TV3 fined over report on drag queen at ministry

Thursday, 10 July 2008

TV3 has been ordered to pay $2500 to the Crown for broadcasting a news item saying the Ministry of Social Development hired a prominent drag queen called "Buckwheat" to motivate staff.

The item was broadcast on 3 News and Nightline on August 24, 2007.

Ministry of Social Development (MSD) chief executive Peter Hughes complained to the Broadcasting Standards Authority that the item was unbalanced, inaccurate and unfair.

MSD has more than 1000 Pacific Islands staff and a professional development Fono is held every two years to develop the leadership capability of Pacific Islands staff.

Edward Cowley, the person the news item was about, is an experienced professional facilitator and was employed as a facilitator – not a motivational speaker.

TV3 was told that he wasn't wearing a dress when he was employed as a facilitator.

The news items had begun by stating that MSD hired a prominent drag queen to motivate and galvanise staff. The reporter said that National MP Judith Collins had "discovered the career move" in the Gay Express newspaper which was sent to all MPs.

Ms Collins commented that "we've got 22 people in that ministry that are paid over $200,00 a year. I would have thought they could have found some motivational leadership in there somewhere".

The BSA found the item breached standards relating to accuracy, fairness and balance.

The BSA declined to order TV3's owner TVWorks to broadcast a statement summarising the decision, believing the statement would confuse viewers.

"However, it trusts that TVWorks will draw the decision to the attention of its news staff".

The costs were imposed to mark the BSA's disapproval of a serious departure from broadcasting standards.

- NZPA