The Quid Kids

In Auckland's Sunday News a couple of weeks back, political columnist 'Penzance' reported that the daily press is demanding the right to operate television and radio stations in opposition to the NZBC.

He reports a rumour that local press Barons may now be prepared to come to some arrangement with Thomson so as to save the Government from further embarrassment—the reward for this magnanimity to be the right to establish television stations in the main centres.

The identity of 'Penzance' is not publicly known, but it is rumoured that he is a prominent Labour MP. If he is correct the prospect of the powerful New Zealand Press gaining a place in New Zealand Broadcasting can only be described as horrifying.

There is no good reason why the balance-sheet oglers who make up the majority of our Press barons should be allowed to turn an automatic profit in the field of broadcasting. Only a vast wasteland can be expected of any Press venture into broadcasting—an assertion based on the current state of the New Zealand Press.

Local papers have significantly failed to match the best of overseas journalism in news, services, design, and editorial content. There are no foreign correspondents, virtually no columnists, few by-lines.

Still in the grip of the NZ Press Association monopoly, created originally by themselves, the Press presents a uniform view of New Zealand. Until the NZBC news service was established, they enjoyed an uncontradicted monopoly.

Under the Press Association system, news reports from one paper are circulated to all others, virtually eliminating any competitive news-gathering. Overseas news may be received only through the Press Association, which is a member of the Reuters service.

It is time that the public learnt what good reporting is. It is time that papers stopped suppressing stories on certain subjects. It is time that the Press put Its own house in order. It is not time for the balance-sheet boys to start looking for a quick quid elsewhere.

—H.B.R.