The RNZ editorial scandal (Thomas Cranmer)

summarised by The Centrist

Independent journalist Thomas Cranmer writes about RNZ’s review of the Reuters and BBC story edits scandal in his article Inside RNZ: Slack Editorial Practices and Management Failure. These stories on the Ukraine-Russia war, Israeli-Palestinian conflict, China and gender identity issues, were altered with bias by RNZ staff.

Declining editorial standards following the disestablishment of the New Zealand Press Association in 2011 has played a hand in this, along with outdated technology at RNZ and a lack of journalistic rigour from their sub editors, says Cranmer.

Sources for Cranmer’s article note that RNZ political reporting is thought to be very strong but both radio and digital are now considered to be riven with ideology. Race and gender being the most apparent.

This review will no doubt uncover various shortcomings in RNZ’s management and editorial practices, says Cranmer. But it could also signal a reset in New Zealand’s media landscape and play a role in reestablishing the public’s trust.

Read Inside RNZ: Slack Editorial Practices and Management Failure