'Close Up' accused of plagiarism

Kate Lynch from 'Close Up' (left) during 'Made in New Zealand'. Photo / Supplied

Their slogan is "No one gets you closer".

But this week current affairs show Close Up got too close to a story and was accused of "blatant plagiarism" after Herald Sideswipe columnist Ana Samways pointed out a that clip on its Thursday show was an obvious knock-off of an item on an American network.

Now the TVNZ news boss has ordered a top-level review of editorial processes after the clip entitled "Made in New Zealand" aired and was found to be virtually identical to one that appeared on American network ABC in January.

Make up your own mind - see the two clips compared here.

Reporter Kate Lynch presented the story, which showed how many household items in the home of a typical Auckland family were made in New Zealand.

"She tracked down a willing Auckland family and nosed around their home looking at where all their household tat was made," wrote Samways. "To further illustrate the point they sent the family away, hired a removal truck and loaded all the non-Kiwi made household goods into it - leaving a sparse house.

"Most of the family's belongings were not made here and neither was this Close Up story."

Media commentator Brian Edwards said it was a "frame-for frame, word-for-word" duplicate.

"They copied it word for word. At best, it's lazy journalism.

"Unless you say 'we are going to duplicate the piece right down to the frame', I would say that would be extremely dodgy.

"My view would be that unless you have permission from ABC America that would be a form of plagiarism."

TVNZ initially defended the story as a "clever concept" that was part of an investigative series based on a Made in America series that appeared on ABC in January.

But last night there was a backflip, with head of news and current affairs Anthony Flannery ordered a wide-ranging review of how the network used overseas footage.

He said: "A situation like this hasn't happened before and sufficient concern has been raised by it to require clear editorial policy in this area."

Flannery said the network was entitled to the rights and to "reversion" the ABC America story.

But he wanted to see greater oversight from executive producers when "recutting" stories from overseas networks.

Edwards said Lynch was an "absolute star" and he would have been surprised if it had been her idea.

Lynch did not return calls last night.

A source at MediaWorks said the "plagiarism" wasn't appropriately handled. "Surely they have to publish an acknowledgment and/or apology on their website at a minimum?"