Lords question experts on TV election debates

In 2011, the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism published a study exploring the first-ever British televised prime ministerial debates with a view to understanding how they were received by the public; how they were depicted in the press and on television; and how far they registered online. Rather than asking 'who won?', the aim was to understand how far the debates contributed to an improved democratic relationship between politicians and citizens.

At 3.30pm, the Committee will put questions to the editor of the report, Professor Stephen Coleman, of The Institute of Communications Studies, University of Leeds and one of the report's editorial advisers, Tim Gardam, Chair of the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, and Principal of St Anne's College, University of Oxford.

The evidence sessions will take place on Tuesday 18 March at 3.30pm in Committee Room 2 of the House of Lords.

The session will be webcast at www.parliamentlive.tv and is also open to the public. Journalists wishing to attend should go to Parliament's Cromwell Green Entrance and should allow time for security screening.