Personal Democracy Forum, Politics, Web 2.0
Nov 29, 2007
Todd Zeigler
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Some Thoughts on CNN/YouTube Debate

There has been a lot of controversy today regarding last nights Republican CNN/YouTube debate, during which CNN asked Republican Presidential candidates 40 or so questions carefully selected from thousands submitted via YouTube by ordinary citizens. The gist of the controversy is that people are questioning the editorial process CNN used to select the questions and CNN’s vetting of the people asking the questions (it is coming out today that a lot of Democrats got questions in).

I personally have never been a big fan of the CNN/YouTube debate format and found some of the editorial choices made by CNN in both debates to be a bit baffling. I understand the symbolic value of having people submit questions through YouTube. I really do. However, to me having CNN editors pick and choose which questions to ask pretty much defeats the whole point of a “people-powered” debate. I think the CNN/YouTube process actually gives CNN more control over the things than a traditional debate format would. By putting the producers in a position where they can cherry pick from a vault of thousands of varied videos, you give them the power to choose inflammatory/off topic/goofy subjects that would be completely out of bounds otherwise. Kid, meet candy story.

The power of the social web is that it provides real people with access to unfiltered information, or even better information that has been filtered by people they know and trust. I don’t see anything revolutionary about a debate where CNN serves as our filter, just like they do every single day in choosing what they put on TV and their website. To me, this was a traditional, mainstream media driven debate masquerading as people-powered discourse. A wolf in sheep’s clothing.

I think something like 10 Questions, where questions are voted on by real people instead of handpicked by CNN, is a better model.  Ultimately the power is in the hands of the people who determine what questions are asked.

That’s my two cents.

What do you think?

  • Brian Eshleman

    I agree Todd. It is just another example of the media controlling what they think we should hear, or what they want us to hear. While I think it makes sense to filter questions for relevance for debate, I like your idea of having the people vote. This way it actually forces the people to become even more engaged and let the candidates know what we want to hear about.

  • Brian Eshleman

    I agree Todd. It is just another example of the media controlling what they think we should hear, or what they want us to hear. While I think it makes sense to filter questions for relevance for debate, I like your idea of having the people vote. This way it actually forces the people to become even more engaged and let the candidates know what we want to hear about.

  • http://www.our-hometown.com Stephen Larson

    I disagree. CNN like all media I know of is in it for the money. Picking the the questions they want only makes economic sense to me. However, they do have the right to let CNN be run by some random committee? But that would be crazy.

    Journalists should get off their high horse on this “[common] people-powered” anything.

  • http://www.our-hometown.com Stephen Larson

    I disagree. CNN like all media I know of is in it for the money. Picking the the questions they want only makes economic sense to me. However, they do have the right to let CNN be run by some random committee? But that would be crazy.

    Journalists should get off their high horse on this “[common] people-powered” anything.

  • http://thejensays.blogspot.com Jennifer Lee

    I honestly agree. I think the format was severely flawed and gave a very negative picture of the Republican party as a whole. When you look at the Democratic and Republican CNN/YouTube debates side by side it is very clear that the question selection was skewed. Honestly, I was very disappointed in CNN for this.

  • http://thejensays.blogspot.com Jennifer Lee

    I honestly agree. I think the format was severely flawed and gave a very negative picture of the Republican party as a whole. When you look at the Democratic and Republican CNN/YouTube debates side by side it is very clear that the question selection was skewed. Honestly, I was very disappointed in CNN for this.

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