International Day of Democracy is Thursday, Sept. 15; social-media effort and Twitter Spaces events start today

Updated with new information Sept. 12.

The International Day of Democracy, started by the United Nations in 2007, is Thursday, Sept. 15. It may never have been more timely, and journalists at all levels in all countries have a stake in it. So do their audiences, which probably need a reminder of that.

Several journalism organizations have organized a U.S.-specific observance, which will start with a Twitter Spaces event at 2 p.m. ET Monday, Sept. 12: "How grassroots journalism can strengthen democracy." Another will be held on Democracy Day: "How newsrooms are carving out beats dedicated to democracy." For an introductory one-hour video with opening remarks by Jay Rosen of New York University (who explains why covering democracy is like covering no other beat) and Michael Bolden of the American Press Institute, click here.

The Kettering Foundation, which asks "What does it take to make democracy work as it should?" and focuses public deliberation as part of democracy, says it will mount a social-media campaign to direct attention to the International Day of Democracy starting Monday, Sept. 12.

"We want to flood social media," Kettering says. "Participation is easy. Simply take a piece of paper and write in large print your answer to the prompt: #DemocracyIs ______________. And feel free to write your answer in your language of choice. Then, take a selfie and post it! When you post, remember to use the hashtags: #DemocracyIs and #KetteringFoundation."

Here are links to Kettering on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram and a video:

#DemocracyIs from Kettering Foundation on Vimeo.