by James Johnson

Created on: October 24, 2008

Should government candidates be required to hold press conferences and answer questions from the media and the public, or should they be allowed to disclose their positions in any fashion they prefer? This question is basically meaningless and shouldn't even be asked!

In a free society, you cannot require anybody, politician or otherwise, to meet with the public and answer questions. That can only be done in the courtroom and even then under very strict protocols. Also, if some one wants to stand on the street corner and shout out there ideas or pay to take out advertisements, in a free country, as long as it is not crude or obscene, it is their right. Basic freedoms are just that, basic freedoms, and should not be compromised.

That said, all aspiring politicians and government officials should be willing to meet with the media and the public to answer questions. The questions should be original, not pre-prepared as they often are, valid for the people involved, and able to be answered in a concise and timely fashion. If the candidates won't do public meetings, then the media should not give them coverage and exposure, it is the media's privilege. Few politicians will ever get into a major office without sufficient press, and most people will recognise paid presentations, taking them for what they are worth.

The way press conferences are currently done it should be asked what many of them are actually worth. The question are preselected and arranged, the candidates have already seen them and had time to form "appropriate answers". Are they honest answers or just what they think people want to hear?

Press conferences can be valuable, if they are properly done. If the candidate agrees to give a press conference, answering questions from the media and public, the questions should be just that, from the media and public. They can be screened by an impartial committee, but should not be known to the candidate in advance. This may be difficult to do and, of course the candidate will likely have some idea of what will be asked, but would give the populace a more honest answer.

So let the politicians make their own releases and say what they want. Encourage, but one can't require press conferences. However, when they are held, make sure that they are as open and honest as possible. Is not that what the media and the public both want, honest answers?

Learn more about this author, James Johnson.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.