But she is is not allowed to explain the conflict of interest.
In a bizarre twist, TV3 news and current affairs boss Mark Jennings says he does not know if Clark gave Cunliffe media training - and may never know. He insists there has been no conflict of interest in her two appearances on The Nation this year. The arrangement with her previous employer, Chapman Tripp, was "more transparent", says Jennings.
"We have always relied on Linda being upfront on these things and she has never let me down."
Clark says she is not allowed to discuss the matter, and neither Kensington Swan nor Cunliffe will comment.
Asked if the arrangement is adequate for viewers or for TV3, Jennings says it is nothing like the conflict of interest problems with Shane Taurima at TVNZ. "But it's not ideal and after events this week we are going to have to have a think about it." He declines to discuss the financial arrangements for the agreement.
Crossfire
Clark is well liked inside the Wellington beltway and has a reputation as an astute political observer. But the bizarre arrangement with Kensington Swan illustrates the growing issue with various pundits and PR people who appear on TV, and the potential for conflicts with their political or commercial roles.
Clark insists she is a commentator, not a journalist. But with her confident, take-control style, that distinction has sometimes been hard to see during her appearances on The Nation this year.
In my opinion, Clark is caught in the crossfire between the Government and TV3, over its coverage of the Oravida scandal. The channel's political team has taken a high-profile approach in that coverage, aggravating relations between National and TV3. Key ticked off Judith Collins for allegations against TVNZ journalist Katie Bradford, but with the attack on Clark, it seems he has taken up the cudgels on her behalf.
In my opinion it would be good if Clark's role was spelt out, so viewers can judge her comments. That might not be ideal for her or for Kensington Swan, but it's a taxpayer-funded show and viewers deserve no less.
Labour of love
At print time, the courtship between the Labour Party and Maori TV news and current affairs director Julian Wilcox had not been consummated.
Meanwhile, Wilcox continues to head a news and current affairs division funded from the public purse, but declines to respond to queries about his political aspirations.
The on-again, off-again romance has been forced on Wilcox, because he apparently has not wanted to seek nomination for the Tamaki Makaurau seat until Shane Taurima's position is clear. After the blowout over Taurima's activities at TVNZ - and given that Maori TV chairwoman Georgina te Heuheu is a former National Cabinet Minister - he had to keep his powder dry.
With TVNZ having completed the inquiry into its Maori and Pacific unit, and Taurima ruled out, Wilcox is the favourite.
Some people make the valid point that Maori find many of their leaders in the media, who are ostensibly politically neutral, and that leads to conflicts. But we really should not have a likely Labour Party candidate running a newsroom in an election year.
