The first 2024 presidential debate will air on CNN and a bevy of news television networks, as well as Fox News Radio affiliate stations tonight.
CNN anchors Dana Bash and Jake Tapper have been tabbed as the moderators for the debate. Each have faced heavy criticism for their coverage of former President Donald Trump from conservative media members in recent weeks.
That led Barrett News Media to reach out to Program Directors and Brand Managers in the news/talk radio space and ask just what advice they would give to their talents if they were tasked with such a high-profile task.
“I believe moderators should ask direct questions and demand direct answers,” said WLS-AM 890 Program Director Stephanie Tichenor.
“Don’t try and be the star. Don’t play gotcha,” said 1210 WPHT Brand Manager Greg Stocker. “Think about what the average person wants to know about.”
KCMO Talk Radio Program Director Pete Mundo shared similar sentiments.
“You are not the star. No one is there to hear, see, or even have an opinion on you. No one wants to think about you,” said Mundo. “If you do your job, your name should not come up in the post-debate conversation. That’s the sign of a great moderator.”
When asked what should be the focus of a presidential moderator, Newsradio 1040 WHO Program Director Peter Thiele said it’s about looking out the windshield, not the rear-view mirror.
“I would advise against focusing on the past,” he shared. “It is about the future. Even though both have served in the White House, we should be focused on the future.”
Stocker agreed, saying that the moderators should stay away from “big picture items that cable news cares about but the average person doesn’t.”
Salem Radio Network Vice President of News & Talk Programming Tom Tradup has been in this real-life situation in the past. Hugh Hewitt, who hosts on the network, moderated 2016 presidential debates and was also a moderator for the NBC News Republican primary debate earlier this year.
Tradup said his advice is quite easy to follow.
“My overall advice to Salem Radio Network talent that ever gets tapped to moderate a Presidential Debate … would be fairly simple: Watch what CNN does on June 27th, and you do the exact opposite,” he shared. “CNN—which still laughingly refers to itself as “the most trusted name in news”—displays a view of the world similar to that of an ant.
“The cable network’s decision to schedule as ‘moderators’ two documented Trump-bashers like Jake Tapper and Dana Bash (no pun intended) is the linear equivalent of having pro-Hamas kooks from Columbia University referee a debate between Jewish students and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. When the CNN moderators are proven Biden supporters (Dana Bash even has a cheery photo of her with Joe Biden posted on her Facebook page), we can forgive President Trump if his opening comment echoes the renowned philosopher Ricky Riccado: ‘Lucy, we in a heeep o’ trouble now.’
“Fortunately, most Americans saw through the ‘objective journalism of CNN’ canard years ago … but my Spidey-sense predicts: no matter what unfolds Thursday night in Atlanta, everyone from CNN to the Washington Post to MSNBC will already have declared Biden the ‘winner and still champ. I suspect the poll results on November 5th will validate—once more—the myopia of the mainstream media, and the power of common sense Americans who won’t be fooled again.”
1010 WINS and WCBS 880 Vice President of News Ben Mevorach shared that he believes the job Tapper and Bash have been tasked with is “one of the most difficult seats in journalism” due to the conduct of the two debaters.
But, he would encourage moderators to lock-in to their gameplan ahead of time.
“I would ask direct, laser focused questions, and interrupt the candidate the moment they stray from answering what was asked,” Mevorach said. “The journalist will often get stuck asking a question two or three times. The candidate knows if they talk around it, everyone moves on to the next topic. I’d rather see the interviewer remain locked-in until the question is answered, no matter how long it takes. It’s about accountability.”
When asked what question he might specifically suggest to a moderator, he focused more on questions to avoid.
“I hate the question that asks ‘Say something nice about your opponent.’ It was ok once upon a time but nowadays it just plays into the candidate’s hands because they prepare for it,” he said before suggesting an alternative. “I’d love to see a specific period of time set aside during the debate where the candidates can only answer ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ It puts them directly on the hook to either lie or tell the truth.”
In his final message to the moderators, Mundo said using all the tools in the toolbox should be a strategy those leading the debate should utilize.
“Don’t be shy in cutting off mics, when needed. You’ve got the tool in the toolbox based on the rules. Just be equitable with its usage,” he argued. “And Godspeed. You’ll need it!”
