PRESS INTERVENTION IN THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES.

PRESS INTERVENTION IN THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES. I began posting here about how I wished that there could be debates among the Presidential candidates like the one I saw in France in which the candidates debated without a media figure interrupting. Today’s New York Times has an article by Brian Stelter describing the frustrations of CNN producers because the debate they had promoted as “fight night”, turned into a discussion of policy. Stelter says, “That left CNN producers looking for ways to stoke the competition, using the tricks they had learned broadcasting previous debates during this long primary season.” The producers told Wolf Blitzer during the debate, “You have to become part of this, Wolf.” What does the audience want from a debate? Interestingly, Stelter concludes by quoting Jonathan Klein, the President of CNN, “People love to hear the candidates talk,” he said. “They love to hear more from the candidates and less from us.”