Tag Archives: producing discussions

Immigration and the Peter Jennings Project

Posted on March 18, 2011 | Leave a comment

Can a dialogue on one of the most controversial issues in American policy — illegal immigration — be passionate, and smart, and civil? The brilliant Jeff Greenfield of CBS News moderated a dialogue at the National Constitution Center that proved it can be done. You can watch it in full here.

I produced this discussion for the Peter Jennings Project, an organization dedicated to helping current and future journalists understand constitutional issues more deeply. It was especially meaningful to me because I produced a dialogue moderated by Peter Jennings in 1999. Continue reading →

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Tagged constitution, immigration, moderating, National Constitution Center, Peter Jennings, producing discussions

The Commandments of Moderating, Part 6: Prepare, But Don’t Overprepare, Panelists and Part 7: Directing Traffic

Posted on January 2, 2011 | Leave a comment

With the new year I bring you the long-overdue second half of the Ten Commandments of Moderating. Next up: How to prepare your panelists; and how to direct traffic. Continue reading →

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Tagged good questions, moderating, panelists, producing discussions

Storytelling as a Business Tool

Posted on October 19, 2010 | Leave a comment

From the Batten Institute on entrepreneurship and innovation at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business comes this great explanation of storytelling as a business tool. It’s from the Design@Darden Initiative. I’ve been preaching much the same message on the power of storytelling to generate connections and insights, and it’s good to see the concept promoted at this great business school.

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Posted in business, producing discussions

Tagged audience, producing discussions, story, storytelling

The Commandments of Moderating, Part 5: Paint Pictures

Posted on October 8, 2010 | 2 comments

The first two commandments of moderating are here, the third here, and the fourth here. I started out without much concern on the order of these pieces of advice, but the list seems to be developing a structure: The first two commandments are the most basic. They’ve been followed by three on formulating questions. After that, we’ll have a couple on preparation and directing traffic, followed by the most important commandment of all. Now for the last piece of advice on questions: Continue reading →

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Tagged good questions, moderating, producing discussions, question ideas

Florida: Choose the Future

Posted on September 23, 2010 | Leave a comment

Live in Florida? Then you need to watch Florida: Choosing the Future, premiering on Florida PBS stations tonight. (See the whole broadcast schedule here.) I wrote and produced this show for three awesome organizations: the Fred Friendly Seminars, the Florida Humanities Council, and the Askew Institute. The assignment was daunting: Produce an intelligent and engaging discussion on the choices the state faces for its economic future. But thanks to a great moderator and amazing participants, we did it — creating a program where people across the political spectrum talk honestly about what has to happen to bring great jobs and economic prosperity to your state, your county, your neighborhood. And they have fun doing it. Really. Continue reading →

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Posted in PBS, television

Tagged economics, Florida, PBS, producing discussions, television

The Commandments of Moderating, Part 3: Hard Questions

Posted on September 21, 2010 | 2 comments

Following up on the first two commandments of moderating, here is the third:

3. Ask Hard Questions that Get Answered — You have probably seen certain investigative news shows, or dramas about courtroom lawyers, in which the crusading attorney or journalist hurls accusatory questions, and is rewarded with the object of the questioning either running from the cameras or confessing to guilt on the witness stand. Those kinds of questions are great for creating tension and making the questioner look strong. What they’re terrible for is getting answers.

I love hard questions; a panel discussion isn’t worth having without them. But I like having them answered, and that’s a lot more likely to happen if you don’t make answering the question equivalent to losing a battle of wills with the moderator. Here are some techniques for asking hard questions that get answered: Continue reading →

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Tagged good questions, moderating, producing discussions, question ideas

Five Great Ways to Create a Terrible Panel Discussion

Posted on September 9, 2010 | 2 comments

Like the sound of yawns? Of people fidgeting in seats and checking email during your event? Of audience members complaining about your panel afterward? Then follow these steps — any one of them can do the trick: Continue reading →

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Posted in producing discussions

Tagged audience, goals, moderating, producing discussions, timing

Panelists Just Say No

Posted on September 2, 2010 | 3 comments

It’s not a suggestion, it’s an observation. And it can help you ask questions that keep the conversation flowing. Continue reading →

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Tagged good questions, moderating, producing discussions, question ideas

Steal This Question: September 11, 2015

Posted on August 23, 2010 | Leave a comment

I can’t produce every discussion idea I come up with. So let me share them here, and if you like them, please use them yourself (though attribution is always nice). Here’s the first: Continue reading →

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Tagged moderating, producing discussions, question ideas, steal this question