audience for presidental debates

cb2011

after watching all the debates to date I would really like to know where or how RTE have selected the audience for the debates are they planted to alter the outcome???

My name is URL

Well for other Frontline shows the tickets are given randomly to people that have applied for them. I'm not too sure if it's the same process for debates.

tbh, I don't think any debate should include the sort of populist, personalised and irrelevant questions that the audience members were asking last night. In fact I don't think the audience should be asking the questions at all.

donothoponpop

cb2011 wrote: »

after watching all the debates to date I would really like to know where or how RTE have selected the audience for the debates are they planted to alter the outcome???

I got phoned up a while back from a researcher of "the Frontline", on foot of a letter about community activism I had previously wrote to the Irish Times. A bit of discussion, how did I feel about the big Parties (this was pre general Election), would I like to come to the show? Would I like to ask a question? I had something prepared about local and community politics, but in the green room I was persuaded to ask a question as the "ex-FF voter-never-going-to-vote-for-them-again" guy.

Should have walked then, but I had driven a long way, and had brought company. I found the whole thing very choreographed, but then its a show they're making. I thought the whole "audience" thing very contrived, very soundbite-oriented. The panel of politicians were ultra careful not to stumble on their words, lest they make an on-air faux-pas that would leave the audience tutting or booing. Little in the way of debate was gleaned, I came away quite disillusioned after seeing how things were structured backstage. I feel sorry for any of the Presidential candidates having to go through this demeaning "interview" process, where the sole objective seems to catch someone out and make them look awkward on-camera. It's entertainment, not debate.

Teclo

It was as manipulated as early Questions and Answers.

bijapos

Tickets were handed out to the various political parties and supporters of the independents for last nights show. This was reflected when Kenny showed the FG section of the crowd.

I think the howling, jeering, booing and cat calling reflected perfectly on the type of person most political parties have on their "fundamentalist" side. Most of them are in my experience ignorant, boorish, loud mouthed and have as their sole interest getting into power and then keeping it at all costs, be it in local, national, Euro or presidential elections. If you have an issue they rarely do more than pay lip service to it.

The performance of a lot of the audience last night was down right disgraceful.

Wildlife Actor

No doubt RTE aim to represent the community with their audiences, hence 40% of the audience cheering on Sean Gallagher


.............:rolleyes: