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“[…] We have a national senior men’s soccer team funded by Fifa, the government (my tax dollars), and private donors that pays for radio announcers’ travel and lodging to cover their games on a radio station that broadcasts those games and sells advertising.
“This scenario raises important questions about media independence, conflict of interest, and norms in sports journalism… Listeners may assume the announcers are independent. If they are being funded by the team, that relationship should be disclosed…”
The following Letter to the Editor on the undisclosed relationship between the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) and a private radio station was submitted to Wired868 by Orson Rogers of Belmont:
Photo: Allan V Crane/ Wired868.
“With the T&T men’s football team into their final round of qualification for the 2026 World Cup, president of the T&T Football Association (TTFA), Kieron Edwards said the national team requires around US$9 million to help them properly prepare.”
In my beautiful country of Trinidad and Tobago, we have a national senior men’s soccer team funded by Fifa, the government (my tax dollars), and private donors that pays for radio announcers’ travel and lodging to cover their games on a radio station that broadcasts those games and sells advertising.
This scenario raises important questions about media independence, conflict of interest, and norms in sports journalism.
(via TTFA Media.)
Is this the norm? No, it’s not common for media personnel to be funded by the team or federation they cover. Major broadcasters (TV/radio/newspaper) typically cover their own travel costs to maintain editorial independence.
Such actions raise numerous ethical concerns:
Conflict of Interest: If a broadcaster’s expenses are paid by the team, it creates a dependency, possibly leading to biased coverage—praising the team regardless of performance, avoiding criticism, etc.
Public trust: Listeners may assume the announcers are independent. If they are being funded by the team, that relationship should be disclosed.
Advertising conflict: If the station sells ads during the broadcast, it earns revenue while having no costs (since the team pays expenses). That might raise fairness or transparency questions—especially if the station does not return value to the team or public.
Is it too much to ask that the radio station (who prides itself on its ethics) follow some simple, basic rules of journalism ethics:
Photo: Thomas Shea/ Imagn Images/ TTFA Media.
- Transparency:
Announcers should disclose that travel/ lodging, etc was paid by the national team or federation. - Editorial independence clause:
Is there an agreement with TTFA that includes a clause that despite funding, editorial control remains with the broadcaster. - Reciprocity or shared revenue model:
If the station profits from ads during a publicly funded trip, it should consider reinvesting some revenue into football development or coverage.
When the station in question (remain unnamed, but obvious) was questioned previously about their practices, their answers were riddled with smoke and mirrors and obfuscations even when faced with receipts, treasurer’s reports and audits.
But then again, the scenario as to how they obtained their initial radio license has left much to be desired.
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The E between the first name and the surname does NOT stand for ethics. Unfortunate—lee! I fm 95.5% certain that the two persons involved will not read anything beyond the first photo, steups and then call the TTFA to confirm their availability for the next game—on the same terms!
Only a certain type of person can be shamed by being named.
I don’t expect the TTFA or the Radio Station to respond to this travesty. Avoid criticism and truthful reporting and keep your passport handy. It’s suicide to bite the hand that feeds you. This kind of “journalism” is sweet. Media houses ought to pay for their personnel travelling on assignment. And to compound the shocking lack of ethics is the fact that this unacceptable arrangement is being kept from the public whose money is being used.