THE HUSTINGS is a seasonal photo essay by Cynthia Nash focusing on the presidential election in Wayne County, PA: one county in one battleground state. It takes readers to the scenes and people engaged with the election on both sides of the political aisle. It holds at its center the commitment to offer a non-partisan view into the drama and dynamics of Election 2024.

The purpose is to humanize local voters who may support different candidates and have preconceptions about each other. From a grandmother proudly wearing a Trump T-shirt with her arms around her grandsons and a Democratic volunteer happily distributing bumper stickers she designed—to stills of campaign paraphernalia and voters posing with their lawn signs—the story told by the imagery of THE HUSTINGS will be a vibrant part of the record and promises a unique perspective of this historic US presidential election as it touches local and community lives.

The series runs in the weekly print edition of the award-winning River Reporter and is curated online.

Additionally, this project will also serve as a prototype for future photojournalism essays illuminating life and issues in the region served by the River Reporter—spanning the Upper Delaware River Valley from Hancock to Port Jervis, including Sullivan County, NY, and parts of Northeastern PA. Please consider a tax-deductible contribution.

Our goal is $10,000. Donations of any size are welcome but a contribution of $50 by 200 people would help us make our goal a reality. This is money well spent. In this volatile political environment, we need to find the common ground and the empathy it can engender to address our civic concerns. We thank you in advance for your generous support.

The Hustings: The River Reporter voter engagement photo project seeks to humanize local voters who may support different candidates and have preconceptions about each other.

Donations to Local Media Foundation for this project are tax-deductible to the extent of the law. No goods or services are provided in exchange for contributions. Please consult a tax advisor for details. The program is administered by Local Media Foundation, tax ID #36‐4427750, a Section 501(c)(3) charitable trust affiliated with Local Media Association.