TVNZ News & Current Affairs Investigative Unit

MEDIA RELEASE
Tuesday 29 June 2004

TVNZ Announces News And Current Affairs Investigative Unit

TVNZ today announced the establishment of a News and Current Affairs Investigative Unit to produce original breaking news stories requiring considerable investigation and research.

“While all good journalism is to some extent investigative the best definition of what the unit seeks to achieve is that it ‘uncovers secrets people would rather keep quiet’,” said TVNZ’s Head of News and Current Affairs Bill Ralston.

“It does not simply cover stories already in circulation but creates news that would not have been made public without such journalistic intervention. The unit’s watchdog role includes revealing in the public interest matters that have been kept secret, tracing infringements of laws or other misconduct by organisations or people, critically examining the policies, functions and effects of governments, companies and other organisations, describing social, economic, political and cultural trends, tracking changes in society and revealing new facts in the process.”

The TVNZ Investigative Unit will provide material for ONE News, Holmes, Sunday and, if necessary, documentary specials.

The unit’s producer, Chris Harrington, is based in Wellington and the first reporter to be appointed to the unit is Phil Kitchin who is based in Hawke’s Bay. Other reporters will be appointed over the next few weeks.

“While the Investigative Unit will have a permanent small team of reporters, other staff will be attached to the unit as required,” said Mr Ralston.

ENDS

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