Mike White (journalist)

Last updated

Mike White
Mike White NZ journalis.jpg
White, 2016
OccupationInvestigative journalist
NationalityNew Zealand

Mike White is a New Zealand investigative journalist, photographer and author, and former foreign correspondent (Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq), and dog lover. He has written three books, one of them about dogs, [1] and has won awards for his magazine articles on justice issues, specializing in wrongful convictions within New Zealand. [2]

Contents

He is also an awarded travel writer. White has won New Zealand Feature Writer of the Year (Qantas / Canon / Voyager Media Awards) three times, and a Wolfson Fellowship to the University of Cambridge. He has also won the Cathay Pacific New Zealand Travel Writer of the Year title three times.

Early life and education

White grew up near Blenheim, and graduated with a political science and history degree from the University of Canterbury in the mid-80s. [3] In 1996, he graduated from the Wellington Polytechnic (now Massey University) School of Journalism.

Career

After six years working as reporter and chief reporter for the Marlborough Express in Blenheim, [4] he left to work as a foreign correspondent in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq. [3] [5] In 2003 White returned to New Zealand to write full-time for North & South, a current affairs monthly magazine, becoming a senior staff writer. He was a senior writer for the magazine for 17 years. [6] He is now a senior writer for Stuff, [7] and is based in Wellington. [3] [8]

In 2016 White and his long time partner, Wellington journalist Nikki Macdonald, took over the editing of long-form journalism website Featured. [9]

Wrongful convictions in New Zealand

Writing for North & South and then for Stuff (website), White has focussed most of his attention on high profile convictions that have eventually been declared miscarriages of justice. This includes: Arthur Allan Thomas 1970, David Bain 1994, Aaron Farmer 2003, Peter Ellis 1986-1992, Alan Hall 1986, Teina Pora 1992, David Dougherty 1992, Stephen Stone & Gail Maney 1989, and David Lyttle 2011. In 2023, White published Murder, Wrongful Conviction and the Law, which analysed miscarriages of justice in multiple jurisdictions, including New Zealand. [10]

Other high profile cases

Scott Watson

White covered the Ben Smart and Olivia Hope/Scott Watson case as a reporter on the Marlborough Express from 1998; [11] he revisited the case for North & South in December 2007. In 2014 Scott Watson invited White to interview him in prison, having maintained his innocence for 18 years. The Department of Corrections sought to prevent that meeting. It took more than a year and a hearing in the High Court to overturn that decision. [2] White described the widely reported verdict [12] [13] as a "win for journalism." [14] [15]

White's story on the interview with Watson in Rolleston Prison was published in North & South in December 2015. [16] In November 2016, after again taking the Corrections Department to the High Court, he covered the first meeting between Scott Watson and Olivia's father, Gerald Hope, also held in Rolleston Prison. [17]

Mark Lundy

White has also written extensively on the Lundy case. [18] In 2015 he spent two months in Courtroom One at Wellington’s High Court, covering the retrial of Mark Lundy for North & South. It’s a case he had been following for seven years. [19] His 18-page story: The Lundy Murders: What the Jury Didn’t Hear, in North & South’s February 2009 issue, led to international lawyers and experts joining Lundy’s team and eventually having his conviction quashed by the Privy Council in 2013. [20] White’s story on Lundy’s retrial and reconviction was published in May 2015. [21] He examined whether juries are equipped to cope with complex, controversial forensic evidence and cast doubt on the validty of the verdict.

Criminal case review commission

Based on his extensive knowledge and experience of miscarriages of justice in New Zealand, in Long Walk to Justice, an eight-page artilce in North & South in 2015, [22] White asked if New Zealand needed an independent commission to investigate wrongful convictions. He researched how the Commission in the UK dealt with such cases during his Wolfson Press Fellowship to the University of Cambridge. [22] [8] In Justice at last on Stuff in 2020, he described the establishment of the Criminal Cases Review Commission by the Labour Government, and the resistance of previous administrations to set up such a body. [23]

The Commission can compel Government agencies to provide documents and give evidence to their investigators. It can also highlight problems with the police and prosecution system which have repeatedly been shown to contribute to wrongful convictions. [24] One of those problems is the continuing use of prison snitches in high profile murder cases.

Prison snitches

Writing for Stuff in 2021, White discussed guidelines and recommendations issued by the Solictor-General regarding the use of prison witnesses in court - colloqially known as 'jailhouse snitches'. He noted that historically, very few high-profile cases have been prosecuted in new Zealand without a 'snitch' testifing in court that the accused had confessed to them while they were in prison; it was a contributing factor in the murder trials of Arthur Allan Thomas, Mark Lundy, Scott Watson, Teina Pora and David Tamihere. [25]

By testifying against a fellow prisoner, the police may offer a 'snitch' potential benefits such a reduced jail sentence, a letter of support to the judge or the Parole Board, and even financial rewards up to $50,000 - plus name suppression. International research has found that testimony from prison witnesses is generally unreliable and one of the leading causes of wrongful convictions. [26]

Awards

Books

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air New Zealand</span> Flag carrier of New Zealand; based in Auckland

Air New Zealand Limited is the flag carrier of New Zealand. Based in Auckland, the airline operates scheduled passenger flights to 20 domestic and 28 international destinations in 18 countries, primarily within the Pacific Rim. The airline has been a member of the Star Alliance since 1999.

