CNN Debate Sparks Frustration Over Lack of Real-Time Fact-Checking

Moderators’ Role Questioned

CNN’s recent debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump sparked controversy, primarily due to the network’s choice not to have moderators Dana Bash and Jake Tapper fact-check in real-time. This decision, intended to let them serve purely as questioners, left many viewers without immediate clarifications on the claims made during the debate. This move particularly frustrated Biden’s supporters, as post-debate analyses revealed Trump made more misleading statements than his rival.

Challenges of Live Fact-Checking

The difficulty of fact-checking Trump live was highlighted by Jane Hall, a journalism professor and author, who pointed out the complexities Trump presents with his rapid-fire statements. The debate, watched by nearly 48 million people, underscored this challenge as false claims went unchecked during the event.

Post-Debate Fact-Checking

CNN’s Daniel Dale reported that Trump made at least 30 false claims and Biden nine, but this report aired only after the debate ended. This delay led to criticism, with commentators like The New York Times’ Nicholas Kristof arguing that live fact-checking would prevent the spread of misinformation.

Media Response and Production Quality

Despite the controversy, CNN expressed satisfaction with the debate’s production quality, especially compared to previous chaotic debates. Biden did counter many of Trump’s statements during the debate, but his responses were often seen as lacking specificity, leading to a sense of missed opportunities.

Fact-Checking Efforts by Other Media

Various media outlets conducted exhaustive fact-checking after the debate. Politifact, for instance, highlighted 15 false claims by Trump and classified one of his statements as a “pants on fire” lie. They also noted three false statements by Biden. The New York Times documented 20 false claims by Trump and 11 statements they classified as misleading or lacking context, without pointing out any false statements by Biden.

Real-Time Fact-Checking Experiments

Efforts to incorporate real-time fact-checking in broadcasts have been explored, such as a Duke University experiment in 2020. However, these initiatives face challenges, particularly the need for speed and accuracy. Current interest among networks for such measures remains low.

The debate highlighted the ongoing struggle within media to balance live broadcast dynamics with the need for immediate fact-checking, a challenge that continues to evolve with each election cycle.