Senior Otago Daily Times journalist quits over buried story
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Journalist
Chris Morris wrote an email to all staff at Allied Press, which
publishes the Otago Daily Times, confirming he was quitting over the
non-publication of a story.
A senior journalist who spent months trying to get what he believes is a "worthy story" published has quit in protest.
Late on Friday Chris Morris wrote an email to all staff at Allied Press, which publishes the Otago Daily Times.
That email confirmed he was quitting over the non-publication of a story and was soon followed by a tweet.
Today, after six months bashing my head against a brick wall, trying without success to get a worthy story published, I quit my job at @odtnews in protest. To say I’m gutted would be an understatement, but I feel the need to stand up for some basic journalistic principles.— Chris Morris (@JournoMan) January 31, 2020
"Today, after six months bashing my head against a brick wall, trying
without success to get a worthy story published, I quit my job at @odtnews in protest," the tweet said.
Hamish McNeilly/Stuff
Otago Daily Times editor Barry Stewart
"To say I'm gutted would be an understatement, but I feel the need to stand up for some basic journalistic principles."
Morris, who plans to work out his notice period and has secured a new
job at the Dunedin City Council, declined to comment to Stuff.
ODT newsroom sources said Morris was working on a story involving allegations centred around a Dunedin high school.
Stuff understands the story was once laid out for printing, but was pulled at the last minute.
ODT editor Barry Stewart has been a journalist since the 1970s and the newspaper prides itself on its independence.
Deputy editor Craig Page declined to answer specific questions, but in
a statement said: "They are staff related matters and Allied Press has
no further comment."
In 2019 Morris' series " Marked by the Cross", which he researched and wrote for the paper's investigative unit ODT Insight, led to paedophile priest Fr Magnus Murray being defrocked by the Vatican.
That investigation was one of dozens of stories focusing on abuse in
the Catholic Church, with Morris a finalist in two categories – best
individual investigation and crime/social issues at last year's Voyager Awards.
Morris has worked for the ODT since 2006.
Dr Olivier Jutel, University of Otago media, film and communication
lecturer, praised Morris' work and was disappointed he could not get his
story published.
"It takes bravery and commitment. One hates to see a super-credible
journalist potentially have to go somewhere besides journalism.
"We need these kinds of journalists doing the work that they do."
Jutel, who once worked for Allied Press, said while the paper called
itself the "independent voice of the south" and was outside the main
media players, there remained questions over stories it chose to, or not
to, cover.
Reasons for any news outlet not to publish a story could be varied, including legal issues and possible complaints, he said.
While it wasn't uncommon for journalists to fight their editor and
publication over a story, it was unusual to call them out publicly and
resign, he said.
"You know you've hit that brick wall when you have no other choice for
your integrity as a journalist, but to resign, that's a really bad
sign."
Unabridged story is here:
