3 mins read

The newest episode of 'Succession' was an anxiety-inducing journey by way of election night time. Right here's what the episode acquired proper and flawed about working election night time in a newsroom.

  • It is true. You actually ought to put on comfy sneakers on election night time.
  • It is not true that call calls are left as much as media executives.
  • Warning: There are main spoilers forward! 

The newest episode of “Succession” was a nail-biting, anxiety-inducing, curler coaster journey of…nope, cannot say that phrase. Let’s simply say it was a large number because it documented how the fictional information community, ATN, coated a high-stakes presidential election.

It chronicled with intense tempo because the journalists and the Roy clan battled one another to call who the following president of america could be — even when it might not be completely correct.

By the episode’s finish, Roman’s choose — Mencken, who’s giving Trump vibes — is known as the winner by ATN. It comes regardless of some votes in Wisconsin not being counted because of a mysterious hearth and because of some critical election interference by the youngest Roy. In the meantime, Shiv is discovered for coping with Matsson on the facet, and Kendall is coping with his personal points as he considers how the election will have an effect on bizarre folks, like his daughter, from a altering cultural tide.

Greg and Tom during season four, episode 8 of Succession called "America Decides."

Greg and Tom throughout season 4, episode 8 of “Succession” known as “America Decides.”

HBO



Nonetheless, what did the episode get proper about working election night time as a journalist? Effectively, tons. 

  • Carrying comfy sneakers is a should: The episode opens with a hilarious second as folks query why Tom is carrying hard-soled sneakers since they are not comfy. It is true: On election night time, individuals who aren’t on digital camera have a tendency to decorate comfortably because it’s typically an extended night time. Relying on the newsroom — and I’ve labored in lots of on election night time — it might even contain operating forwards and backwards to the studio, up and down stairs. So sure, put on comfy sneakers.
  • You’ll eat within the newsroom: It might not be sushi with a facet of some spicy wasabi dashed with LaCroix, but it surely’s typically laborious to order meals on election night time, which is notoriously busy. The newsrooms that I’ve labored in, nevertheless, usually choose the straightforward route and order pizzas and salads. 
  • Technical difficulties occur: And after they do everyone seems to be asking, and asking, and asking what occurred, who did it, and when will or not it’s fastened — similar to when the touchscreens broke and Tom requested why, then Kendall requested why. That wasn’t an exaggeration, sadly.

Here is what it acquired flawed:

  • Determination desk calls aren’t made by executives: Every newsroom has a regular apply on how their Determination Desk operates. NBC breaks down how theirs operates right here. In abstract, it “makes use of exit ballot knowledge to find out whether or not uncompetitive races will be known as. Most races are known as based mostly on analyses of precinct- and county-level vote returns. The analyses additionally study variations between early and Election Day votes. In shut contests, a cautious evaluation of how a lot of the vote has not been counted is an important a part of the method. No race is projected till the Determination Desk is at a minimal 99.5 % assured of the winner.”