You Tube for NZ election debates

Google has sent out a press release announcing their partnership with TVNZ for the election:

This morning, YouTube and TVNZ have announced a world-first political debate, where New Zealanders will be able to put questions directly to Prime Minister Helen Clark and Leader of the Opposition John Key via the ONE News YouTube Election Debate.

The leaders’ responses will be broadcast live on TVNZ’s flagship News channel, TV ONE, on October 14. ONE News’ Mark Sainsbury will moderate the 90 minute ONE News YouTube Election Debate, with three of New Zealand’s leading political journalists asking additional questions.

Starting today, YouTube users in New Zealand, and expats, can submit their questions at www.youtube.co.nz/debate.

This is the first time that a head of a national government and the challenger for the top job will appear in an official live televised debate, featuring video questions asked directly by people using YouTube. In the United States, two CNN/YouTube debates were held in 2007, featuring Democratic and Republican candidates. The debates married YouTube’s online video platform with CNN’s political coverage and broadcast reach, bringing candidates and voters together in a unique way.

This is a very good thing. In one sense it is what we did with the TVNZ 7 debate with InternetNZ on Internet issues – video questions were submitted in advance. But having You Tube and One News involved elevates it to another level.

People should start thinking about questions to ask. I suggest ones to both leaders that are not obvious attack questions will be more likely to get selected.

The only pity is the debate is on the same evening as the legendary Aro Valley Meet the Candidates meeting.