TV news service ‘poorer’

Press, 26 June 1978, Page 6

TV news service ‘poorer’

PA Wellington' The old N.Z.B.C. offered a 1 [better local news service) [than the present two tele-) vision channels, says the; [ Leader of the Opposition) | (Mr Rowling). . ' [ He told the annual meet-; ing of the Association of ' Broadcasting Journalists that he was disappointed about the way broadcasting had ) developed since the Labour [ I Government restructured the [broadcasting system. I “Too much time has been [spent arguing about the; [structure and the mechanics of the system and not enough about the spirit and purpose of broadcasting in New Zealand,” he said. The Labour Government jdid not want to change ; broadcasting for change's [sake, Mr Rowling said.

'[ “We want a broadcasting [system that would show all ‘the agonies of a rapidly .developing society and would help New Zealanders listen to one another on an emotional and an intellectual level in the way they hadn’t done for years. , i

“So in essence, we gave broadcasting back to you — the professionals. “Now, five years after those first heady days, 1 am sure that there will be many of you who will share with me a sense of disappointment. I have a strong feeling some of the spirit has gone out of the operation,” Mr Rowling said.

“There is tremendous change going on in the community and broadcasting should be in the' thick of it, not standing on the sidelines,” he said.