Thanks for all your comments about Martyn Bradbury over the past two days. We do appreciate feedback from our regular
listeners.
One point needs to be clarified about the claim that Martyn Bradbury has been ‘banned’ from Radio New Zealand.
Mr Bradbury has not been banned from Radio New Zealand. He was told that his invitation to appear as a future panellist
on Afternoons had been withdrawn but... there was no suggestion that it applied to other programmes.
Radio New Zealand received many complaints from listeners regarding Mr. Bradbury’s comments on The Panel during
Afternoons with Jim Mora last Thursday.
The decision to withdraw Mr. Bradbury’s invitation to take part in future editions of The Panel was made by the
programme’s Executive Producer immediately after the programme. That decision was supported by the senior manager
responsible for the programme and subsequently by the Chief Executive and Editor-in-Chief.
Mr. Bradbury’s invitation to participate on The Panel was withdrawn because his personal comments about the Prime
Minister were deemed to be in breach of Radio New Zealand’s editorial requirements for fairness and balance. One of his
comments was regarded as being potentially defamatory. The segment in question was removed from the Radio New Zealand
website for that reason. Radio New Zealand has a duty to protect the organization against defamation proceedings.
Participants on The Panel on Afternoons with Jim Mora are given plenty of latitude to express personal opinions but it
is expected that these will be presented for engagement and discussion and that panellists will conform to Radio New
Zealand’s editorial policies and broadcast standards. A relationship of trust and confidence between the programme
presenter, producers, and panellists is essential for the programme to be effective.
Mr Bradbury’s comments on The Panel on Afternoons last Thursday were inconsistent with information he had provided
before going on air and Mr Bradbury later apologised to the programme’s Executive Producer.
It was made clear to him that while his invitation to appear as an occasional guest on The Panel was being withdrawn, it
was not a ‘lifelong ban’.
Thanks again for the responses, we will continue to monitor all your comments and opinions and consider them carefully.
ENDS