Paddy Gower has moderated three New Zealand leaders' debates. His core rule: write down LISTEN and REACT, then actually do both. He focuses on hearing what candidates say in the moment rather than following a script.
You know, I've moderated three leaders debates in this country. I've moderated Jacinda Ardern and Bill English. I've moderated Jacinda Ardern and Judith Collins and I moderated the two Chris's, Chris Hipkins and Christopher Laxson. Right now as a moderator and you're creating the debate, you're jumping in and interjecting and talking and asking questions and throwing things out there to get it going. But actually the key skill in those debates which, which is one of probably the hardest, hardest jobs in journalism and broadcasting, if not the hardest, the key skill that I use in those debates and I write it down at the top of my question list on every page in thick block capitals in my own handwriting with an exclamation mark after it is listen. Listen to what they're saying. Listen intently to every little word they say. And then the next word underneath it is react. React to what they're saying. So it's basically a form of communication that is based around listening, based around being in the moment and based around reacting to that.
