Mr Beetham attacks television journalism

Press, 14 May 1984, Page 8

Mr Beetham attacks television journalism

PA Dunedin The leader of the Social Credit Party, Mr Beetham, yesterday returned to his attack on broadcasting journalism, particularly television news. Addressing his party’s South Island convention in Dunedin, Mr Beetham described a recent interview he did on the television current affairs programme, “Sunday,” as “a bitter personal experience” of “blatant Left-wing bias in television.” “I was questioned endlessly and repetitively by a tough and seasoned interviewer on completely negative issues such as my per-

sonal health and the polls,” he said.

“I would like to say now, what I said then — my health has never been better. I don’t mind tough interviews, but I was concerned when I saw the next ‘Sunday’ show with David Lange. “Mr Lange, in contrast, was given a patsy interview... half an hour of free television time to say what he wanted.”

Mr Beetham congratulated the chairman of the Broadcasting Corporation, Mr lan Cross, for his comments about the standard of broadcasting reporting. “It was predictable that he would get into a great

deal of hot water for coming out in public and saying what many people knew to be true,” Mr Beetham said. He also said that every political party leader except himself was asked to comment on the latest opinion poll last week. The Labour Party, Mr Beetham said, especially Mr Lange, “castigated other political leaders for bashing the media, and suggested they should concentrate on the key issues.”

“It was therefore interesting a few days later to see him (Mr Lange) launching into an attack on the chairman of the Broadcasting Corporation and threatening to remove him from office.”