Celebrity chat:

Turning the spotlight on Katie Bradford.

Katie Bradford, 38, is a TVNZ reporter who specialises in politics and business news. She lives in Auckland and has been at the television network for six years. She is the daughter of former politician Sue Bradford and she studied politics and history at university.

How did you end up working in television journalism?

I did a BA in politics and history at Auckland uni and then I did a Graduate Diploma in journalism. I actually kind of always thought I’d be a print reporter and then quite quickly moved on to radio and I loved it. And I still love radio. It’s a great medium. And then I moved on from radio to TV.

What did you want to be when you were a child? Did you want to be a journalist?

I know it’s really cliche, but it’s true. I did. I’ve always wanted to be a journalist. I fleetingly thought about law and being a lawyer when I was in high school, but I think I was destined to be a journalist really.

Were you one of those kids who was always reading the newspaper or watching the news?

Yeah, we always watched the news. We always had newspapers at home. I think when you grow up in that environment, you’re immersed in it. Everyone in my family still buys the Sunday newspapers, everyone watches the news at six o’clock at night. I grew up in the car with Mum always listening to Morning Report on Radio New Zealand. It’s part of your life. You don’t know any different.

What was your first job?

I did some babysitting but I think my first proper job was working at a petrol station. I pumped petrol for three years. I got paid $6.12 an

hour. I did that all through high school. But at least I know how to fill my own car up with petrol. I know how to check my oil and water and wash my windscreen.

Were you ever tempted to follow your mum into politics?

No. I can’t think of anything worse than being a politician. I know far too much about their lives having been a political reporter for 15 years. On the whole they work really hard. I have absolutely no interest in being a politician. I’ll just stay on the other side, asking them questions.

What is the toughest part of your job?

People don’t realise how much work goes into what they see on TV when they sit down at six o’clock at night. You know, there are a lot of people involved. It’s not just me. There are producers and editors and camera people and, you know, everyone who works around you and supports you to make sure that you make it to air at six o’clock.

What kind of feedback do you get from viewers?

Most people who come up to me on the street, or wherever I am, are lovely. They say thank you, I like the way you tell stories or I like the clothes you wear or whatever it is. But conversely, you get a lot of social media abuse. I think political reporters probably get it more than others, and women certainly get it more, a lot more, than men. And that can be quite hard at times as well. I’ve learned to block (people online) very quickly. I’ve also learned that a lot of people, I think, particularly on Facebook, they make these comments about a story or a reporter, and they don’t think that people can see it. And if you’re having a bad day, that can be quite hard.

Why do you think women get more online abuse than men?

That’s the big question. That happens in whatever profession you’re in. I think women are easier targets. Some people don’t like women who are strong and independent and have a voice.