Radio station apologises for reporter's faked story

By ANGELA GREGORY

Red-faced Newstalk ZB had to withdraw a news report yesterday after a freelance journalist pretended he was reporting from the Solomons when he was still at Christchurch Airport.

For the 6am news Keith Richardson filed a report made out to be from Honiara despite the fact the Air Force Hercules he and the troops were travelling on had not left New Zealand.

The newsreader's introduction said the fresh NZ defence contingent had arrived in Honiara and "reporter Keith Richardson is with them".

With the sound of a helicopter in the background Richardson said: "Another group of Kiwi Army and Air Force personnel plus civilian police have arrived in Honiara today."

He gave some background information about their presence there and signed off "in Honiara, Keith Richardson".

The false report was picked up by rival news organisation Global News, which supplies Canwest radio stories around New Zealand.

Global News editor Kevin Hercock said his chief reporter had told him Newstalk ZB had beaten his news service to the story by filing first on the peacekeeping troops' arrival in the Solomons.

Mr Hercock was surprised because he understood the flight would not have arrived by then and rang his reporter, who was still at Christchurch Airport.

"She said, 'Well he [Richardson] can't have left because he's sitting beside me'."

Mr Hercock said he was disappointed at the lapse of professional standards, and blamed Newstalk ZB.

He doubted it was ignorant of what he called cheating. "Where are the checks and balances?"

Mr Hercock said that in his 33 years in journalism he could not recall so blatant a deception.

"This costs public credibility."

Newstalk ZB general manager Bill Francis said Richardson had been told the station would take no further reports from him on the Solomons. "We don't like that sort of thing happening."

Mr Francis said the report ran only once and a retraction was broadcast at 4pm after he had talked to Richardson in Honiara. He would not say why Richardson had filed the misleading report.

"I don't have to give an explanation."

In the retraction, Newstalk ZB said that when the journalist - whom it did not name - filed the story to its network newsroom staff processing the report assumed that the journalist was where he said he was.

"The story was run in good faith and at no time did the station intend to mislead its listeners."

When asked how the helicopter noise got on the background of the tape, Mr Francis said it was probably because Richardson had filed from an airport.

He vehemently denied any tinkering at the Auckland end.

Missing in action

INTRODUCTION: We're back with the world at six. A fresh New Zealand Defence Force contingent has arrived in the Solomons. They're part of the Australian-led effort to restore law and order to the islands. Reporter Keith Richardson is with them.

RICHARDSON'S REPORT: Another group of Kiwis, Air Force and Army personnel plus civilian police, has arrived in Honiara today. Defence Force staff first came to the Solomons last July. Since then there have been recurring rotations. The Army and Air Force are working alongside each other providing security so that police can maintain law and order. Engineers are rebuilding and restoring essential services, with New Zealand having a high profile here. In Honiara, Keith Richardson."