When it comes to the success of a televised political debate, a strong moderator is just as important as the participant

Controlled journalist hosts can take the heat out of debates that are becoming pointlessly argumentative; and inject life into them when they look like they might run out of steam

The media is often a conduit, enabling all sorts of people – academics, pollsters, sports stars, business people and politicians – to communicate with the general public.

Proper journalism should ensure that views are challenged, analysed, amplified, evaluated. Yet it is plainly important that those who have a role in public life should be given a platform for connecting with people en masse.

That is why The Independent occasionally publishes op-eds from individual politicians, for instance. That is also why TV debates can – at least in principle – play an important role in empowering civic society.