Debate training at the Azerbaijan Media Center. Photo: AMC

Hosting debates has become an important feature of the IMS-funded Azerbaijani Media Center in Baku. The debates have helped increase dialogue between the media, the Government and civil society

By Gulnara Akhundova, Azerbaijan Media Center

But what makes a good debate moderator? Between 15-20 October, media professionals in Baku took part in a debate training programme at the Azerbaijan Media Center to sharpen their debating and debate moderation skills led by Peter Van Der Geer, an international trainer from Debat EU.

A good moderator is like a cook

Audience control, Armani suit, body language, best rhetoric, toughest attitude. Everything is important. There is a long list that describes the ideal debate moderator, according to Peter Van Der Geer, an international trainer from Debat EU.

- A good moderator is like a cook, serving his guests with a mouth full of tasty ingredients, that give a sweet and spicy appetite to the debate. He is flexible in changing the menu if this will help to achieve a better result’, said Van Der Geer on the first day of the training.

Debate moderation an artform

Busy with their everyday work, NGO and media professionals joined the training to advance in debate and dialogue, the roots of communication. As a professional moderator, Van Der Geer presented different types of debate moderating skills, tested his audience and rounded off with different debate formats on a topic of importance for local community.

- It looks like debate moderation is an art and that a good moderator needs to be smart, artistic and creative, said Rashad Mehtiyev,  a journalist with RIAD news service. 

- It is difficult to moderate a debate, but it helps to receive professional training like that offered by the Media Center. Moderating debates is challenging and practice plays a key role, Mehtiyev concluded.

Pioneering debates project in Azerbaijan

The debates training is part of the Media Center and Yeni Nasil Journalists’ Union’s “Promoting Pluralism through Debates” project  which began  in December 2008 and is funded by the US Embassy’s small grants programme in Baku. This has resulted in afternoons full of lively discussions on challenging  topics of social relevance and the events are very popular with local civil society. Today, more than ever before, media is closer to the government and civil society, thanks to the Azerbaijan Media Center’s pioneering initiative.

Now with the kick-off of the Media Center’s debates season, organisers promise a new approach in the series of debates planned.

- We will be involving new people to moderate the debates. It is not a secret, that prospective moderators are here now, discussing different debate formats with Peter Van Der Geer,  said Elshad Farzaliyev, Director for Azerbaijan Media Center.

To read about one of the debate issues hosted at the Azerbaijan Media Center, see http://www.i-m-s.dk/?q=article/surviving-azerbaijani-army.