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** OPINION
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** What’s the recipe for a good TV debate? Jen Psaki has some thoughts
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By Ren LaForme, managing editor
Jen Psaki takes part in a featured session during the South by Southwest Film Festival on Friday, March 10, 2023, in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Jack Plunkett/Invision/AP)

Picture a TV news debate. Is it filled with angry, performative shouting, or do the participants seem like they’re actually getting somewhere? Chances are, it’s the former — but it doesn’t have to be.

Jen Psaki shares on the latest episode of “The Poynter Report Podcast” that TV debates work best when there’s space for real disagreement without devolving into loud, scripted arguments. Think more David Hogg, Democratic National Committee co-chair, debating political consultant James Carville, and less Psaki going head-to-head with conservative strategist Scott Jennings.

As she settles into her new MSNBC show, “The Briefing,” Psaki, who was also President Joe Biden’s press secretary, previews her goal: debates that foster genuine conversation, rather than scripted arguments designed for viral moments.

“You have to find a place where it’s not boring. We can’t just all agree with each other all the time, because that’s also not authentic and kind of boring,” she says during her conversation with Poynter senior media writer and podcast host Tom Jones. Psaki emphasizes that while it's important to challenge one another, the goal should be to provide insightful, meaningful discourse, not just entertainment.

Psaki also dives into how her time in government shapes her approach to
“The Briefing,” particularly in her efforts to demystify complex political issues for her audience, and shared her approach to covering the news: focusing deeply on a few critical topics rather than rushing through multiple stories. And Psaki reflects on her career path, balancing work with her personal life.

For more, listen to the full interview on Apple Podcasts ([link removed]) , Spotify ([link removed]) or Amazon Music ([link removed]) , or watch the video on YouTube ([link removed]) . And please don’t forget to leave a rating and review — it really helps.

As a final note, this was the last episode of the season. We’ll see you in June for season three of “The Poynter Report Podcast.”


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** Previous episodes
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* New York Times reporter Adam Entous details his revelatory investigation ([link removed]) into the United States’ previously unknown involvement in Ukraine
* USF researcher Dr. Justin Martinbreaks down a study on the troubling and heartening trends ([link removed]) in tween news consumption
* USF researcher Dr. Justin Martin shares surprising results from a study ([link removed]) on screen time and child wellness
* Poynter’s senior media writer and managing editor preview Poynter’s big anniversary project on 50 stories that changed journalism ([link removed]) over the last 50 years
* Longtime media reporter Paul Farhi says the White House is sending the message that critical coverage has a cost ([link removed])
* Athletic media reporter Richard Deitsch predicts Tom Brady’s future in the broadcast booth ([link removed])
* IFCN director Angie Drobnic Holan points to X’s fact-checking system as a cautionary tale ([link removed])
* Media veteran Elliott Wiser dramatically reimagines local TV news to ensure its survival ([link removed])


** Credits:
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The Poynter Report Podcast is produced by the Department of Journalism and Digital Communication at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg
* Host: Tom Jones
* Executive Producers: Elliott Wiser and Ren LaForme
* Producers: Rhiannon Mcisaac, Noah Chase and Tom Jones
* Director: Christopher Campbell
* Special thank you: Neil Brown and Dr. Mark Walters

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