount of time on candidate comments and "campaign trail" drama. About 40% of the coverage followed this pattern. Meanwhile, only 17% of news focused on actual policy stances. That is a massive gap. You've got people wanting to know how a candidate will handle the economy, but what they get is a 10-minute segment on a viral meme or a rally insult.
The Elephant in the Room: Biden’s Health
We have to talk about the debate on June 27. It changed everything.
Before that night, many reporters were hesitant to really dig into President Biden’s age or mental clarity. Some called it "bubble-wrapping." The White House kept him mostly out of view, and a lot of the press corps played along—until they couldn't.
When the debate happened, the dam broke. It wasn't just news anymore; it was a panic. For nine straight days, "Biden's debate disaster" was the top story in the country. This led to a huge credibility hit for major outlets. Many voters asked, "If you knew this was happening, why didn't you tell us sooner?" It’s a fair question.
The Rise of the "Alternative" News Cycle
If you didn't watch the evening news, you probably caught the 2024 presidential election coverage on a podcast or X (formerly Twitter).
Traditional TV is losing its grip. Fast.
During this cycle, we saw the explosion of long-form interviews. Donald Trump’s three-hour chat with Joe Rogan got tens of millions of views. Kamala Harris sat down with Call Her Daddy. These weren't 30-second soundbites. They were deep dives that allowed candidates to bypass the "filters" of traditional journalism.
- Podcasts: Became the new "town square" for young voters.
- TikTok: Influencers with no journalism degree were often the primary news source for Gen Z.
- Live Streams: Millions watched the results on independent YouTube channels instead of CNN or Fox.
This shift created a "choose your own adventure" style of news. If you liked one candidate, you could live in an ecosystem that only showed their wins. It made the country feel even more polarized than it actually was.
✨ Don't miss: Did Trump Drop Bombs On Iran? What Really Happened
The Poll Problem
Can we just admit that polling is kinda broken?
In 2024, we saw a "glut" of polls. Every day brought a new number. But many of these polls used "dubious methodologies" that didn't account for how people actually live today. Who even answers a phone call from an unknown number anymore?
The most famous miss was probably the Iowa poll by J. Ann Selzer, which suggested Harris might win the state. Trump ended up winning Iowa by 13 points. When "gold standard" polls are that far off, it makes the 2024 presidential election coverage feel like guesswork disguised as science.
AI and the Disinformation War
This was the first "AI Election," and it was weird.
We saw deepfakes of candidates, fake audio of robocalls, and AI-generated images of "disaster zones" that never existed. Russia, China, and Iran were all identified as players in this space, trying to stir the pot.
One of the wildest examples was a fake video of a "Haitian man" claiming he voted multiple times in Georgia. It was a total fabrication, likely made in Russia, but it spread like wildfire. By the time fact-checkers got to it, the damage was done.
Most people (73% according to Pew) said they saw inaccurate news at least "somewhat often." That's a scary number. It means we’ve reached a point where half the country doesn't know what to believe.
What Actually Influenced the Result?
Despite the billions spent on ads and the endless 24-hour news cycles, the election came down to a few basic things.
- The Economy: People felt the "economic cries" of the country were ignored by the media.
- The "Vibe" Check: Voters often chose based on "cultural identification"—who did they feel understood them?
- The Incumbency Trap: Harris struggled to distance herself from an unpopular administration while the press focused on her "joy" campaign.
The media assumed abortion rights would be the single deciding factor. While it was huge, it wasn't the only thing. The 2024 presidential election coverage often missed the nuance of "split voters"—people who supported abortion access but also wanted mass deportations or lower tariffs.
🔗 Read more: Red Voter Guide Florida: What Most People Get Wrong
How to Navigate Post-Election News
Moving forward, the way we consume news has to change. You can't just trust a headline anymore. Honestly, the best way to stay informed is to diversify your "information diet."
If you only read one side, you're only getting half the story.
Actionable Steps for the Informed Citizen:
- Check the Source: Before sharing a "bombshell" clip, see if it’s from a verified news agency or a random account with a blue checkmark.
- Read Past the Headline: Headlines are designed to make you angry so you'll click. The actual facts are usually buried in paragraph six.
- Follow the Money: Look at who owns the outlet. Are they chasing ratings, or are they providing public service?
- Limit Social Media Scrolling: Algorithms are literally built to keep you in an echo chamber. Take a break. Go outside.
The 2024 presidential election coverage was a wake-up call. It showed us that the "old guard" of media is struggling to keep up, and the "new guard" is often a wild west of unsourced claims. Being a smart consumer of news isn't just a hobby anymore—it's a necessity for survival in a digital world.