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Have the 839 GOP debate questions reflected the 'citizens agenda'? Have the 839 GOP debate questions reflected the 'citizens agenda'?
(about 1 hour later)
Senator Santorum, you've referred in these debates to the "global warming hoax". Really, Senator? Are you seriously suggesting that the 255 members of the National Academy of Science who recently signed a letter about climate change and the integrity of science have no integrity, that they are engaged in a kind of fraud?Senator Santorum, you've referred in these debates to the "global warming hoax". Really, Senator? Are you seriously suggesting that the 255 members of the National Academy of Science who recently signed a letter about climate change and the integrity of science have no integrity, that they are engaged in a kind of fraud?
That's the question I would ask if CNN handed me the microphone at the next Republican debate, which is February 22 in Arizona.That's the question I would ask if CNN handed me the microphone at the next Republican debate, which is February 22 in Arizona.
What would you ask the remaining GOP presidential candidates? What would you ask the remaining GOP presidential candidates?
Wait! Before you answer, you may want to know what the journalists who have moderated these debates have chosen to ask about so far. We can tell you because we, NYU's Studio 20, have studied it. There have been 20 debates among the Republican candidates since the first one last May. Some 839 unique questions have been put to the men (and one woman) who would be president. Here's how they broke down.Wait! Before you answer, you may want to know what the journalists who have moderated these debates have chosen to ask about so far. We can tell you because we, NYU's Studio 20, have studied it. There have been 20 debates among the Republican candidates since the first one last May. Some 839 unique questions have been put to the men (and one woman) who would be president. Here's how they broke down.
So this is what the press thought the candidates should be talking about as they competed for votes in the early stages of the 2012 election: two questions were about climate change. Two were asked about Occupy Wall Street. Four made any reference to the Arab spring. Twelve were about education. If you wanted to know about abortion and gay rights, the candidates were asked about those things 46 times, or 5% of the total. Interested in campaign strategy and the way the candidates responded to each other's negative ads? That was asked about 113 times (13% of the total).So this is what the press thought the candidates should be talking about as they competed for votes in the early stages of the 2012 election: two questions were about climate change. Two were asked about Occupy Wall Street. Four made any reference to the Arab spring. Twelve were about education. If you wanted to know about abortion and gay rights, the candidates were asked about those things 46 times, or 5% of the total. Interested in campaign strategy and the way the candidates responded to each other's negative ads? That was asked about 113 times (13% of the total).
But a whole lot more was almost never asked about. Small business got one question. Women's rights (beyond the abortion battle) got one question. How to prevent another crash like the one in 2008: one question. Super Pacs, a huge factor in the 2012 campaign, were asked about twice.But a whole lot more was almost never asked about. Small business got one question. Women's rights (beyond the abortion battle) got one question. How to prevent another crash like the one in 2008: one question. Super Pacs, a huge factor in the 2012 campaign, were asked about twice.
We're interested in what we have previously called a "citizen's agenda" approach to campaign coverage in 2012. It begins by asking the potential voters – and the users of political news – what they want the campaign to be about. What do they think the candidates should be discussing? We're interested in what we have previously called a "citizens agenda" approach to campaign coverage in 2012. It begins by asking the potential voters – and the users of political news – what they want the campaign to be about. What do they think the candidates should be discussing?
We think that's relevant.We think that's relevant.
That there might be a difference between their agenda and the priorities of the campaign press is revealed by the performance of citizen questioners at the debates. It's become routine for the press to ask people in the studio audience, or on the internet, for their questions. (Good idea!) This has happened 74 times during the debates.That there might be a difference between their agenda and the priorities of the campaign press is revealed by the performance of citizen questioners at the debates. It's become routine for the press to ask people in the studio audience, or on the internet, for their questions. (Good idea!) This has happened 74 times during the debates.
• Number of times the audience asked about polls: zero.• Number of times the audience asked about polls: zero.
• Number of times the audience asked the negative ads candidates have been aiming at each other: zero. • Number of times the audience asked about the negative ads candidates have been aiming at each other: zero.
• Number of times the audience asked about flip-flops: zero.• Number of times the audience asked about flip-flops: zero.
• Number of times the audience asked about the "electability" of the candidates: OK, one.• Number of times the audience asked about the "electability" of the candidates: OK, one.
And yet all of those things are major preoccupations of the campaign press. So here is our hunch: if we knew what the electorate wanted this campaign to be about – if we knew a lot about that – we could revise and adjust campaign journalism to better reflect the priorities of the users, which are bound to be different from the obsessions of the political press.And yet all of those things are major preoccupations of the campaign press. So here is our hunch: if we knew what the electorate wanted this campaign to be about – if we knew a lot about that – we could revise and adjust campaign journalism to better reflect the priorities of the users, which are bound to be different from the obsessions of the political press.
If we had a better handle on what the users of political news sought from the candidates, this would help the Guardian focus its coverage and direct its efforts to what truly matters. If campaign polling got redirected from "who's going to win?" to "what do the voters want the candidates to be discussing?" the results might be … instructive. That's what the citizens agenda experiment is about: finding another way to set priorities by reaching outside the closed loop of candidates, operatives and journalists. (And their rendezvous in the hotel bar.) If we had a better handle on what the users of political news sought from the candidates, this would help the Guardian focus its coverage and direct its efforts to what truly matters. If campaign polling got redirected from "who's going to win?" to "what do the voters want the candidates to be discussing?" the results might be instructive. That's what the citizens agenda experiment is about: finding another way to set priorities by reaching outside the closed loop of candidates, operatives and journalists. (And their rendezvous in the hotel bar.)
We've already seen how it can work. "What is your take on Sopa, and how do you believe it affects Americans?" asked Twitter user Michael Browne at the January 19 debate. None of the journalists moderating the debates had previously thought to ask about that. All four candidates then declared themselves against the legislation, which was favored by Hollywood and opposed by advocates for a free internet.We've already seen how it can work. "What is your take on Sopa, and how do you believe it affects Americans?" asked Twitter user Michael Browne at the January 19 debate. None of the journalists moderating the debates had previously thought to ask about that. All four candidates then declared themselves against the legislation, which was favored by Hollywood and opposed by advocates for a free internet.
It was a remarkable result. The issue went from obscurity to the center of the presidential campaign in a few weeks. The same thing could happen again, but it takes your participation. So help us out. What do you want this campaign to be about? What do you think the candidates should be discussing as they compete for votes? What sort of guidance would you offer the press as it decides where to focus its efforts? What would you ask, if you had the chance?It was a remarkable result. The issue went from obscurity to the center of the presidential campaign in a few weeks. The same thing could happen again, but it takes your participation. So help us out. What do you want this campaign to be about? What do you think the candidates should be discussing as they compete for votes? What sort of guidance would you offer the press as it decides where to focus its efforts? What would you ask, if you had the chance?
• Tweet your suggested questions at @JohnKingCNN using the hashtag #unasked, or post them in the comment thread on this piece.• Tweet your suggested questions at @JohnKingCNN using the hashtag #unasked, or post them in the comment thread on this piece.