Breakfast and Introductions
Opening Discussion: Getting Started
What are the principal debate obstacles you’ll need to overcome?
Debate Problems We’ve Known and Loved
Creating a written candidate participation policy
Format Options
From traditional to alternative, a review of some of today’s debate format options.
The Moderator-less Debate
Presenter: Andy Moore, Wisconsin Public Television
At the 2002 BPJ Debates workshop, Wisconsin Public Television producer Andy Moore proposed doing a debate without a moderator. Well, he went home and did just that. Hear the blow-by-blow account of the 2002 “moderator-less” Wisconsin gubernatorial debate.
Other Candidate Debate Format Variations
Having “Candidates to dinner” as a debate format
Spanish language debates
Role of citizen questioners
What’s wrong with doing it the old fashioned way (maybe nothing!)?
Getting candidates to play with money
Using teleconferencing and other techniques to involve remote locations and citizen questioners
The “Get”: How do you get candidates to debate?
Presenters: Dan Schnur, Republican consultant, and Cathy Allen, Democratic consultant.
Dealing with campaign staff
What’s negotiable and what isn’t
Giving questions to the candidates in advance to secure participation (California Broadcasters 2003 Gubernatorial debate). Good idea or not?
What about asking the right questions?
How are issues identified for the actual candidate debate?
Role of tape set-up pieces
An opportunity to develop or refine your station debate plans. Experienced debate producers and debate consultants will be available to provide hands-on advice on everything from format options to securing the candidates for your debate.
Reception and Dinner
Breakfast
Show and Tell: Debate examples from around the country
Legal Briefing
What if one candidate doesn’t participate? Do equal time rules apply?
What are the implications of McCain-Feingold for station debates?
What are your obligations and requirements as a broadcaster?
Break
Partnerships or Dancing Alone?
The advantages and lessons learned from debate partnerships, as well as a discussion of the care and feeding required for making them work.
Pros and cons of working with community groups
- The AARP example
- Community “sponsors”
Top ten lessons learned
Closing Discussion
Reviewing your debate plans and take-home ideas