The media defended
PA Wellington Attacks on news media representatives at Hamilton on Saturday were deplorable, said the secretary of the New Zealand Journalists’ Union, Mr Tony Wilton, last evening. Mr Wilton denied assertions that news media coverage of anti-tour protests had caused the cancellation of the match. - “I fail to see how that reasoning works. , It is people’s passions running away on them and making the news media a scapegoat for their emotions," he said. Journalists at Hamilton had been trying to do their job of. serving the public in an even-handed and impartial way, he said. “The policy adopted by thd Journalists' Union in Septem-
ber was that we would provide balanced cover of the tour and all aspects, surrounding it. “I am not aware of any groups, either for or against the tour, having, been denied access to the news media.” -? Mr Wilton said he was concerned about a recent trend emerging in New Zealand to make the news media scapegoats in controversial issues.
“It would be a sad day for freedom of. information in this country if press intimidation became an accepted thing,” he said. There was .no union directive to. journalists faced with violent attacks.
He said journalists were not expected to put themselves at risk, but their wish to do their job properly came first. •
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Press, 27 July 1981, Page 6
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221The media defended Press, 27 July 1981, Page 6
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