“CONSUMER ADVOCATES” want FCC to regulate political ads. Of course they do. But while we’re talking about the need for disclosure, how about having newspapers note on every story about unions that the Newspaper Guild is a member of the CWA, and that reporting on unions may be influenced by reporters’ affiliations? Or requiring similar disclosures that the local NPR affiliate gets donations from the teachers’ union? In the interest of consumer information, don’t y’know?

UPDATE: Speaking of conflicts of interest, a reader reminds me of this: LA police union wants San Diego Union-Tribune editorial writers fired. “The San Diego paper’s new owner relies on a $30-million investment from the pension fund of Los Angeles police officers and firefighters to help fund its acquisitions of companies; the union says that makes it a part owner of the Union-Tribune.”