Misleading TV3 news piece.

I haven't bothered looking for a video of the news piece, but hopefully you can understand how it went.

Thu 2/17/2011 12:19 AM
Last night's piece on milk prices.
It mentions that a study suggests that children should drink two glasses of milk a day, and then goes on to say that 'but some children are only drinking milk once a week', and then shows a shot of soft drink in a supermarket isle - insinuating that these kids are drinking soft drink instead. I thought that making that insinuation without any reference to facts was very irresponsible journalism. If the study said that these kids were drinking softdrink instead, then you should have mentioned that in the piece.
I brought this criticism up with my flatmate, and he replied 'that's why you should watch One News'. I will be taking his advice.

Thu, Feb 17, 2011 at 1:58 AM
Hi David, it wasn't a study which suggested children drink two glasses of milk a day and teenagers three, it's the Ministry of Health guidelines.
The New Zealand Children's Nutrition survey showed one in three children drink milk once a week.

Thu, Feb 17, 2011 at 2:05 AM
Yeah sure. My point was about the using the shot of the soft drink isle to make the insinuation that kids are drinking soft drinking instead, I'm guessing wasn't a part of that Nutrition Survey. If it was - then you should have been more clear about that - as in actually stating it.

Thu, Feb 17, 2011 at 2:09 AM
I cannot speak on the reporter's behalf, but there is every chance that the story was longer and did go on to say that, but was cut down for whatever reason (we had three live crosses at the start of the bulletin last night, which mean everything else has to be shorter). If this was cut down at 5.30pm, there wouldn't be enough time to write a new script to the abbreviated time, and that shot may have slipped under an editor's nose, or remained as there wasn't enough time to change it.
Not saying that this is what happened, but there are other possibilities than a reporter trying to play the evil soft drink card.

I'm amused that this conversation took place at 2am.