A local podcast offered candidates a paid “interview package” without telling listeners

A local politics podcast invited a city council candidate I volunteer for to an hour-long interview. The host then sent a rate card: $750 for the episode, three social clips, and “friendly topic development.” The public feed describes its candidate series as independent conversations.

The campaign declined. Two opponents have already appeared, and neither episode contains an audible sponsorship notice. It is possible they were invited under different terms or did not pay. I do not know, and I would not accuse them without evidence.

The podcast can sell advertising and sponsored interviews. Listeners should be able to tell which kind of program they are hearing. A clear label in the audio, episode description, and promotional clips would let people judge the conversation with the relevant context.

Our campaign is deciding whether to publish the rate card. Before doing that, it should ask the host whether the terms applied to every candidate and give the podcast a chance to explain. Redacting private contact details would keep the dispute focused on disclosure.

The awkward part is that the host's first email said, “We want voters to hear you.” The invoice arrived only after the candidate said yes.