Black talk radio station WURD in Philadelphia has ended its relationship with host Andrea Lawful-Sanders in the wake of criticism the station has endured after Lawful-Sanders acknowledged using pre-determined questions from President Joe Biden’s campaign team for her July 3 conversation with the embattled leader. In a lengthy statement, Sara Lomax, president and CEO of WURD Radio, said the station and Lawful-Sanders “have mutually agreed to part ways, effective immediately.” Lawful-Sanders did not immediately respond to an email request for comment.
WURD and Lawful-Sanders faced criticism in journalism and political circles when it came to light that Lawful-Sanders was sent pre-written questions from Biden campaign officials and agreed to use four of the questions provided. Lomax emphasized that the station had no knowledge of Lawful-Sanders’ discussions with Biden’s team and that her decision ran afoul of the station’s journalistic standards. The 14-minute interview, posted July 4, remains available on WURD.
It’s not unusual for political public affairs officials or corporate communications executives to provide background and talking points to journalists for high-level interviews. But pre-written questions and confirmation that specific queries will be used is against the norms of mainstream U.S.
news media outlets. Given the swirl around Biden and his fitness for office at age 81, the revelation that Lawful-Sanders and others agreed to such highly irregular .
