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Radio New Zealand’s head of content has rejected any suggestion the public broadcaster is cutting down on reporting of Maori issues.
Carol Hirschfeld went head to head today on Radio Waatea’s Paakiwaha programme with host Willie Jackson, who chairs Maori radio umbrella group Whakaruruhau.
Last month RNZ National dropped its four daily Te Manu Korihi bulletins, instead slotting in two three and a half minute packages in Morning Report and Checkpoint.
Ms Hirschfeld says there is now a wider spread of Maori stories in bulletins and key news programmes.
She says the Te Manu Korihi bulletin format forced reporters to produce stories without the depth and quality they deserved.
"We were filling a quota. Now that is not good journalism and what we are trying to do now is ensure that we do allow our reporters, our journalists to properly focus on the stories of the day, the issues that Te Ao Maori care about," she says.
Carol Hirschfeld says she is also looking at ways to make Maori content more accessible on the Radio New Zealand website, and to create more opportunities for Maori staff.
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