Volunteers needed to form DebateWatch groups, answer national survey

St. Louis, Mo., Sept. 19, 2000 -- As host of the Oct. 17 presidential debate, Washington University is serving as the regional coordinator for DebateWatch 2000, a nationwide activity designed to encourage people to become actively involved in the debate process.

Sponsored by the non-partisan Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD), the goal is to have people throughout the country meet in small groups to discuss the debates and report both what they learned and how the debates will affect the choice they make in the November election. As a non-partisan activity, DebateWatchers will not select a debate winner, but rather will answer a brief survey about the issues addressed and the overall helpfulness of the debates to voters. "DebateWatch gives people the chance to be their own spin doctors," said St. Louis DebateWatch regional coordinator William P. Darby, Ph.D., Washington University associate vice chancellor for students. "Participants will have the opportunity to let their friends and the nation know how the debate affected their understanding of major issues and the way they'll vote in November.

"We are not here to decide who won or lost the debate," Darby continued. "We want to encourage people to be actively involved in a public dialogue on the debate. That's the exciting part -- DebateWatch puts people in a situation where they can learn from each other and assume a larger role in influencing public policy and political agendas through the national survey."

Locally, KSDK-TV NEWSCHANNEL 5 has joined Washington University as a media partner in the regional project to get the community involved in the Oct. 17 debate. As part of the grassroots effort, citizens are needed to organize their own DebateWatch event in which they invite a dozen or so friends, co-workers, fellow club members, neighbors and/or relatives to watch the debate together, discuss the issues and answer the one-page survey.

KSDK will help spread the word by airing stories about DebateWatch, hosting an information hotline Oct. 2-6 as part of its Volunteer 5 Project, and conducting its own DebateWatch group. "We are glad to be part of DebateWatch because it encourages people to (over) actively participate in the election process," said Lisa Bedian, Community Relations director for KSDK. "We think it's important for the entire community to become involved and understand the issues in the election."

The CPD has created a self-guided DebateWatch flier that includes information on how to start and host a DebateWatch group, sample questions on what to ask during DebateWatch discussions, a viewer's guide to the debates and the survey sheet. Information also is included on how to turn in the survey results through the CPD Web site or by e-mail, fax, mail or phone.

DebateWatch hosts/facilitators can receive DebateWatch material through the mail by calling the national DebateWatch hotline at (888) 864-9875. For more information on DebateWatch, call the University's DebateWatch information line at (314) 935-7959.

Schools and community groups are encouraged to host their own DebateWatches. If a DebateWatch cannot be held at the time of the debate, the debate can be recorded and then watched and discussed the next day.

The local effort is focusing on the Oct. 17 debate to be held at Washington University and scheduled to air locally at 8 p.m. (CDT). However, groups are welcome and encouraged to host DebateWatches for the other presidential and vice presidential debates. For more information on these debates, visit the CPD Web site (www.debates.org).