Editorial: There's a whiff of political bias in the air

Mark Dawson, Editor of Wanganui Chronicle

The National Party will win September's General Election.

Not the most daring prediction to make - and not just based on the results of the Chronicle website poll, which gave John Key and co a 51 per cent share of the vote and a handsome lead over David Cunliffe and Labour.

Nationwide polls point in the same direction and National Party supporters could give you plenty of reasons why the Government would be returned to power.

Here's another reason. There seems to be a push by certain sections of the media to get behind National and shunt them over the winning line.

New Zealand media have traditionally taken an even-handed approach to political parties - being objective and fair to both sides has been their trademark. But this year one detects some bias creeping in.

In the United States, Britain and even Australia, particular newspapers and radio and TV outlets will take a partisan stance behind one major party or another.

There was a time when many were convinced the hugely-popular British tabloid The Sun could determine the outcome of an election.

It backed Margaret Thatcher through her years of power, it got behind John Major and he became prime minister against the odds. It then forsook the Conservatives and hoisted up Labour's flag under captain Tony Blair - lo and behold, he was voted in. Was The Sun leading the trend or simply sniffing out which way the wind was blowing?

Journalists are generally considered a mainly left-of-centre species, while the big businesses they work for might be surmised as right-of-centre. At least that could be called a sort of balance.

Balance appears to be one thing lacking in Paul Henry's latest television incarnation.

His new show has taken over what used to be a late-night news slot on TV3. And it does have the news - and the weather - which might have viewers thinking they are watching something impartial as they digest Henry's idiosyncratic take on current affairs.

But Henry is a man of opinions (that's probably why he got the job) and his politics seem off to the right and his views on the left might be kindly described as "scathing".

On Thursday night his guest was the prime minister, and Mr Key revelled in Henry's unctuous embrace and patsy questions. Our host's departing line - "take care" - was stomach-turning.

Okay, they are best of mates and Henry is happy to "rah-rah" his big buddy, but should TV3 be screening National Party political broadcasts just yet?

Mark Jennings, TV3's director of news and current affairs, said Henry had changed the landscape of late-night television.

Fair enough, but hardly a change for the better.

NOTE: The Chronicle's election coverage will be fair and unbiased.