Two newspaper editors in the hot seat

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33241, 2 June 1973, Page 5

Two newspaper editors in the hot seat

i It was not altogether surprising that the editors of New Zealand’s two leading Sunday newspapers squirmed uneasily in their seats on Thursday night’s “Gallery” as they endeavoured to convince the nation that girlie pictures and sex-oriented stories add up to good journalism. The item, prompted by criticism of the two newspapers by the New Zealand Press Council for their exploitation of sex, proved only that sex is a saleable commodity and the two editors gave the show away by their frequent references to circulation figures. It would seem that for the | two newspapers, circulation soars when the sex content increases and the “Sunday News” editor, Alan Hitchens, was on thin ice when he expounded the theory that his newspaper was merely catering for a need. The editor of the “Sunday Times,” Frank Haden was so cornered by one question that he looked distinctly ill at ease. But to his credit, he found an escape hatch and counter attacked with a reasonable, if not wholly convincing, argument. Circulation figures—audited, of course — do not lie, so perhaps it is bosoms and buttocks — male, as well as female —that a large percentage of New Zealanders want to help them while away the day of rest. But as for being good journalism . . . tut, tut Messrs Hitchens and Haden. It was a little unfortunate that John Kennedy, the editor of the Roman Catholic

weekly, “The Tablet” was, unable to get to Wellington to challenge his more liber-ally-minded colleagues face to face. Speaking from Dunedin, he greatly helped to balance the discussion, but somehow his very good questions never seemed to get answered. All three editors took the opportunity to get in a “plug” for their publications and the interviewer, David Exel, seemed to be secretly smiling to himself as he allowed them their say, probably knowing full well that nothing could really be achieved. Representing solid middleclass morality was a Mrs ; Margaret Nolan and she put her case extremely well. She was described as “mother of 10” and in view of the slanders “mother of 10” has suffered in jibes about people : who write letters to newspapers, she was an inspired ; choice. It was probably outside the ' range of this particular dis- ' cussion, but it would be inter- , esting to know more exactly what people want in the way of Sunday reading. Perhaps : “Inquiry” could be turned ; loose on this question. ' The street survey, like all street surveys, showed only that tastes differ, but for all ’ its predictability this was an interesting “Gallery” item on ■ a subject not without social significance. $ $ $ . On the question of news and its presentation two other ; items screened on Thursday night are worthy of comment. Late in the evening there was a “News Special,” but it was not presented as such. It was strictly only a compliance with a request by the police that descriptions be broadcast of three escaped prisoners. It could easily — and possibly even should have ; been — presented as a news item, followed then by the descriptions. And it would not only have 1 been royalists and romantics 1 who were charmed by the 1 satellite pictures from Britain t on the network news of 1 Princess Anne and her fiance, < Mark Phillips. j But the interviewer must ; have amazed many when he i popped the question “every- < body wants to know.” We ■ forget the actual words, but j it was along the lines of how t many children the couple , intended to have. j Knowing the Princess’s < reputation for not suffering ] i fools easily, she must have 1 | been sorely tempted to tell i 'him to mind his own business, i lAnd who would have blamed < her? ]

The new programme, “Wicked Women,” got off to a good start with a harrowing tale about a woman who arranged the marriage of her cousin so as to relieve her of her wealth. The bride was then doomed to a slow and agonising death. The story, like all in this series, was based on fact and considering what we saw it seemed remarkable that the wicked woman, Alice Rhodes, was pardoned while her lessinvolved accomplices received prison sentences. The acting was of a high order and particularly good was Gillian Raine as the simple-minded victim, Harriet. ❖ ❖ CHTV3’s “Champions in Action” returned to conclude the evening’s viewing, and the sport this time is snooker. The match between L. Napper, who has been three times national champion, and the present Canterbury champion, W. Adams, produced . some very good snooker, the laconic Napper showing his class when he potted the last : three colours to win 77-51. Normally billiards and snooker suffer in television coverage because of a lack of light between the table and the cameras, but this time there was no such problem. There were some helpful comments from the present Canterbury billiards champion, E. Simons, and he . deserved better than to have his name mis-spelt in the credits.— K.J.M.