Women's Weekly Responds

Dear Dr Dutton,

I return this born-again spoon to you as a symbol of the power of the press. I assure you I have no knowledge of what sleight of hand unbent it. I only left it in the newsroom for a few moments, too.

The editor and I and the eight journalists on the Woman's Weekly staff firmly believe the formerly-twisted object belongs in the NZCSICOP canteen of cutlery for a number of reasons.

1. While we agree that Josh Easby's investigative feature was excellent, I cannot stress too strongly it was a different style of journalism. If we were to exclude topics and subjects that are quirky, different and even fantastic the bookshelves and magazines of this country would be sadly depleted. To exclude such subjects, just because we do not hold such beliefs ourselves, comes dangerously close to censorship, a point I meant to make on the programme. Also, in a democratic society minority groups and religions have a right to be heard, which is another point I meant to make.
2. To accept this bent object was to accept that we are journalistically irresponsible, and that we very firmly refute. As a journalist with 20 years experience on publications that include the Christchurch Star, the Listener, and the Financial Times in London, journalistic responsibility is something I care about deeply. I have never been accused of being irresponsible before and with a million readers perusing our publication every week, I worry constantly about accuracy and responsibility. I take your point about the number of exploitative charlatans around. They are constantly in contact with us and get a short shift.
3. I have been aware of Mahikari since I did a three Part investigative series some five years ago about the new cults. At the time I uncovered no whiff of scandal or extortionate behaviour among them, although I did with one of the cults, who later slapped a writ on me. You mention a woman who says her marriage was destroyed by her husband's involvement in Mahikari. As I am not aware of the circumstances I can't really comment on that, except to say that my husband, a lawyer. is currently working out a separation for a woman who says her marriage has been destroyed by her husband's obsession with marathon running. The obsession has taken over his life and his behaviour has become irrational...

Both you and George Balani seemed surprised that I put up a spirited defence. I was merely doing my job and I also believe we have a professional and capable staff. I am fed up with the Woman's Weekly journalists being regarded as a pack of bimbos when we have won places in three reputable journalistic awards this year. Our Wellington writer, Jane Westaway won a medical journalism award two weeks ago for one of the first sensible and sober articles on AIDS. One or two of us even have sensible degrees (more than half the staff do, in fact). Mine comes from the very venerable University of Canterbury.

We would be most interested in doing an investigative article on the pitfalls of practising palmistry, astrology and so forth, and to that end, I shall ask our Christchurch writer Glenys Bowman to get in touch with you. In the meantime, if you have any red hot revelations, she can be contacted at phone: 856 722.

Best wishes. Yours sincerely,

Pauline Ray

NEWS EDITOR