Wood promises content will rule

Susan Wood

Personality-driven news and current affairs has "done its time", Susan Wood said yesterday, as TVNZ announced she will become the permanent face of Close-Up At 7.

A delighted Wood said her approach to the job would be "all about the content".

"It's not about me. It's about the information you're trying to impart. I'm a journalist so it's more a conduit of information."

Her comments echo the view of TVNZ news head Bill Ralston, who in the wake of Paul Holmes' departure has said the flagship current affairs programme would be more of a team effort.

TVNZ political editor Mark Sainsbury - who was also tipped as a possible Holmes replacement - will be Wood's back-up.

Mr Ralston would not discuss Wood's salary or the length of her contract, but said the decision to appoint her as permanent host was "blindingly obvious".

"Susan was not only the audience's favourite, judging by the support she got in terms of ratings, but if you talked to people throughout TVNZ about who they thought would be good for the job, everybody kept coming back to Susan."

Wood said she had some earlier reservations about the job because it would mean too much time away from her sons, aged 11 and 14.

"The 14-year-old said to me, 'Mum, you've always told us that you've got to take your opportunities when they come along and I'd be very disappointed if you didn't'. And I thought, 'Oh, my own advice coming back at me'."

TVNZ's press statement trumpeted the experience of the staff behind Close-Up, which will face competition from Holmes' Prime show as well as a possible TV3 show fronted by John Campbell in the new year.

Mr Ralston said international trends showed viewers wanted harder stories and a more serious approach to news.

The appointment means that Wood will be expected to be selective when it comes to publicity.

"I'd certainly be more keen to see Susan in a more upmarket magazine than some of the women's mags of the week," Mr Ralston said.

TVNZ has hired three new reporters in the past year and plans to hire a fourth in Christchurch as well as another producer.

Hunter Wells is the new executive producer.