The journalist of “Radio New Zealand” (RNZ) added Russian propaganda to the news about Ukraine. The editors have already identified 16 altered stories, and thousands more to be checked. The media launched an investigation into the incident, and the suspected employee was suspended, Reuters reported.
“The articles in question made a range of amendments: adding the word “coup” to describe the Maidan revolution; changing a description of Ukraine’s former “pro-Russian president” to read “pro-Russian elected government”; adding references to a “pro-western government” that had “suppressed ethnic Russians”; and on several occasions adding references to Russian concerns about “neo-Nazi elements” in Ukraine,” The Guardian writes.
The problem was discovered after the journalist edited a June 8 Reuters article published on the Radio New Zealand website about the use of the word “war” in Russia.
The Ukrainian World Congress calls on the media of New Zealand to find out the circumstances of the incident as soon as possible and eliminate the consequences. “The UWC is in full support of the Ukrainian Organizations of New Zealand Statement and believes that the public of New Zealand and the people of Ukraine deserve to receive clear and unbiased information on the matters of the international political situation, Russian war crimes, the humanitarian disaster caused by the Russian war in Ukraine,” Nataliya Poshyvaylo-Towler, Ukrainian World Congress Vice President in the Southern region, stated.
“RNZ is taking the issue extremely seriously and is investigating how the situation arose. There will be no comment until that investigation is completed and any appropriate action taken,” RNZ spokesperson, John Barr, said.
Ukrainian Community Organisations of New Zealand express deep concern about the situation and demands an impartial and independent investigation.
“We expect that RNZ and other New Zealand Media outlets implement measures to prevent similar incidents moving forward. … Trust and credibility are vital components of responsible journalism, and they must be upheld to maintain the public’s faith in the media. … As a community with a deep connection to Ukraine, we understand the importance of fair and impartial coverage of the ongoing war,” diaspora representatives said.
It should be noted that “Radio New Zealand” is financed by the country’s government but has an independent editor.
Cover: Marl Mitchell/New Zealand Herald, via Associated Press
