Jo Currie
Address Not Provided
Via email: [FYI request #26650 email]
31 May 2024
Dear Ms Currie
Official Information Act request dated 6 May 2024
We refer to your email dated 7 May 2024 (your Request) requesting information
under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) in relation to TVNZ’s News and
Current Affairs programme Q+A. TVNZ’s Response is set out below.
Request 1: Please provide the latest editorial policy handbook for TVNZ. If different,
please provide the editorial policy handbook for Q&A and highlight the differences
between this and the editorial policy handbook for TVNZ. In the event you are unable
to provide an editorial policy handbook for TVNZ, as it varies per show, please provide
the 1 News at Six editorial policy handbook, and the Q&A handbook, and highlight any
differences between the two.
Response 1: There are two relevant documents that are responsive to this request.
The first is the News and Current Affairs Handbook. Disclosure of the Handbook in its
entirety has been withheld on the basis of section 9(2)(b) of the Act: to protect
information where the making available of the information would be likely
unreasonably to prejudice the commercial position of the person who supplied or who
is the subject of the information. That is, the Handbook is TVNZ’s intel ectual property
and the release of it would unreasonably prejudice our commercial position. However,
in accordance with the Act’s principle of transparency and to assist with your request,
we have reproduced relevant sections in our response 3 below.
The second responsive document is TVNZ’s Editorial Standards. Your request for the
Editorial Standards is declined on the basis of section 18(d) of the Act: TVNZ’s Editorial
Standards are soon to be made publicly available. We are happy to write to you to let
you know once they have been public released.
There is no standalone handbook for Q+A.
Request 2: Regarding Q&A, please provide information on how questions for
interviewees are formulated. Specifically, who formulates the questions? Is it a
research team, senior producers, the host?
Response 2: Questions for Q+A interviewees are formulated in accordance with our
Editorial Standards, the News and Current Affairs Handbook, and in compliance with
the requirements of the Broadcasting Standards as prescribed by the Broadcasting
Act 1989.
Specific details as to the formulation of questions with respect to Q+A have been
withheld on the fol owing grounds:
• Section 9(2)(b) of the Act: to protect information where the making available
of the information would be likely unreasonably to prejudice the commercial
position of the person who supplied or who is the subject of the information;
• Section 9(2)(g) of the Act: to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs
through the free and frank expression of opinions by members of an
organisation in the course of their duty; and
• Section 9(2)(i) of the Act: to enable TVNZ to carry out, without prejudice or
disadvantage, commercial activities.
For context, please note that in order to operate free of influence and without fear or
favour, TVNZ treats its internal news and current affairs operations as commercially
sensitive; release of information about how we produce our news and current affairs
content would put us at strategic disadvantage to our competitors in the media
industry, would mean we could not carry out free and frank editorial discussions, and
would mean we could not produce news and current affairs content without
disadvantage.
Request 3: Please provide information on TVNZ, Q&A, and/or 1 News at Six’s standard
policy on the extent of input interviewees are given. Specifical y, can interviewees or
their representatives request or negotiate that specific questions are asked? Can
interviewees or their representatives arrange, prior to interviews, for specific
questions not to be asked?
Response 3: Interviewees are free to request whatever they choose. However, TVNZ
journalists are bound by the News and Current Affairs Handbook, the relevant excerpt
of which provides:
The principle of editorial independence recognises the vital importance of
separating control of editorial content from commercial or political
interference, whether inside or outside TVNZ. Operating without fear or favour
is fundamental to an objective and impartial newsroom, and critical to a free
and democratic society. Editorial decisions in NCA must be made freely, based
solely on recognised principles of objective journalism.
In accordance with the Act’s principle of transparency and to assist with your request,
we note that Q+A does not negotiate with interviewees regarding interview questions.
Request 4: Please provide information on TVNZ (specifically pre-recorded shows) and
Q&A’s standard policy/practice regarding the extent of approval interviewees or their
representatives have on what is shown/broadcasted. Specifically, are interviewees or
their representatives given the authority to approve a final cut for broadcast?
Response 4: Q+A does not provide interviewees with approval rights.
Request 5: Please provide information on TVNZ (specifical y pre-recorded shows) and
Q&A’s standard policy/practice regarding the extent of input interviewees or their
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representatives have on the editing process? Specifical y, are interviewees or their
representatives given the opportunity to make suggestions/requests/demands
during the editing process?
Response 5: Q+A does not provide interviewees with editing rights.
Request 6: Please provide any internal communications and/or guidance provided to
Q&A or Television New Zealand Limited employees and/or contractors including
reporters and/or editors on the application or relevance of TVNZ’s Editorial Policy in
relation to Israel’s war on Gaza.
Response 6: Recent editorial guidance on reporting in the Middle East is attached.
Request 7: Please provide any official communications and/or guidance provided to
Television New Zealand Limited or Q&A from the Ministry of Broadcasting,
Communications and Digital Media of New Zealand in relation to Israel’s war on Gaza.
Response 7: Section 18(e) of the Act applies to this request; the information does not
exist. To be clear, no official communications and/or guidance has been provided to
Television New Zealand Limited or Q&A from the Ministry of Broadcasting,
Communications and Digital Media of New Zealand in relation to Israel’s war on Gaza.
Finally, in accordance with the Act’s principle of transparency and in order to assist
with your query, we direct you to the Broadcasting Standards as set out in the
Broadcasting Act 1989, to which TVNZ adheres.
We trust this information assists. As you may know, if you are dissatisfied with this
response section 28 of the Act provides you with the right to make a complaint to the
Ombudsman in order to seek an investigation and review.
Yours sincerely,
Official Information Requests Team
TVNZ
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