On October 18, the next wave of “ No Kings ” protests will put American voters, and American newsrooms, to the test. Whether, where, and how journalists cover these demonstrations—and how the public perceives them—carries immense consequences for our collective civic health.

Demonstrations can be hard to describe and easy to discredit. Crowd counts matter but are deeply disputed. Is the atmosphere festive or fearful, and in whose judgment? How many people bring signs, and are they original or mass-produced? Are officers masked, armed, and antagonistic? Or are they partners in the pageant of free expression, making sure rules are followed, safety protected and lawbreakers held accountable?

Once a demonstration reaches a certain size, it’s more likely that conflict erupts somewhere. Thou

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