Fake interview affair rocks Herald on Sunday
Title -- 4818 NZ: Fake interview affair rocks Herald on Sunday
Date -- 25 October 2005
Byline -- None
Origin -- Pacific Media Watch
Source -- Business and Money 23/10/5
Copyright - B&M
Status -- Unabridged
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'MADE UP' INTERVIEW DAMAGES REPUTATION
http://xtramsn.co.nz/businessandmoney/0,,13273-4932730,00.html
NewstalkZB
AUCKLAND (BusinessandMoney/Pacific Media Watch): The Herald on Sunday's decision to fire a reporter who made up a story about the police is being applauded by a New Zealand media commentator.
The paper has sacked John Manukia, after he admitted fabricating comments in an article about policing in South Auckland.
The item, which was published last week, included quotes attributed to former officer Anthony Solomona - but the interview never happened, and the quotes were dreamed up.
Jim Tully, head of political science and communication at Canterbury University, says it is a dreadful blow to the paper's reputation.
He says any dishonesty raises issues about a media outlet's credibility and journalists in general can do without the sort of publicity the affair has attracted, given the public's attitude to journalists in general.
He says it is alarming that a made-up report can get through all the checks and balances, and make it into a national newspaper.
In an article on the matter in today's Herald on Sunday, editor Shayne Currie says Manukia was a senior reporter with 15 years' experience, many of them spent working on large newspapers.
He says the paper's senior editors were provided by Manukia with times and locations of the meetings with Solomona which never happened, and a transcript of the fictitious interview.
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