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Experts, often biased but knowledgeable critics, provide assessments of current issues in their field of interest on political and radio shows. Some remain impartial, while others are hired for their partisan views. However, some experts have become media caricatures, using provocative language. A seasoned expert has credentials and genuine interest in their field.
Sunday morning political shows and radio programs often feature at least one guest listed as an expert. This is an informal title for a recognized expert in a particular arena such as sports, politics, or entertainment, especially one who isn’t afraid to be very outspoken or opinionated. An expert often acts as a biased but knowledgeable critic of a particular political party or sports team or entertainer. A commentator like comedian Bill Maher or Chris Matthews could be called a political pundit, while a sportscaster like Bob Costas would be considered a sports pundit.
The role of an expert is to provide an expert assessment of a current issue or movement in their field of interest. Quite often, however, an expert opinion can be very politically biased, which may not be an admirable trait in journalism, but it generally works well in a roundtable discussion program. Expert Bill Maher’s notoriously liberal stance on many political issues can be seen as informative to some listeners and provocative to others. Similarly, an ultra-conservative pundit like Ann Coulter would lend a different slant to her political critiques.
Some experts are hired specifically for their partisan views, while others try very hard to remain impartial or unaffiliated with a specific political movement. A discussion panel on a political show, for example, may consist of well-known conservative, liberal, and neutral pundits. The goal would be for each expert to present their opinion on a common topic and then defend that opinion against the other panelists. A respected expert, whether in the arena of sports, popular culture, or politics, generally makes an effort to stay “in the loop” and research their facts and figures.
Although the title of “expert” began as a reference to a revered teacher or expert, there are some who suggest that some modern experts have ceased to be educators or social critics and have instead become media-fueled caricatures. While an expert may voice his opinions of him in a downright sarcastic or provocative way, he still speaks like an expert observer in the field. Some modern pundits, notably talk show hosts Rush Limbaugh and Al Franken, have generated a significant amount of negative feedback based on their outspoken and possibly insensitive comments and opinions.
A seasoned expert has the credentials and genuine interest in a particular field to express an informed opinion without resorting to shocking rhetoric or scare tactics.
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