Newsreader making the news again

Judy Bailey

Last night, for the second time in a year, Judy Bailey found herself presenting a story about well-known newsreader Judy Bailey.

The first story was about the row over her $800,000 salary. Last night it was about her departure from the job that won her that salary.

"And, you may know by now that I'm moving on. That story is ahead, after the break," the One News announcer said as she wrapped up a segment before the commercials.

There was a slight catch in her voice when the bulletin returned: "This is really very strange, reading about myself again. But it seems to be a bit of a story around the traps, so here it is."

The item followed Television New Zealand's announcement on Tuesday night that it would not renew Bailey's contract.

Yesterday, reaction to her demise ranged from those who believed TVNZ had gone mad to those who thought they needed to change the newsreader.

National's broadcasting spokeswoman Georgina te Heuheu called Bailey a scapegoat for "incompetent management and falling ratings".

She said TVNZ's chief executive Ian Fraser and head of news Bill Ralston needed to be held accountable for the ratings slump behind the review of news. "How much further do TV One's ratings have to plummet before Labour starts to hold someone accountable? There are much bigger problems at TVNZ than simply one presenter but they are too blinkered to see that."

Mr Fraser said yesterday that Ms te Heuheu's assertion he and Mr Ralston had escaped accountability was rubbish.

"What possible reason could there be for suggesting we aren't? This is about management, and if it doesn't work, if we fail, and we are not going to fail, then the buck stops here. The sin, I think, is to bury our heads in the sand and invite your board to do the same, and do nothing to fix the problem.

"Management spends a lot of time looking at themselves and there is no question that ultimately the buck stops here."'

Total Media CEO Martin Gillman dismissed te Heuheu's comments as politicking. "I don't think they are holding Bailey responsible for the ratings decline. I think the presenter is a relatively minor thing in the scheme of things.

"What we've seen from Paul Holmes leaving and John Campbell and Carol Hirschfeld moving from TV3 news is that the presenter effect is much less than a lot of people would have thought.

"Channel loyalty has a much greater role than celebrity and changing the presenter is probably not going to do a lot."

Since March, One News' share of the 25 to 54 Auckland audience dropped from 41 per cent to 32 per cent in September. TV3's rose from 29 per cent to 40 per cent.

Bailey's former newsreading partner Richard Long was also surprised at the decision and said TVNZ would struggle to find a replacement.

"I am surprised they have done it, yes, when I don't really see any replacements there with the skills, ability, talents and following of Judy."