Mitchell McKinney, professor of communication and director of the University of ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥'s Political Communication Institute, is one of the nation’s most respected authorities on presidential debates. During his long career, McKinney has often consulted with the Commission on Presidential Debates, weighing in on how events might be structured to better educate citizens about significant campaign issues — guidance that was influential in the creation of now-familiar “townhall” debate format. In addition, he has advised international, national, state and local debate-planning committees and he has co-authored and edited dozens of debate-related research publications.
Reviewed 2016-09-29