SEJ Question-and-Answer Ground Rules

SEJ Question-and-Answer Ground Rules

(The following ground rules are given to every moderator of every session at SEJ annual conferences and other SEJ events.)

Please remember, and vigorously enforce, SEJ's  Q&A policy:

1) SEJ MEMBERS ASK FIRST.
Active, associate and academic members, as well as non-member journalists, on an equal basis.  Later, if there is time, call on other attendees for questions.

2) MAKE QUESTIONERS ID THEMSELVES.
If the questioner does not identify him or herself first thing, please interject immediately by asking for their name and affiliation before they give their question.

3) DISCOURAGE SPEECH-MAKING.
Cut offenders off politely but firmly.
If you fail to do this, people will notice, though they may not speak up at the time. Your job is to conserve time, keep the discussion moving and generally make this time as useful to journalists as possible.

It's worth saying again: SEJ's most consistent complaint on evaluations over the years: Moderators allowed panelists to ramble or lost control of the point of the session. I don't think we've ever had a complaint of a moderator being too tough trying to keep things focused and moving right along.