ACT Public Service spokesman Todd Stephenson criticised Forbes, co-host of Saturday Mornings and host of the RNZ podcast Mata, for posing for a photo with a protest leader, and using social media to promote the protest.
Mihingarangi Forbes is a co-host of RNZ’s Saturday Mornings and hosts the RNZ podcast Mata.
Stephenson accused RNZ of abandoning impartiality, saying: “Much of the media has already dropped any pretence of impartiality when it comes to reporting on the Treaty Principles Bill and the hīkoi.
“The difference with RNZ is that it’s funded by the taxpayer, and Forbes’s show Mata has received close to a million dollars in additional funding from NZ on Air.
“As a public sector agency, RNZ is subject to integrity and conduct standards, including those of impartiality. It’s time these standards were enforced. RNZ bosses should give Forbes an ultimatum: stop your political campaigning, or face the same sanctions anyone else would.”
RNZ Chief Content Officer Megan Whelan told chrislynchmedia.com “The Instagram post was made on a social media channel which is not operated by RNZ nor is it an RNZ channel. The post did not appear on any RNZ channels.”
“The account belongs to an independent production company. It is commissioned to provide content to RNZ – such as Mata Reports.
“The journalist involved was at the hīkoi working – filming material for a Mata Reports production and collecting content for RNZ.
“After reflecting, Mata Reports offered to remove the social media post. RNZ has welcomed that decision saying the social media post did not meet editorial standards.”
“The difference with RNZ is that it’s funded by the taxpayer, and Forbes’s show Mata has received close to a million dollars in additional funding from NZ on Air.
“As a public sector agency, RNZ is subject to integrity and conduct standards, including those of impartiality. It’s time these standards were enforced. RNZ bosses should give Forbes an ultimatum: stop your political campaigning, or face the same sanctions anyone else would.”
RNZ Chief Content Officer Megan Whelan told chrislynchmedia.com “The Instagram post was made on a social media channel which is not operated by RNZ nor is it an RNZ channel. The post did not appear on any RNZ channels.”
“The account belongs to an independent production company. It is commissioned to provide content to RNZ – such as Mata Reports.
“The journalist involved was at the hīkoi working – filming material for a Mata Reports production and collecting content for RNZ.
“After reflecting, Mata Reports offered to remove the social media post. RNZ has welcomed that decision saying the social media post did not meet editorial standards.”
Click to view - Screen Shot
TVNZ has also faced scrutiny over its impartiality, following Chief Content Officer Nevak Rogers’s decision to take annual leave to attend and support the hīkoi.
It’s been reported Rogers is in line to lead TVNZ’s news division.
The move comes just three months after TVNZ released an editorial policy emphasising impartiality and “inspiring trust in news.”
Last Wednesday, Seven Sharp aired a segment on the hīkoi, embedding a reporter at the protest and featuring interviews with children about their attendance.
Screenshot of Seven Sharp
The segment, accompanied by reggae music, has drawn criticism online, for appearing to take a political stance.
Broadcaster Chris Lynch is an award winning journalist who also produces Christchurch news and video content for domestic and international companies. Chris blogs at Chris Lynch Media - where this article was sourced.
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