To: CNN, MSNBC, FOX News, ABC News, NBC News, CBS News, and The Associated Press
Media: Do not prematurely declare a Democratic nominee on June 7.
Do not interfere in the democratic process by prematurely declaring a Democratic nominee on June 7 based on unofficial, uncommitted superdelegates. A nominee will only be decided at the convention, and falsely declaring a nominee could suppress turnout and influence elections on June 7.
Why is this important?
It is now virtually impossible for either Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders to officially win the Democratic nomination before the Democratic convention. In order for either candidate to reach the required number of delegates to claim the nomination, they will need superdelegates -- a group of delegates that will not be officially awarded to either candidate until the Democratic National Convention is held at the end of July. That means a contested convention -- and a vigorous debate over the values and priorities of the Democratic Party -- is now assured.
But despite that fact, on June 7 mainstream media outlets are planning to declare Hillary Clinton the winner. How? By combining the delegates she wins from that day's primaries with an unofficial tally of superdelegates who have informally committed to Hillary Clinton based on unofficial polls and declarations of support.
This is a profoundly misleading and anti-Democratic move by mainstream media outlets, and it could affect the real-time results of the California Democratic primary election taking place on June 7 -- a primary that could have a dramatic effect on the Democratic nomination. If Hillary Clinton is falsely declared the winner at 8pm Eastern time -- as media outlets are planning to do -- voter turnout in California could be significantly depressed, which could dramatically alter the outcome in a race that now appears to be a dead heat.
Tell the mainstream media to resist the temptation to feed the news cycle with superficial and misleading horse-race journalism and let democracy take its course. Sign the petition and tell national media outlets: Do not falsely declare a Democratic nominee on June 7.
But despite that fact, on June 7 mainstream media outlets are planning to declare Hillary Clinton the winner. How? By combining the delegates she wins from that day's primaries with an unofficial tally of superdelegates who have informally committed to Hillary Clinton based on unofficial polls and declarations of support.
This is a profoundly misleading and anti-Democratic move by mainstream media outlets, and it could affect the real-time results of the California Democratic primary election taking place on June 7 -- a primary that could have a dramatic effect on the Democratic nomination. If Hillary Clinton is falsely declared the winner at 8pm Eastern time -- as media outlets are planning to do -- voter turnout in California could be significantly depressed, which could dramatically alter the outcome in a race that now appears to be a dead heat.
Tell the mainstream media to resist the temptation to feed the news cycle with superficial and misleading horse-race journalism and let democracy take its course. Sign the petition and tell national media outlets: Do not falsely declare a Democratic nominee on June 7.