Outspoken broadcaster and former Breakfast host Paul Henry is set to make an extraordinary comeback to the state-owned television network, as a director on an overhauled TVNZ board.
Henry, who resigned from TVNZ in 2010 following a series of on-screen controversies, is in line for the state broadcaster’s board, with the coalition Government moving to install its own names around the top tables of TVNZ and RNZ.
The appointment, while not yet officially confirmed, is expected to be announced in coming days.
It is the most powerful message yet that the coalition Government wants new thinking and a stronger change of direction at the publicly owned broadcasters.
It expects TVNZ, for example, to start returning financial dividends once again, and it wants RNZ to lift its sagging radio ratings. It wants both organisations to lift their trust levels. . .
Returning dividends, lifting ratings and trust are all worthy aims.
Any organisation using taxpayers’ money ought to be high performing.
Any media that is publicly funded ought to be politically neutral.
That these are companies compete with private businesses makes that even more important.
For several years they have not been performing well and not been politically neutral.
That must change.
The appointment of Henry would be not so much a cat amongst the pigeons as a lion unleashed on a pedestrian promenade. . .
It won’t please the left who find the bias matches their views but it will improve trust and in doing so lead to better ratings.
Ele Ludemann is a North Otago farmer and journalist, who blogs HERE - where this article was sourced.
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