The Press has accused EQC of being unprofessional in its portrayal of two of its reporters – one as “schizophrenic in his writing” and another as a “rogue reporter”.
The background to this is the EQC’s presentation to field staff on Monday reminding them of the organisation’s responsibilities to the media and that media enquiries should be referred to the designated media contact person.
This story is evidence of natural tensions between an organisation in the spotlight (and even under siege) and the legitimate role of the media – a fact acknowledged by EQC.
Any organisation that’s dealt with the media on sensitive issues will have some sympathy for the frustrations of the EQC at this time. No matter how brilliantly they respond to many claims, some people will remain disaffected and will take their complaints to the media, because they feel that is the only power they have. Whether these complaints are legitimate or not, the EQC has to accept this.
If the EQC made a mistake in it presentation to staff, it was in overtly personalising its concerns with individual reporters and preference for others. For its part the newspaper has over-reacted to this. I suspect there’ve been instances when its own reporters have privately characterised some of the EQC’s personnel in less than flattering terms. That’s just human nature.
It should not be forgotten that contacts between reporters and organisations are complex human relationships. In pressure situations there can be an added edge, and what the reporter sees as relatively straight forward is often not so, and the relationship can become prickly.
There is a long way to go in the repair and re-establishment of Christchurch. The Press and the EQC are two organisations critical to a successful outcome, and it is vital that they take stock of their respective roles and make the relationship work for everyone.
For any business, dealing with reporters can sometimes be a fraught experience – never more so than in higher-stake situations such as this. Getting professional advice is often the best course.
While UK politicians and other media unite in their attacks on the Murdoch media empire over the hacking scandal, a high court judge in New Zealand put “the media” on notice over their treatment of Petricevic and, in fact, any other accused outside court.
While TVNZ proudly proclaimed that 2 million Kiwis tuned in to its coverage of the Canterbury earthquake, the run-away winner story-teller in the first hours of the disaster was radio.
A question those of us involved in communication often debate is whether the media reports news, or creates it. It’s one of those circular discussions, as we all have countless examples we can table that support our point of view.
It’s a topic that has garnered more interest than mining: hug a ginga, says 
Corporations not convinced of the role that social media can play in crisis or issues management communication need only study its role during the recent Iceland volcanic eruption to change their position totally.
The end of Sunrise highlights the challenges media will always face when they enter an established market and aim to grab a slice of the national media pie.
There have been two hugely different media interviews this week that provide good learning experiences. That of Cadbury New Zealand Managing Director, Matthew Oldham, with John Campbell of Campbell Live, and former All Back and Chief’s No 8 Sione Lauaki, on the main TV bulletins.