TV3 fields public complaints over Helen Clark interview

By LOUISA CLEAVE and BERNARD ORSMAN

Three formal complaints have been laid with TV3 over John Campbell's controversial interview with the Prime Minister.

The network said it had received the complaints from private individuals, and not Helen Clark.

TV3 now has 20 working days to respond.

If people are unhappy with its response, they can appeal to the Broadcasting Standards Authority.

The authority judges complaints against a set of broadcasting standards guidelines, including balance, accuracy and fairness.

Helen Clark accused Campbell of ambushing her during an interview on Tuesday night in which he questioned her on claims made in Nicky Hager's book Seeds of Distrust.

Helen Clark claimed that TV3 had set her up, and she accused the network of unethical and unprofessional journalism.

She is still considering whether she will take part in TV3's next political debate on July 25.

TV3 said the election special would be hosted by John Campbell and would go ahead with or without the Prime Minister.

Helen Clark is scheduled to appear with National leader Bill English.

A TV3 spokesman said the network would like Helen Clark to be involved, but if she decided not to appear, an invitation would be extended to other leaders.

Mark Jennings, TV3's director of news and current affairs, said it was company policy not to release questions in advance of an interview.

Broad outlines were given before interviews, depending on the situation, and this was done for Helen Clark, he said.

Campbell says the Prime Minister was "absolutely" prepared for his line of questioning.

He told the Weekend Herald he was "table-thumpingly satisfied with our ethics in the interview".

Campbell said he told press secretary Mike Munro that he was going to ask Helen Clark about the "issue of trust and ethics in the management and policing of genetic modification".

He said he did not mention the Hager book and claimed Helen Clark would not have turned up for the interview if she had been told the direct line of questioning.

"I'm really troubled that people think that in a free and robust society, in a democracy, journalists have to put all their cards on the table in advance of an interview with a politician," said Campbell.

"In those circumstances we will never see politicians caught out, we will never see candid, revealing interviews with politicians. We will only ever see spin."

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