Media lawyer Willy Akel will chair an external panel tasked with reviewing RNZ editorial processes following revelations that stories from Reuters and the BBC had been “inappropriately edited”, most to add a pro-Kremlin slant. He is joined by another lawyer, Linda Clark, a former journalist at RNZ, and Alan Sunderland, former director of editorial standards at the ABC in Australia.
One RNZ digital editor has been stood down while the investigation into the edits, which now span 22 stories and mostly relate to Russia and Ukraine, is undertaken.
“The Board had concluded a review independent of RNZ was appropriate, and that drawing upon such expertise is the best way forward,” said RNZ chair Jim Mather in a statement. “We have tasked them to conduct a robust and comprehensive review of RNZ editorial processes. This is in the interest of achieving and protecting the highest standards of journalism at RNZ,” he said. “We are focused on restoring the public’s confidence in us.”
He said the terms of reference would “allow for rigorous scrutiny of RNZ’s editorial processes and examine factors and warning signs which led to international wire stories being subedited with inappropriate content, and then published.”
The full terms of reference are:
1. To review the circumstances around the inappropriate editing of wire stories discovered in June 2023, identify what went wrong, and recommend areas for improvement. This includes reviewing the handling of the complaint to the broadcasting minister from the Ukrainian community in October 2022.
2. To review the editorial controls, systems, and processes for the editing of online content at RNZ, assess their effectiveness, and recommend improvements.
3. To review RNZ editorial policy and practice and recommend improvements based on any relevant findings.
4. To advise the board on options for ensuring RNZ has processes in place to safeguard against misinformation or partiality in its news and current affairs content.
5. To advise the board on any other related matters that warrant further consideration.
Speaking on RNZ this morning, Mather said he expected the review to “leave no stone unturned”.
Discussion about this post