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Q:
How can we bring a community voice to the debate?
A:
Gregg Lagerquist, WGME13, Portland, Maine: A reporter
asking questions in a debate can base questions on community
input and, perhaps, get some unrehearsed answers from the
candidates. Political reporter Lagerquist asked teens on camera
what they would ask the candidates. He’ll air the questions
during the debate “and our candidates will see these kids
asking them questions,” he said “It’ll be tougher to dodge
a question from a youth.”
A:
Candy Altman, Hearst-Argyle:
The citizen approach (see above) has worked in the past, but
in some cases, journalists were able to frame the questions
better. The questions are key because then the candidates
can’t get around them with rehearsed answers. “We’ve used
our Web sites to solicit questions from the public.” Then
reporters rephrase them and ask candidates these questions
in the debates.
A:
Maureen Scott, WFLA, Tampa: At the debates in Jacksonville,
Florida, the citizen model was used successfully. Man-on-the-street-styled
questions were aired during the debates and Scott said “The
candidates for governor actually answered and responded to
questions people posed statewide.”
Q: How
do you get candidates to get beyond rehearsed answers and
give more in-depth responses?
A: Betsy
Fischer, Meet the Press: Tim Russert (host of
Meet the Press) recalls asking Lawrence Spivak (creator
of Meet the Press) “What’s your secret of success?
Spivak told him “Learn everything about your guest and then
take the other side.” The key is preparation. Then,
you can anticipate what the candidate is going to say and
you will have that follow-up ready.
A: Gregg
Lagerquist, WGME13, Portland, Maine: In a debate, the
station can choose to focus the debate on specific issues
(WGME will have a debate that focuses only on senior citizen
and youth issues) and ask more probing questions in those
specific areas.
Q:
What do you do when candidates refuse to debate?
A:
Candy Altman, Hearst-Argyle: “What sometimes works
is getting a consortium of newspapers and local TV stations
together to show a united front and only one opportunity to
debate,” she said. “It limits the negotiation.”
A:
Thor Wasbotten, KGUN, Tucson: “You have to be open
with the viewers, but you can’t let the candidate dictate
the coverage.” When a congressman refused to attend a KGUN-sponsored
debate, Wasbotten said the station decided to have the debate
anyway. Before the debate, viewers were told the congressman
was asked to appear numerous times and refused.
A:
Betsy Fischer, Meet the Press: Meet the Press
wanted to broadcast debates for the Senate candidates from
the top 10 races. However, as of early October, only candidates
from three Senate races are confirmed. “We’ve had a lot of
challenges in terms of getting people to accept.” Fischer
finds it frustrating that while many candidates believe they
should be given free air time, “here we are offering a half
hour to debate substantive issues, and we are getting turned
down.” Meet the Press opted against scheduling a debate
unless the key candidates accepted. Fischer said when it comes
to influencing candidates to debate, there is only so much
broadcasters can do. Meet the Press sent invitations
early so candidates could plan ahead to participate in the
debates.
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