Broadcasting

Interviewer: Tonight we’re speaking with Broadcasting Minister, Tele Tubby.
Tubby: Thank you.
Interviewer: Tonight’s discussion is about the freezing of funding for Radio New Zealand.
Tubby: There needs to be more competition.
Interviewer:  Like a Stuff and Herald merger.
Tubby: Yes, the Commerce Commission is a real problem.
Interview: Some people think there’s a conspiracy to dumb down the news.
Tubby: We need to make the news accessible to the least common denominator.
Interviewer: And analysis of policy in New Zealand?
Tubby:  We don’t think it’s the place of publicly funded broadcasters to comment on government policy.
Interview: Do you think it’s anyone’s place to comment on government policy.
Tubby: That’s why we have corporate lobbyists and Mike Hoskings who happens to be a  very informed commentator on what’s happening in New Zealand..
Interviewer: So the open, impartial debate is…
Tubby: Not very good for our chances at the next election.
Interviewer: That’s hardly news, Ms Tubby.
Tubby: We’d prefer that there was no news at all.

Photo by Renée Johnson on Flickr and used here with Creative Commons license.