Every election night you make a detailed plan – but often you tear it up

It is always wise to assume nothing, especially when dealing with Donald Trump

The word is flexibility. For any journalist covering an election, whether for a town council or the presidency of the United States, being able to respond quickly and thoughtfully as events play out in real time is essential.

That does not mean you do not have a plan. Ahead of the midterm elections, US-based staff of The Independent were busily planning and preparing. That has enabled us to produce lots of reportage and analysis that we think is important and relevant, but also allowed us to ditch certain plans, and pick up others, as election day approached and factors shifted.