Press pundit returns to ‘News Stand’

Press, 24 February 1978, Page 7

Press pundit returns to ‘News Stand’

Christchurch's press pundit. Brian Priestley, head of Canterbury University’s journalism department, is back with “News Stand” tonight from South Pacific Television. This year he has plans to broaden the 15-minute session of pungent comment on the country’s newspapers, magazines and other publications on sale to the public. There are plans to regularly include two other commentators who wall take over the programme from time to time. The producer (Stan Hosgood) is still negotiating with the people concerned and their names will be announced later. "News Stand” was scheduled at various times in the past — first after 10 p.m., then at 7.15 p.m. — and now at 8.45 p.m. Brian Priestley admits to favouring the late slot “because then we did not have to worry about ratings and we were concerned only with a certain type of audience.” The 7.15 p.m. slot, however, while aimed at a

wider audience was considered too eariy by a number of viewers, so a change was made to 8.45. Tonight’s main topic will be coverage of the Rangitikei by-election. “News Stand” has been rather restricted in its scope by the 15-minute duration. It has not, for example, been able to consistently examine the way in which television itself has been covering the news. Brian Priestley, reports wide viewer interest and about 20 letters a week. He considers viewers’ questions, suggestions and comments an important part of the session enabling him to include the “little bits of fun that brighten up the programme.” And if public recognition of television personalities means anything, Mr Priestley has a firm following. He says while in the -North Island over the holiday period, quite a number of people approached him in the street about his programme — “and that’s more than used to happen when I was on ‘The Media’.”