Time of national lockdown
working arrangements. Wendy will be with you tomorrow on 1 News, and I’ll be with you on Friday.’’
Similar changes have been made to Newshub Live at 6pm. Its flagship hosts Hayes and Mcroberts are separated on camera and behind the scenes.
‘‘We have split our Newshub teams to separate floors to ensure that if one team were wiped out, the second team could still ensure bulletins got to air,’’ says a spokesperson.
‘‘It’s a bit tough because our team are close friends so we are using video calls to stay in touch and keep the vibe going.’’
Detailed guidelines are being followed by camera crews and reporters to ensure everyone stays safe, and all cars and equipment are ‘‘extensively sanitised’’.
Interviews are being conducted online, where possible, or in car parks or other remote locations, says the spokesperson.
Drastic measures have also been taken on The Project, Three’s 7pm current affairs show, which will also continue to run over the next four weeks.
Some staff are working from home, but those required in the office to make the show each day have been split into ‘‘silos’’ and are social distancing, using separate office space and toilets.
Those silos of people don’t come into contact with one another, says executive producer Jon Bridges, and it’s a completely different way of working for the team.
‘‘Every day if you watch a normal production of this show happening, you would see people running around in here like a little beehive, everyone buzzing around, chatting to each other, different groups and teams, all day, getting really close, having a massive amount of face-to-face communication, from eight in the morning to eight at night.’’
Instead, in-studio guests have been canned, as has the regular appearance of a fourth guest host, and staff meetings are conducted over the phone or online.
Staff are getting used to the changes. ‘‘Yesterday was a bit easier, and today is a bit easier again,’’ Bridges admits.
Should the worst happen and a host tests positive for Covid-19, Bridges says a back-up team of presenters is ready to step in.
‘‘We have excellent broadcasters who’ve done the show before, [including] Nadine Higgins, Alison Mau and Patrick Gower.’’
But Bridges believes the show plays an important part in the face of a worldwide pandemic: it’s keeping viewers informed, but helping to lighten the mood.
‘‘We’re able to do stuff that news can’t do,’’ he says.
‘‘We’re able to do extended interviews, bring humour to something, talk about the feels a bit more. That’s a really important thing at this time, to show people that we can retain our sense of humour, we don’t have to panic.’’
Sky says its news shows, including Prime News – First at 5.30, will also continue to run during the lockdown period, with essential staff ‘‘working under strict safety controls and supported by the wider group of Sky crew working from home’’.
‘‘Keeping New Zealanders up to date with accurate news is incredibly important right now, so we’ve made Sky News Australia available to all Sky customers for the next three months,’’ says Sky CEO Martin Stewart.
‘‘This move will help Kiwis stay up to date with global developments, as well as all the news from Australia, where many New Zealanders have family and friends.’’
Other changes on the pay TV network include Prime playing more family-friendly content during the day, digging into the entertainment and sport archives to keep lineups ‘‘fresh and interesting’’ and the launch of a new sports quiz called Believe It Or Not.