Duncan Grieve on The Spinoff is losing his mind over Wendy Petrie missing out to Simon Dallow for TVNZ’s plum 6pm news reading spot. He says TVNZ “loses a great anchor and a major opportunity”. (Wendy has been all class and grace in accepting the news.)
Yes, but isn’t that a bit insulting to Simon? Had they chosen Wendy, the same would have applied in reverse, n’est-ce pas? Or wouldn’t that be a consideration in this age of quotas and political correctness?
“Who has lost her job in a very public way”, Grieve goes on. Yes, it’s a high-profile job. Were we supposed to find out by osmosis? No doubt TVNZ had informed Wendy of the bad news before the media got hold of it. She has been used to seeing her face on buses and buildings for 14 years. Publicity goes with the territory.
My point is, it is not sexism when a boy wins a job over a girl. Maybe the boy is better!
HDPA agreed with me on her show on Tuesday saying “Simon is one of our finest news readers”. She even read out my comment.
“Don’t automatically think that it’s sexism when a boy is chosen over a girl. They are both great as news anchors. However, I never had any doubt that he would be chosen. So pleased TVNZ did not fold under the pressure from the woke left who attempt to set the agenda. Simon was chosen as he is a natural and makes the role look easy.”
“Both appear equally skilled”, says Grieve. And he is right and this was the predicament for the panel. When you have two people appearing equally suited for the job, have held focus groups and considered their performance and work ethic over the years,
YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE INTANGIBLES.
And they did.
Why is Dallow popular? Maybe it’s his slick delivery, his well-modulated voice with his superior mastery of the English language. Or is it a certain quiet charisma, and the way he adopts just the right tone for each item?
LIKE OTHERS WHO ARE BEST IN THEIR FIELD HE MAKES IT LOOK SO EASY. SIMON JUST SEEMS TO HAVE THE TIGER BY THE TAIL.
Like Hosking (love him or hate him, he is a talent), whom my late mother referred to as “The only person I know who can talk without any full stops or commas”. Same applies to Simon.
I was convinced of his talent when he was reporting on the ground following the Christchurch Earthquake. It sticks in my mind. His usual slick style was underpinned with compassion as he adeptly covered the chaos and heartbreak. He always came through with just the right tone.
So congratulations to Simon and commiserations to Wendy, who will still be employed by the station putting her talent to good use. So pleased TVNZ did not fold under the pressure from the woke left who attempt to set the agenda. Simon was chosen as he is a natural and makes the role look easy.
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