3 Aug 2023

RNZ board chair responds to independent review panel findings

From Morning Report, 7:36 am on 3 August 2023
RNZ board chairman Dr Jim Mather, right, and chief executive Paul Thompson at the Economic Development, Science and Innovation select committee on Thursday 13 February.

RNZ board chair Jim Mather. RNZ chief executive Paul Thompson is seated to his left. Photo: RNZ / Dom Thomas

Radio NZ's board chairperson says the proposed but now scrapped merger between RNZ and TVNZ was intended to be the catalyst for integrating the RNZ digital team with its news team.

Currently, the digital team sits within the content team, separate to the broadcast news team.

An independent review of RNZ's editorial processes has recommended greater oversight over the digital news operation.

The investigation was launched after a single journalist made inappropriate edits to numerous international wire news stories.

RNZ board chair Jim Mather told Morning Report that digital news wasn't integrated as quickly as it should have been.