In an unexpected move, CBS News will not conduct live fact-checking at the vice presidential debate between JD Vance and Tim Walz, focusing instead on letting the candidates challenge each other's statements.
This shift follows a wave of criticism aimed at ABC News for its fact-checking approach in a recent presidential debate.
Just The News reported that CBS News has confirmed that the moderators, Norah O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan will not correct the candidates on their statements. This decision marks a change in strategy from typical debate moderation, where fact-checking by moderators has been more common.
The debate involving JD Vance and Tim Walz is scheduled to take place at 9 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday in a Manhattan TV studio and will last 90 minutes.
The recent shift in CBS's stance appears to be influenced by the backlash that followed ABC News’ presidential debate. In that debate, moderators visibly fact-checked Donald Trump but not Kamala Harris, leading to accusations of bias and an uproar among viewers and media commentators alike.
During the controversial ABC debate, Trump was challenged by moderators on several points such as his comments about Tim Walz, crime rates, and certain incidents involving immigrants in Ohio. This initiative did not sit well with many, as it brought forth accusations of partiality in fact-checking, nudging other networks to reevaluate their policies.
After the debate and in a somewhat timely manner, new crime statistics released by the U.S. Department of Justice indicated a rise in violent crimes from 2020 to 2023. This underscored the relevance and sensitivity surrounding some of the topics discussed at the ABC debate.
For the upcoming debate on CBS, if a candidate is deemed overly disruptive, their microphone can be turned off, introducing a layer of control to ensure a more orderly discussion. This decision underscores the network’s approach to maintaining decorum while stepping back from direct fact-checking.
Fulfilling the needs of the audience for accurate information without interrupting the live debate, CBS News plans to provide real-time fact-checking separately.
This will be carried out through a live blog and social media updates during the debate, and detailed analysis will be provided in post-debate coverage. This method aims to keep the debate’s flow uninterrupted while still offering viewers insights and corrections on the narratives provided by the candidates.
By shifting the responsibility of fact-checking to the candidates and supporting it with live blogging and social media efforts, CBS aims to enhance viewer engagement. Viewers would be able to follow the live updates and post-debate analyses to get a comprehensive view of the candidates' accuracy and policy positions.
Turning off a candidate's microphone if necessary introduces a strategic element to the debate. It serves as a deterrent against potential disruptions and maintains the focus on substantiative discussion rather than solely on the theatrical aspects of debate interactions.
This methodology arguably adds a layer of authenticity to the debate, encouraging candidates to be more prepared and mindful of their claims. It also shifts the narrative towards a more fact-driven discussion where viewers can follow up with real-time resources provided by CBS.
This upcoming debate might set a precedent for future political debates in terms of how fact-checking is integrated into the live broadcast and managed in a way that both informs and respects the viewer’s ability to discern truth from political rhetoric.
The decision by CBS to modify the debate format by recalibrating the role of moderators could indeed represent a new era in how political debates are conducted. As networks seek to find a balance between interactive moderation and unbiased reporting, the influence of viewer feedback and network policies will likely continue to evolve.
As the debate approaches, all eyes will be on CBS News and how their new strategy will impact the dynamics between the vice presidential candidates and the public's perception of the political discourse.