BOCA RATON — The Commission on Presidential Debates has named Bob Schieffer, CBS News’ chief Washington correspondent, as moderator of the third and final presidential debate to be held in Lynn University’s Keith C. and Elaine Johnson Wold Performing Arts Center on Oct. 22.
“While presidential debates are a rather recent invention, they used to feature a moderator and a panel of reporters who asked the questions,” said Robert Watson, professor of American Studies at Lynn. “The CPD has tended to favor a single moderator format since first being used in 1992, and this continues to make the moderator’s role all the more important.”
Watson offers 7 keys to being a good moderator:
- Don’t let anyone know how you voted in previous years or how you intend to vote this year.
- Have extensive media experience and a good command of the policy and political issues.
- Have the kind of gravitas necessary for such an important event.
- Demand that the candidates actually answer the question and not simply stick with their scripted “talking points.”
- Keep the questions secret… not sharing them with anyone so that the debate is not compromised.
- Encourage a conversational tone and ensure a logical “flow” to the line of questioning and discussion.
- Be a good referee by maintaining order and enforcing the rules.