Shill Game

Whether through verbal introductions or onscreen captions, TV talking heads have only a portion of their identities and affiliations disclosed -- usually whatever made guest bookers believe they might add light, or heat, to the subject of the segment. But often what doesn't get disclosed is more important to understand who's paying the piper and pulling the strings.

In a recently conducted study by The Nation, many of the talking heads on cable news were found to also be working as paid lobbyists, often with stakes in the issues they're invited on-air to discuss. Author Sebastian Jones says the problem is much more widespread than we may have suspected.

Article: The Media-Lobbying Complex, from The Nation.

Terry Holt was mentioned in the first segment. He's a prolific talking head and also frequently lobbies on behalf of health insurance companies. He says that he tells cable news producers about his lobbying work, but what they disclose to viewers is up to them.

Audio: WNYC's On The Media 2/20/10 Host: Brooke Gladstone.