As we’ve said before, media companies should be free to promote whatever political ideology and bias they like — that’s what Free Speech is all about — but not when they’re being funded by the Taxpayer. The Legacy Media in NZ gets massive payments from this government, some from the so-called “public interest journalism fund” and a lot more from government advertising. RNZ is totally funded by the taxpayer.
from Newshub
RNZ staff member placed on leave over pro-Russia story edits
RNZ is investigating how online stories about the war in Ukraine, which were supplied by an international news agency, were edited to align with the Russian version of events. A staff member has been placed on leave while other stories are audited.
A story published by RNZ on Thursday night about the escalation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict contained significant amendments to the original copy by the international wire service Reuters.
The original story by its Moscow bureau chief Guy Faulconbridge said: “The conflict in eastern Ukraine began in 2014 after a pro-Russian President was toppled in Ukraine’s Maidan Revolution and Russia annexed Crimea, with Russian-backed separatist forces fighting Ukraine’s armed forces.”
But when republished on RNZ.co.nz, that passage adopted a more Kremlin-friendly framing.
“The conflict in Ukraine began in 2014 after a pro-Russian elected government was toppled during Ukraine’s violent Maidan colour revolution. Russia annexed Crimea after a referendum, as the new pro-Western government suppressed ethnic Russians in eastern and southern Ukraine, sending in its armed forces to the Donbas.”
RNZ’s 4pm news bulletin on Friday said the version published by RNZ “included a false account of events” and is investigating how the story was “changed to reflect a pro-Russian view”.
It corrected the story online, adding a footnote that said it is “taking the issue extremely seriously”.
Mediawatch understands a member of RNZ’s digital team is the subject of the RNZ investigation.
Late on Friday RNZ said an investigation is underway into “the alleged conduct of one employee” who has been “placed on leave while we look into these matters”.
“We are auditing other articles to check whether there are further problems,” the statement said.
RNZ chief executive Paul Thompson said the inappropriate editing of the stories to reflect a pro-Moscow perspective was deeply concerning and would be addressed accordingly.
The amended version was factually correct and should have been let stand. Such political interference by the pro-Biden Leftist boss Paul Thompson is unacceptable.
The Marxist government and their lackeys cannot have the truth coming out about the Ukraine conflict. After all haven’t they sent $30 million of taxpayers money to the neo Nazis of Ukraine.
At least $43 million, probably more like $50 million.