Tom Scott to resume on ‘Listener’

Press, 23 October 1981, Page 3

Tom Scott to resume on ‘Listener’

PA Wellington The satirical writer, Tom Scott, would resume working for the “Listener,” said the editor, Mr Peter Stewart, yesterday. Mr Scott said a fortnight ago that he would not renew his contract because, among other reasons, he had been told he would not be covering politics any more and that he would have to take a minimum of six months leave without pay. Mr Scott was also disenchanted with the refusal of the “Listener” to send him to the Commonwealth summit in Melbourne.

In a statement yesterday, Mr Stewart said: “There were some misunderstandings that were certainly not helped by the fact that I was in the United States at the time'.

“Mr Scott has accepted the editorial judgments I have made and will return to the magazine to write on politics and other matters under the same conditions as previously.” Mr Scott told the NZPA: “It has been a family row. All families have them. But I am happy to be back working for the ‘Listener.’” Answering allegations that

the “Listener" had been subjected to political interference, Mr Stewart said that those who had “bleated" about supposed political interference either, did not have much faith in the magazine originally or were out of touch with the realities of journalism, at least insofar as the “Listener” was concerned.

“There has been absolutely no political interference. We get criticised in Parliament and by Ministers and others but that is part of journalism. No pressure has been put on me or the magazine by politicians or from within the Broadcasting Corporation.” said Mr Stewart.