As political debates have changed, so has the public’s ability to watch them. A recent survey by Hart Research found that the majority of voters — particularly those aged 18-34 — say they watched and actively followed the 2012 presidential debates on social media platforms, like Twitter and Facebook. This change in consumption patterns has diminished the value of the debate as a traditional tool for political candidates to communicate their messages and positions, and has also eroded the value of a forum that has long been seen as an elite facility where chosen political spinners and credentialed journalists gather to engage in a tired ritual.
Organizing a political debate varies in complexity depending on the sensitivity of the topic, the diversity of the participants’ viewpoints, and the size of the expected audience. The more complex a debate is, the more detailed and comprehensive the planning process must be, ensuring that potential challenges are addressed preemptively.