The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / Should radio guests/pundits have to disclose political affiliation?

**Posted by betaylored** March 24, 2025 7:58 am

I have been listening to Newstalk 1010 this morning and enjoying the enthusiasm John Moore has for the election but after hearing Scott Reid, Lisa Raitt and other regular 1010 guests in conversation with John about the election, it's apparent some pundits will be upfront about their political background and possible bias and some won't.

It's easy to assume the listeners will be informed enough to know that Scott Reid is a lifelong Liberal and Lisa Raitt is Conservative but not everyone, (example: new Canadians) will be savvy enough to know the views guests and pundits will be sharing over the next few weeks may be guided by their respective political affiliations.

Should radio guests/pundits have to be either upfront or at least mention in passing, even occasionally throughout the campaign, their political background and if they're a public relations pundit, any political work their organization has recently done?

**Posted by BowmanvilleBob** March 24, 2025 8:07 am

Frankly, I think its up to the hosts to state that their guests/panelists are a "former Liberal advisor" or a "former Conservative MP/strategist" when they introduce them so listeners can be informed from the get-go about what kind of perspective they'll be hearing in the discussion.

Reminds me of a time during the Iraq War when I was watching the BBC and they were interviewing a U.S.-based guest about a military matter and identified him as a representative of the Brookings Institute, which the anchor described as a "right-leaning think tank." I watched as the guest's eyebrows shot up in surprise and anger at that description and he spent the first two minutes of the interview berating the anchor, claiming that his group was non-partisan. It was not, as they say, compelling TV.

**Posted by RadioActive** March 24, 2025 8:31 am

In my listening experience, they almost always go over the pundit's background, especially if they've already served in a political job or as a consultant to one of the major parties. But yes, it's absolutely necessary, so you know where they're coming from.

**Posted by Chrisphen** March 24, 2025 8:50 am

This is an issue that really sticks in my craw. There are FAR too many PR muffins on the air, political or otherwise, and they rarely disclose ethical conflicts.