TV3 - SHONKY JOURNALISM

We were pretty angry after we saw a Tv3 60 minutes segment last night on Weatherston where the journalist inferred that she had interviewed Weatherston post his conviction... It was crap journalism - a thinly veiled statement that left viewers with a clear impression that the interview had taken place post his conviction.

You see, we now have it on good authority that the reporter in question visited Weatherston with his parents sometime in March -April this year. Now Journalists require the permission of the family , the inmate and the CE of Corrections. Our snouts tell us that Corrections are not the bad guys here. Apparently no permission was sought so none was granted. So effectively it would appear T3 have broken the rules.

So we apologise to Barry Matthews and his team for casting aspersions on their judgement.

We also think that they will not let this issue rest. TV3 has done their credibility no favours. It was simply bad journalism - They could have told the truth - instead of implying they had permission.

But no - they deceived the public and we expect better.

SILLY OLD DUFFER

Barry Matthews reckons he's done an ok job and he wants to stay on and see Corrections through the changes it needs to make. He reckons that a lack of resources were the cause of the problems. That maybe true. If the mistakes that led to parole cock ups were that bad he had a moral duty to stand up and tell the country that a lack of resources was putting the community at risk. He didn't. He sucked up to the last administration and now he is sucking up to this one. ...

What a silly weak old duffer. Time to go.

A GREAT DAY

Barry Matthews head of Corrections is on his way out. Yay. Can we have some probes into some of the contract arrangements for building prisons as well please. Judith "Crusher" Collins is the star of the Cabinet so far.

And the bloody scary and onerous and fuckwitted EFA is all but gone. Well done John Boscowen and there also needs to be some plaudits for KiwiBlog and Whaleoil who never let up the pressure on this issue.

And Paula Bennett stomped all over the Ministry of Social Development by condemning a letter from a case manager to a beneficiary suggesting the person sell toys and phones to get some cash.

And the Sun is shining and we are scheduled to have lunch at the delightful Bella Italia on the Terrace.

And just to keep you thinking - who's office is known as the G Unit ?