David Beatson
Former Listener editor David Beatson, who died on September 21, was passionate about journalism. Born in Dunedin in 1944, he started out with the Otago Daily Times in 1962. In a 50-year career, he worked in print and broadcast journalism, including high-profile roles in television current affairs.
As Listener editor from 1984-88, Beatson earned respect for not only his journalism but also his championing of professional standards. He was critical of the growing pursuit of “personality” in the media.
When he took up the editorship, he was interviewed by Pamela Stirling, then a staff writer, and told her, “I am convinced there is a blurring that occurs when you change from observer to participant. If we believe that objectivity is important in the process of law, then I believe it is equally important for there to be objective scrutiny on the part of the mass media.”
Famously private, Beatson was, as Stirling noted, a charming man, yet to the great enjoyment of his colleagues could also be “ferocious in debate: loud, relentless, outrageous, pedagogic. Capable of orchestrating a dinner-party conversation until it almost gets to blows.”
“We’ve all got big enough egos to handle it without feeling bruised,” he said. “Journalists are a bit like gunfighters: there’s always a tension around. Always a strong competitive thing that gets in the way of just talking.”
Yet conducting interviews, Beatson avoided expressing a view. “I just find out the questions ordinary people want answered and ask them in a straight way.” In later years, he held senior government and public affairs roles, including as chair of NZ On Air.