‘Midday Report’ to be cut

Press, 13 March 1982, Page 2

‘Midday Report’ to be cut

PA ' Wellington Radio New Zealand’s weekday half-hour “Midday Report”; news programme would tie cut by 15 minutes, said Mr Buzz Harte, controller of news for radio, yesterday. He said staff had been issued with a circular detailing the changes, which would be effective from April 1. "It is nothing to do with Government restrictions,” said Mr Harte. “It is simply a response to our internal /budgetary problems/ The news service, with other broadcasting services, .had to make some cuts, he said. "Midday Report” was, a non-commercial programme, he said. “We felt this was the area where we could effect some financial savings with the least damage.” Another change will be to the networking, of week-end news, which will now be common to both national and . commercial'Networks. - Mr Harte’s circular assuredstaff that no-one would lose his job, but that the changes would result in different week-end shift arrangements for staff working on the programme. The circular said that the decision was absolute, but that staff suggestions in writing . would be welcomed as to how the changes were to be implemented. Details of how week-end news, would now be networked had not yet been worked out, said Mr Harte.