Photo | John DePetro

Posted: 8/6/2012 3:19:34 PM
Updated: 8/7/2012 1:02:01 PM

UPDATE: Koelsch's contract with "A Lively Expirement" expired August 1

A moderator of a local political roundtable show that airs on Rhode Island PBS is under question for her role as an advisor to the Cicilline for Congress re-election campaign.

Dyana Koelsch, moderator of ”A Lively Experiment,“ which is featured Thursday at 7 p.m. and Sunday’s at Noon on PBS, admitted her role as a paid consultant to Congressman David Cicilline to WPRO’s John DePetro.

Koelsch contends that it is not a news program so there is no conflict of interest. For years, Koelsch worked as an investigative reporter for WJAR-TV but now she says she is allowed to have an opinion. “I want to be able to be working for change in our state,” Koelsch told DePetro.

Meanwhile, Cicilline’s opponents weighed in on the John DePetro show and they are none too pleased. Anthony Gemma, who is challenging Cicilline in the September 11 primary, said he thinks it is wrong and “It’s one of the reasons why I won’t go on the show.”

Ian Prior campaign manager for the Brendan Doherty campaign said this breaks the public’s trust. “In shows like this viewers should be able to have faith in objectivity and the minute that faith is shaken we hope that we can have objective dialogue,” said Prior. “If the moderator is working for a candidate it is almost perceived as an endorsement for that candidate.”

Currently, Rhode Island PBS receives a large portion of its funding from state and federal grants. PBS gets $925,000 in state aid and $750,000 in federal aid.

In a press release where Koelsch was introduced as the moderator the program is described in the following way:

A Lively Experiment will continue to ignite spirited debate, opinion, and commentary about Rhode Islanders' favorite local pastime: politics and government. Representing independent and partisan viewpoints, a revolving panel of television, radio, print, and online journalists, political scientists, pundits, economists, elected and appointed officials, and other Rhode Island personalities will examine local and state issues.

Dee DeQuattro | WPRO News