Farewell to an exhausted but marvellous Campbell

My friend and fellow journalist John Campbell will be waking up this morning probably slightly hung-over after last night’s sendoff. But he’ll also be, probably, just a little bit relieved too because the immense daily workload now ends. The pressure valve has been released. The curtain has come down on Campbell Live.

The 7pm current affairs slot is undoubtedly the toughest gig in town. I worked on the Holmes show for two years as a reporter. You get to work in the dark and it’s well-past sundown when you get home.

John will no doubt be knackered. There is no let-up. Not if you do it properly – and John was a world champion in that regard. He worked days, nights, weekends and anytime he could find in between.

And right till the end he was up all night in South Auckland, at midnight, for a story on how the Budget affected the working poor.

His direct competitors over at Seven Sharp were, no doubt, tucked up under their duvets and electric blankets while he was out filming a struggling family trying to make ends meet. That was John. Always the journo. Always looking to tell a story – even if it made those in power uncomfortable.

He’s had 10 years at the top. His name was on the shop window. And he deserves all the accolades that come his way.

When I was the political editor for 3 News we’d often text each other and talk about how mad we both were: how hard we were working, how we should both be watching our children’s sport more, how ridiculous a government decision was, how outrageous a particular prime minister was.

We’d acknowledge each other’s work and we’d support each other as the corporate and government vultures targeted us with their spin and unhappiness at what we were doing.

But I could hide within a wider onehour news bulletin. John had his own show. And that was so much harder.

I recall talking with different government ministers who openly disliked John, because he was effective. His coverage of the Christchurch quake, early on, put pressure on the Government to act faster. John Key admitted that to me.

His work on the Pike River mine disaster also kept the heat on the Government. John also helped young children get straight teeth.

He successfully campaigned to get the All Blacks to play in Samoa. And his work around poverty and food in schools was superb journalism.

I’m not saying John Campbell is a saint. He’d acknowledge he didn’t always get it right and he’d question himself, repeatedly. Hard workers do that.

He and the prime minister had some dingdongs – as you should when you’re doing your job well as a journalist.

I’m not saying he and his programme were the only ones who had an impact. Not even he would claim that.

But he was so good at doing what Seven Sharp can’t and won’t – holding people to account and running campaigns around issues that touch real people’s lives.

Campbell Live wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea of course – and if viewers wanted a Government cheerleader they need only switch channels for that dross.

I told John I was writing this piece at 10.21pm on Thursday night. He texted me back saying, ‘‘Jesus, Duncan. Thank you. I’m exhausted now. Exhausted. See you soon, I hope. Let’s have lunch when I’ve looked up. I’d like that very much.’’

It’s classic John. Still awake. Checking his phone, just in case it’s a late-night news tip.

He will be exhausted. He’s human. He’s worked himself to a standstill.

Sorry to disappoint the doomsayers, but TV3 isn’t dead because of this. There will still be a current affairs show at 7pm.

But it’s just not going to be John. So let’s say thanks. I’ve loved your work, John.

He often spoke to me about not seeing enough of his family. I know this weighed heavily on his mind. Go take a bloody well-deserved break, you marvellous bugger.