Responding to Ageist Election Coverage in the Media A Brief Guide

As the 2024 election cycle ramps up, there has been an increase of ageist media coverage focused on our elected officials and both Democratic and Republican candidates. Many of us have been unsure how to respond most productively. The National Center to Reframe Aging, the trusted source for proven communication strategies and tools to effectively frame aging issues, has created this guide to pave the way for us all to answer constructively. We believe it is important for all of us to have the tools to reply to these very public displays of ageism and remind the American public that, like the rest of us, (even) politicians grow in ways that improve their ability to do their work as they get older.

In addition to guidance on addressing ageism during the election season, this resource includes advice on two of the main ways these approaches can be made public — writing a letter to the editor in response to an article or editorial or writing an op-ed piece. Both types of commentary can be circulated on your social media platforms to maximize audience reach.