Battle begins for Judy's job

Simon Dallow

Now that Judy Bailey's chair is up for auction, the fun of Newsreader Idol can begin.

TVNZ chief Ian Fraser has hinted strongly that the replacement will come from within the TVNZ stable.

"I think they have to be experienced and hardened, in terms of their ability to perform under significant pressure live in the studio.

"I'm looking for authority, a certain sense of journalistic background. I think we are looking for energy, and let's not mistake that for youth. Clearly we are looking for vigour, conviction and someone who can credibly tell the news, not just read it."

If so, there are four front runners from within the building: Simon Dallow, Kate Hawkesby, Bernadine Oliver-Kirby and Wendy Petrie.

Paul Norris, head of the broadcasting school at Christchurch Polytech, said the four key attributes would be authority, credibility, the ability to communicate through the camera lens and warmth.

Nor would he discount a return to two newsreaders. He claimed the move to a solo reader in 2003 was a mistake.

Mr Fraser won't discount the possibility. But when he speaks of the news in 2006, it is in the singular: "new year, new format, new look, new face."

Dallow has the inside running - he's filling in for Bailey while she is on holiday from next week. He had good feedback when he replaced her earlier in the year and has shown he can deal with live interviews on his Agenda show.

And he is a male - a factor which could be important at a place where the evening news is read by a succession of women - from Bailey to Susan Wood on Close Up and then Hawkesby on Tonight. Unless Bill Ralston calls back in a former presenter, such as Eric Young, Dallow is nearly the only male in contention, though Paul Henry is gaining some traction.

Hawkesby has put her own stamp on Tonight, which has become a more lively version of the equivalent on TV3 under her watch. She has proven to be a relaxed and dab hand at live interviews with reporters and panel discussions. Pundits wonder if she is overly chirpy, and some wonder about her fondness for frills.

Petrie has done plenty enough newsreading to warrant consideration and Oliver-Kirby is in the mix though there are mumblings that her strong sports background does not give her the credibility needed for the main news.

Mr Norris doubts there will be poaching from another network..

But he does not discount Ali Mau who read at TVNZ before going to Prime. "She's a very competent presenter who has been used before."

Total Media's Martin Gillman included Breakfast host Henry's name. He had filled in on Close Up and Agenda on occasion but hosting talkback, has the consequent liability of airing his opinions when tradition holds that newsreaders must be seen as impartial. But it did not hurt TV3's John Campbell, and when the ratings are in free-fall, tradition can sometimes go out the window.

Another soul soon to be floating freely around TVNZ is Mark Sainsbury, who sometimes fronts Close Up and is leaving his role as political editor at year's end.

Sainsbury laughs: "I'd have to have a shave. I don't know if I'm the himbo news anchor type, though."

TVNZ could not afford to make a mistake in such a crucial slot, so the next few months will be a pressure time for those in contention.

Says Mr Norris: "TVNZ won't be making their minds up just by using their instincts. They will have a lot of research on those presenters, especially on audience reaction to them. They will weigh it up very carefully."