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FT makes US election coverage free to read

The Financial Times will offer free FT.com access to its US election coverage on Election Day, November 8, for 24 hours beginning at 5 am ET.

Readers will gain insight and analysis from a team of journalists, from New York to London, Washington, DC to Hong Kong, and Ohio to Tokyo, says the FT.

As results unfold, readers can follow the FT's election coverage, that will include :

* The FT’s round the clock election Liveblog. As results roll in, FT commentators on the ground at political rallies and debate parties will give live updates, and correspondents around the globe will analyse international diplomatic and markets reactions.

* The FT US election poll tracker. The feature has seen a 54% increase in views over the last week, says the FT.

* A US election special FirstFT email newsletter.

* The daily email White House Countdown, which has followed the election from the start. Its audience has grown steadily with a 4% rise of net subscribers in the past few weeks and open rates above 40%.

* fastFT will have instant takes and quick reads on the biggest breaking news angles. fastFT will be monitoring the global markets and geopolitical events throughout election night.

* The FT’s latest headlines and charts, gifs, and images will be on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Regular updates will be livestreamed through Facebook Live.

* Video updates will come from both Trump and Clinton official watch parties.

* Readers can expect a new US Election Countdown podcast on Wednesday.

* A free print tabloid will be distributed in the US and UK on 9 November, including key data, commentary and analysis on the result. Advertisers choose different creatives pending the outcome of the election.

* The FT is hosting a US election event with news editor Peter Spiegel, chief foreign affairs commentator Gideon Rachman, and companies editor Brooke Masters. Guests will join a discussion about the state of US politics over drinks.

* Readers will gain context through earlier coverage of the campaign, including the FT’s forensic work on Donald Trump’s business empire, an inside look at a Republican field office in Florida run by a former Democrat, and an analysis of why Hillary Clinton alienates many younger women, says the FT.

Lionel Barber, editor of the Financial Times, said: “Rarely in a US presidential election have the stakes been so high and the truths so elusive, bearing implications for the liberal world order. It is a story the FT was made to cover, providing independent news and analysis for a growing, global readership.”

The FT has recently unveiled a new global marketing campaign promoting its coverage of the US election called “Facts. Truths.” The campaign employs facts from FT reporting to emphasise news and insight readers can trust. It includes reverse graffiti installations on the streets of New York, DC, and London as well as paid media, outdoor, CRM and audience development.

The FT has made its journalism free to read around previous stories of global public interest, including during the UK referendum on EU membership.