MPs, The Media, And The Televising Of Parliament

The advantages of television coverage of Parliamentary proceedings seem clear. The ability to see their elected representatives carry out the business of running the nation surely makes for a more informed, interested and involved citizenry. However, when the opportunity to extend and improve the facilities that allow New Zealanders to see their MPs at work in Parliament arose in 2005, nothing was clear. To Parliament, approving funding for the establishment of a high-tech remote controlled in-house camera service would be in the interests of a better democracy. To the media, however, the proposal constituted outright censorship, as following its implementation television networks would be excluded from the House and compelled to rely upon the in-house camera service for their pictures. This article examines the public debate that arose after Cabinet approved funding for the scheme in March 2005, and traces the way in which the media, by crying 'censorship', were successful in persuading Cabinet to postpone, if not abandon altogethe R, the in-house television proposal.