The Fold Notes on an epic journalistic blunder – and succession planning at RNZ and TVNZ
Nov 3, 2025
Toby Manhire, editor-at-large at The Spinoff, discusses a journalistic blunder that involved misidentifying a wine importer as ex-New York Mayor Bill de Blasio. He shares a personal story about a mistake he made at the Guardian and examines how AI is exacerbating errors in newsrooms. The conversation shifts to succession planning at RNZ and TVNZ, evaluating potential hosts and the challenges of finding the right fit. Toby emphasizes the importance of managing talent wisely for a smoother transition in local broadcasting.
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The Wrong De Blasio Scoop
- Bevan Hurley emailed the wrong Bill de Blasio and published a false interview in The Times of London.
- The story was retracted after the real de Blasio publicly denied speaking to Hurley and the mistake became an international embarrassment.
Thinner Newsrooms Increase Risk
- Mistakes like Hurley's are likelier now because editorial layers have thinned and newsrooms are under-resourced.
- High-profile errors get amplified by the candidate's fame and the global media attention around major cities like New York.
Guardian Op-Ed Verification Failure
- Toby Manhire recalled publishing a Guardian comment purportedly by Morgan Tsvangirai that turned out to be supplied via an unreliable intermediary.
- The Guardian ran corrections and a readers' editor review after the error exposed the gap in direct verification.