A new approach to campaign coverage

The 2012 election season is right around the corner. Campaign signs are going up; soon, we’ll see hundreds of lei-clad women and men lining our roads and boulevards, flashing smiles and shakas to us as they ask for our votes.

Yes, it’s an election year in Hawaii nei.

The Independent is trying a new approach to covering the campaigns. We’re going to focus on journalism that helps voters make better informed decisions. Instead of covering the ‘horse race’ (who’s up? who’s down? Etc.), we’re going to ask you which issues the candidates should be discussing, and use that agenda to guide our coverage.

There’s several reasons for adopting this approach.

First, there’s a lot at stake, with all state races up for grabs.

Second, the traditional ‘horse race’ approach doesn’t help us to make better choices as a community.

Third, our civic life could use more dialogue, particularly between groups that don’t often come into communication. With that in mind, we’re going to use the Independent as a place to weave together disparate voices into a real conversation.

So, here’s our central question: What issues should the candidates be discussing? What should we be discussing, as a community?