Political commentary is the use of rhetoric to provide criticism of the current state of a society. It may include political or economic issues, as well as social issues, and is often intended to encourage action. It is typically performed through mass media. Examples of media-based political commentary are talk radio shows, television or news programs, and the internet. It can also be found in visual art such as graffiti, photography or literature.
The most common form of social commentary is the editorial section of newspapers, where columnists and letters to the editor offer opinions on political events. The introductory interactive discussion of phone-in shows on radio and television can also be considered social commentary, although in such forums the moderator often steers the discussion to a particular point of view and terminates obstreperous callers.
Political pundits are those who are highly vocal proponents or critics of certain political ideologies, sports teams, investments, etc. They are often associated with one or more of the major political parties and can be categorized as being right-wing or left-wing, although there are exceptions. They are also known as political experts and are a staple of the contemporary media. Theorising the role of political commentators in a rapidly transforming media sphere has been difficult, but it can be suggested that such analysts perform the functions of public educator, value educator and polemicist. They occupy an increasingly important position as voters have lost confidence in expertise and in the institutions of the political and media spheres.
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