Aotearoa should be reflecting on their reporting and charters following criticism from the BBC, says a veteran Kiwi journalist.
Two top news bosses resigned from the BBC on Sunday following controversial edits of US President Donald Trump, and concerns about impartiality. Trump has since threatened to sue the news organisation for $1.7 billion New Zealand dollars for the editing, seeking a retraction and apology.
The UK Culture Secretary has confirmed the Government will soon be making decisions on the BBC charter funding.
Peter Bale, who has worked for international news outlets such as Reuters and CNN, says the public broadcasters in New Zealand, TVNZ and RNZ, should be reflecting on their responsibilities and reporting habits. Both companies have had funding cuts and job losses in the past year.
"If I were on the TVNZ board or in TVNZ, to think about almost strategic investment and a strategic attempt to reclaim the initiative on this."
He says while still trusted, broadcasters should put themselves in the BBC's shoes and reflect on how they would respond to similar issues.
Starting with the BBC, he says the BBC mission needs a review.
"The central mission is to inform, educate and entertain is still pretty core to all public broadcasting organisations, and it's (BBC) is going to have get some expertise and really review itself and do it so transparently."
He says those accusing media of being left leaning need to keep in mind the core journalistic values.
"I think people forget the central mission of journalism which is to give voice to the less powerful, to expose wrong doing and to explain things as they are and not as we wish them to be.
"One of the reasons why news journalism can sometimes appear to be more liberal than otherwise is because it's trying often to give a voice to difficult stories."
Moving forward, news organisations need to clearly communicate to the public why editorial decisions are made, he says.
"I would like to see media companies more on the offensive and explain more clearly what it is that they do."
He says while the BBC has resignations and funding shakeups, an eye should still be kept on how Aotearoa adapts.
