Image Source: Politico
July 7, 2024 Story by: Editor
Philadelphia’s Black talk radio station WURD has terminated its association with host Andrea Lawful-Sanders following backlash over her admission of using pre-scripted questions from President Joe Biden’s campaign team during her July 3 interview with the president.
In a detailed statement, Sara Lomax, president and CEO of WURD Radio, announced the station’s decision to part ways with Lawful-Sanders, effective immediately. Lawful-Sanders did not respond immediately to requests for comment.
Criticism arose within journalistic and political circles after it was revealed that Lawful-Sanders had received predetermined questions from Biden’s campaign and proceeded to use four of them during the interview. Lomax emphasized that the station was unaware of Lawful-Sanders’ arrangement with Biden’s team and that her actions contradicted the station’s journalistic standards. The interview, which lasted 14 minutes, remains accessible on WURD’s platforms.
While it’s common for political and corporate communications officials to provide background and talking points to journalists for high-profile interviews, the practice of sharing pre-written questions and confirming their use goes against the norms observed by mainstream U.S. news media outlets. This revelation, especially concerning Biden’s age and fitness for office at 81, contributes to perceptions that mainstream and liberal news media might shield such issues from public scrutiny.
“WURD Radio remains an independent voice that our audience can trust will hold elected officials accountable,” Lomax stated. “As Pennsylvania’s only independent Black-owned talk radio station, WURD Radio has cultivated that trust with our audience over our 20-year history. This is something we take very seriously. Agreeing to a predetermined set of questions jeopardizes that trust and is not a practice that WURD Radio engages in or endorses as a matter of practice or official policy.”
Lomax highlighted WURD’s history of independent reporting, noting a prior visit to the White House where the station conducted a day-long live broadcast with cabinet secretaries and high-ranking officials. During this event, WURD was explicit in asserting its freedom to ask challenging and pertinent questions based on the interests of Philadelphia’s Black community, a principle integral to the station’s daily local, state, and national coverage.
The statement underscored the significance of Black media in advocating for community interests, tracing its legacy back to the founding of Freedom’s Journal in 1827. The report cited a recent Pew Research finding that nearly two-thirds of Black adults believe news about Black people is often more negative compared to other racial and ethnic groups, highlighting the ongoing need for fair and equitable media representation. Source: Variety
