Flat, wooden debate, perhaps, held in front of audience (5,10)

I believe the answer is:

panel discussion

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'front of audience' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both related to communication as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I can't see?

'flat wooden debate perhaps' is the wordplay.
'flat wooden' becomes 'panel' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'debate perhaps' becomes 'discussion' (debate is a kind of discussion).
'panel'+'discussion'='PANEL DISCUSSION'

'held in' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for panel discussion that I've seen before include "Question Time, perhaps" , "Brains Trust ..." .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.

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