A Dunne Deal? Politicians, the Media, and the Courts

Abstract

The relationship between the media and aspiring or established politicians is at times an uneasy one. The relationship intensifies during election campaigns when political hopefuls are highly dependent on favourable media coverage to raise their profile with the electorate and improve their parliamentary chances. When the media purposely exclude politicians from coverage, the politicians have traditionally had little recourse to any remedy. However, a recent decision of the New Zealand High Court held that the holding of a party leaders’ debate by a private television company was a ‘public function’ with important democratic consequences, requiring the broadcaster to include two Members of Parliament in its programme. This article considers that decision in light of New Zealand and international case law, and discusses the consequences for the media in future election campaigns.

• media
• Leaders’
• debates
• election coverage
• judicial review