Pundit (Politics)

Pundit in contemporary English refers to an individual considered highly knowledgeable in a particular subject area, most typically political analysis and the social sciences, although the use of the term is currently undergoing something of a change.

Current use and perception

In recent years, particularly with the grown in popularity of TV and Radio pundits such as Bill O'Reilly and Rush Limbaugh, the term has begun to take on something of a negative connotation to many. Pundits are increasingly seen not as general experts, but as ideological partisans who tend to do more ranting than measured commentary. This perception has caused the term to take on derogatory overtones, as some people conflate pundit with an arrogant loudmouth rather than an educated commentator.

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There is also a perception that the popularity of punditry has become harmful to journalism, as many perceive it as another example of news devolving further in to entertainment than reporting.

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For a partial listing of pundits in the print media in North America, see the article newspaper columnists.

Related Topics:
North America - Columnist

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