Wisconsin Broadcasters Association debate stage. Image courtesy: WBA
CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) – The Wisconsin Broadcasters Association is hosting two debates this fall. One, with the candidates for U.S. Senate, was last Friday. The other, with the candidates for governor, is tomorrow.
I was a panelist for one of these debates in 2018. It was a positive experience for me, with one regret. The morning after, Milwaukee talk show host Mark Belling went onair and said the questions that were asked were biased toward the Democrat candidate. And, in hindsight, I agree with him.
During the debate planning meetings all of the journalists wrote out their questions, and then we reviewed and shortened and clarified the questions. But if most of the journalists are liberals, that worldview creeps into the questions and topics. It was not intentional bias; I know because I was there.
Do debates need advanced planning? Yes. This way the panel of reporters doesn’t ask similar questions or cover the same topics. But if I were to participate again, I’d insist that the questions I ask be mine and mine alone.
Being the debate moderator is a thankless job. The moderator has to manage the time and shut off the candidates when it’s time to move on to the next topic. Jill Geisler, who has moderated the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association debates is very good. But I have two additional wishes: First, I’d favor a debate with no reporters’ questions where the candidates could question and interact with each other. And second, I’d favor more debates. Candidates who aren’t willing to engage don’t have the qualities needed to be successful in the offices they seek.
Chris Conley
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