John Campbell gets 'best boy' prize after judge canes his bad work

Just days after he was publicly ridiculed by a judge for bad journalism, TV showman John Campbell is to get a “hasn’t he done well” prize from his old university.

Mr Campbell is one of six former students at Victoria University to get “distinguished alumni” honours.

A university PR handout describes them as “six of New Zealand’s most influential and inspirational leaders and entrepreneurs”.

The others are information technology innovator Claudia Batten; Maori Television chairwoman and the first Maori woman to graduate in law and gain admission to the High Court, Georgina te Heuheu; New Zealand Post Group chief executive Brian Roche; lawyer and All Black Conrad Smith; and leading scientist Jeff Tallon.

Mr Campbell’s citation claims he is one of New Zealand’s most respected television journalists.

It claims his Campbell Live show is “known for a unique and effective communication style, and a determination to seek answers on a wide range of issues”.

Mr Campbell’s pending distinguished status and unique style cut no ice with Judge Roy Wade last week, when the judge slammed Campbell Live after it aired a story about early childhood teacher Tracey Gwendoline Hibberd (35), who was being investigated for forging her qualifications.

Hibberd – who was last week sentenced to eight months home detention – was found guilty of five charges of forging documents and three of obtaining by deception after an Auckland district court jury trial in March.

She earlier went on Campbell Live, claiming her qualification documents were real.

Mr Campbell – clearly believing what Hibberd told him – pronounced to his audience Hibberd’s diploma “looks legit to us”.

But while Hibberd fooled Mr Campbell and his award-winning show, a jury saw through her sham.

Judge Wade said the Campbell Live story damaged the reputation of the NZ Tertiary College and Early Learning Centre, which, as a result of the story, had to spend more than $32,000 investigating the case.

Insisting that the Campbell Live story be played to the court at Hibberd’s sentencing last Thursday, Judge Wade said it seemed to be a case where journalists had rushed into judgment without ascertaining, first of all, the facts of the matter.

When Hibberd went on national television and blamed the college, she was lying to the nation, Crown prosecutor Mark Williams told the court.

Judge Wade found Mr Campbell’s comments about Hibberd remarkable.

When Mr Campbell asked the rhetorical question: “Would she lie to the nation on television?” Judge Wade answered the question with: “Yes she would and, yes, she did.”

Judge Wade said TV3 had a moral obligation to set the record straight, apologise and make damages payment to the NZ Tertiary College and Early Learning Centre, whose reputations were damaged by Mr Campbell’s report.

NBR ONLINE wanted to asked TV3 head of news and current affairs Mark Jennings if TV3 had accepted any moral obligation and paid compensation but Mr Jennings had not replied as this story was posted.

janderson@nbr.co.nz