Televised political debates

Televised political leaders’ debates can play a significant role in determining the outcome of New Zealand's general elections. In the current format, leaders challenge each other’s claims on stage, while media outlets check statements separately, during or after the broadcast. Live fact-checking would mean claims are verified in real time, with corrections shown on screen or raised by the moderator. Some broadcasters in other countries confront candidates with fact-checks during the debate, while others leave it to the candidates to correct each other and publish fact-checks online rather than on air.

Discussion summary

Most participants in the discussion agreed that live fact-checking during televised political debates could enhance honesty and transparency, with 14 in favor compared to just 1 who disagreed. Concerns were raised about who would perform the fact-checking and the potential for excessive policing of political speech, but the majority seemed enthusiastic about the idea of holding leaders accountable in real time. Overall, the conversation reflected strong support for improving the integrity of political debates.