David Beatson: A broadcasting legend...

Interview – 2017

Broadcasting veteran David Beatson had more than 50 years experience in journalism. Beatson began his television career as a reporter on magazine show Town and Around, before developing a reputation for his no-nonsense interviewing style on shows like Gallery and Eyewitness. Later he became the editor of the Listener, Chief Press Secretary to Prime Minister Jim Bolger, and Chairman of NZ On Air.

Beatson passed away on 21 September 2017. In this ScreenTalk interview published early that year, Beatson talks about:

Struggling to pass the announcer's test in the early days of broadcasting
Outdoor adventures and becoming one of the youngest hosts of magazine show Town and Around
Doing some heavy-duty research when preparing for interview show Compass
His thoughts on forceful former Prime Minister Robert Muldoon
The “tomorrow’s headlines tonight” approach to Gallery
Taking TV footage from Wellington to Auckland in the mid 70s, on a flight he never wants to repeat
Presenting late night news show Eyewitness live from parliament
His advice to NZ On Air after becoming chairman
The rationale for launching his show The Beatson Interview
What makes a great interviewer
The future of television, and his last fight

This video was first uploaded on 20 February 2017, and is available under this Creative Commons licence. This licence is limited to use of ScreenTalk interview footage only and does not apply to any video content and photographs from films, television, music videos, web series and commercials used in the interview.

Interview, Camera and Editing – Andrew Whiteside

In those days you had to pass the announcer's test before you could actually host a show. So I failed. It took me six months to pass the damn announcer's test, and a lot of help from some very good people....

– David Beatson on his early days in television, in Dunedin

David's Full Profile