M.P. criticises tour coverage

Press, 4 July 1985, Page 8

M.P. criticises tour coverage

PA Wellington The decision by the newspaper industry not to send a news journalist to cover the All Black tour of South Africa was an abdication of journalistic responsibility, Parliament was told yesterday. Mr Jim Anderton (Lab. Sydenham), in a notice of motion, called on newspapers to fulfil their responsibilities “to this country and our people.” Mr Anderton’s motion noted “with grave concern the abdication of journalistic responsibility by the newspaper industry in New Zealand and the New.-Zea-land Press Associaticti in

deciding not to send one single news journalist to report anything other than what happens between the goalposts” during the tour. It noted “the principled stand of the ‘Dominion’ journalists in taking strike action against this intolerable situation”. It called on the newspapers to make provision for “objective news and current affairs coverage from a New Zealand perspective which would background issues and events in South Africa that go beyond the deeds of footballers and deal with the vital issues of racism and the reality of life for the black majority of South Africa’s population

under an oppressive system of political, economic and social discrimination called apartheid”. The motion will be discussed by Parliament at a later date. Journalists on the “Dominion” went on a 12hour strike last Thursday over the decision of the company, 1.N.L., not to send a news journalist to South Africa. The general manager of the New Zealand Press Association, Mr Graeme Jenkins, said last evening that Mr Anderton’s statement seemed to indicate that he believed the correspondents going on tour would report only what hap-

pened “between the goal posts.” “That is just nonsense,” Mr Jenkins said. “By the nature of their calling journalists are inquisitive people and journalists on an assignment such as the South African tour will be given a very wide reporting brief. “The staff journalist we have assigned will have reporting the tour — all aspects of it — as his major brief. “In addition, we will use the combined reporting resources of Reuters and other international agencies as well as the South African Press-Association for other coverage.” he said. 7