July 06, 2015
More scrutiny for Native stories
The head of news and current affairs at Maori Television says she makes no apologies for a more hands on approach to the stories being broadcast.
Maramena Roderick says the new team on Native Affairs is positive and looking forward to producing great stories.
The award-winning show lost its presenter, head producer and a senior reporter in short order amidst allegations of management interference in decisions over stories on whanau ora and Te Kohanga Reo National Trust.
Ms Roderick denies there was anything untoward, but says she has introduced new policies on checking stories.
"I will hold people to account, so if I don't think a story is ready I will send it back and tell them to keep working on it. In some cases that hasn't happened to that extent but we are going to be raising the bar and we are going to be wwatertight so when we go out there with these stories, I'm satisfied, my legal counsel is satisfied, my editor in chief is satisfied that we have done everything possible to create fairness, accuracy, balance, and that it is in the public interest," she says.
Maramena Roderick speaking to Radio Waatea host Willie Jackson, who also heads the Maori Television electoral college Te Putahi Paho.
Copyright © 2015, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com