The Waikato Times is a daily newspaper published in Hamilton, New Zealand, and owned by media business Stuff Ltd. It has a circulation to the greater Waikato region and became a tabloid paper in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Campbell (broadcaster)</span> New Zealand journalist and television personality (born 1964)

John James Campbell is a New Zealand journalist and radio and television personality. He is currently a presenter and reporter at TVNZ; before that, he presented Checkpoint, Radio New Zealand's drive time show, from 2016 to 2018. For ten years prior to that, he presented Campbell Live, a 7 p.m. current affairs programme on TV3. He was a rugby commentator for Sky Sports during the All Blacks' test against Samoa in early 2015 — a fixture he had vocally campaigned for while hosting Campbell Live.

<i>The Press</i> New Zealand newspaper

The Press is a daily newspaper published in Christchurch, New Zealand, owned by media business Stuff Ltd. First published in 1861, the newspaper is the largest circulating daily in the South Island and publishes Monday to Saturday. One community newspaper—Northern Outlook—is also published by The Press and is free.

<i>North & South</i> (New Zealand magazine)

North & South is a New Zealand monthly national current affairs magazine, specialising in long-form investigative stories and photojournalism. In an eight-page article in 2015, for example, "Long Walk to Justice", staff writer Mike White asked if New Zealand's justice system should establish an independent commission to investigate wrongful convictions. Issues involving justice in New Zealand provide a theme for many of his stories for North & South. The editorial content also includes profiles of New Zealanders, brief stories, essays, opinion, music, film and book reviews, food, and travel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scoop (website)</span> New Zealand real-time news website

Scoop, a New Zealand Internet news site, is operated by Scoop Publishing Limited, a company owned by a non-profit charitable trust dedicated to public-interest journalism.

Steven Carl Braunias is a New Zealand author, columnist, journalist and editor. He is the author of 14 books.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Karam</span> New Zealand rugby player and businessman

Joseph Francis Karam, also known by the nickname of "Clock", is a New Zealand former representative rugby footballer who played for the All Blacks. After retiring from rugby, he became a businessman. However, he is most notable for waging a successful 15-year campaign to have David Bain's convictions for murder overturned, and a subsequent campaign seeking compensation for him.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stuff (website)</span> New Zealand news website

Stuff is a New Zealand news media website owned by newspaper conglomerate Stuff Ltd. As of early 2024, it is the most popular news website in New Zealand, with a monthly unique audience of more than 2 million.

The Manawatū Standard is the daily paper for the Manawatū region based in Palmerston North. The Manawatū Standard has been recognised as one of the best in New Zealand being a finalist in the 2008 Qantas Media Award for best regional daily newspaper; it won the same category in 2007. It also won Best Headline and Student Journalist of the Year at the Qantas Media Awards 2017.

The 2014 Canon Media Awards were hosted by the New Zealand Newspaper Publishers' Association on Friday 9 May 2014 at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland, New Zealand. The Newspaper of the Year was The Dominion Post, and the Reporter of the Year was Andrea Vance of Fairfax Media's political bureau.

Ben Smart and Olivia Hope, two young New Zealanders, disappeared in the early hours of the morning on New Year's Day, 1 January 1998. The two friends had been celebrating New Year's Eve at Furneaux Lodge in the Marlborough Sounds with other partygoers. The pair accepted an offer from a stranger to stay aboard his yacht in the early hours of the morning, and it was the last time they were seen alive. The disappearance of the duo sparked one of the most publicised and controversial investigations in New Zealand's history.

The 2018 Voyager Media Awards were presented on 11 May 2018 at Cordis, Auckland, New Zealand. Awards were made in the categories of digital, feature writing, general, magazines, newspapers, opinion writing, photography, reporting and videography.

The 2017 Canon Media Awards were presented on 19 May 2017 at The Langham, Auckland, New Zealand. Awards were made in the categories of digital, feature writing, general, magazines, newspapers, opinion writing, photography, reporting and videography. The Wolfson scholarship, health journalism scholarships, and awards for editorial executive and outstanding achievements, were also presented.

The 2016 Canon Media Awards were hosted by the New Zealand Newspaper Publishers' Association on Friday 20 May 2016 at Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington, New Zealand. The Newspaper of the Year was The New Zealand Herald, and the Reporter of the Year was Matt Nippert of The New Zealand Herald.

The 2019 Voyager Media Awards were held at the Cordis, Auckland on 17 May 2019. Awards were made in the categories of digital, feature writing, general, magazines, health journalism, scholarships, newspapers, opinion writing, photography, reporting and videography.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donna Chisholm</span> New Zealand investigative journalist

Donna Elise Chisholm is a New Zealand investigative journalist and author.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diana Wichtel</span> New Zealand author, journalist and cultural critic

Diana Wichtel is a New Zealand writer and critic. Her mother, Patricia, was a New Zealander; her father, Benjamin Wichtel, a Polish Jew who escaped from the Nazi train taking his family to the Treblinka extermination camp in World War II. When she was 13 her mother brought her to New Zealand to live, along with her two siblings. Although he was expected to follow, she never saw her father again. The mystery of her father's life took years to unravel, and is recounted in Wichtel's award-winning book Driving toTreblinka. The book has been called "a masterpiece" by New Zealand writer Steve Braunias. New Zealand columnist Margo White wrote: "This is a story that reminds readers of the atrocities that ordinary people did to each other, the effect on those who survived, and the reverberations felt through following generations."

The New Zealand Criminal Cases Review Commission is an independent Crown entity that was set up under the Criminal Cases Review Commission Act 2019 to investigate potential miscarriages of justice. If the Commission considers a miscarriage may have occurred, it can refer the case back to the Court of Appeal to be reconsidered.

References

  1. ↑ Letting sleeping dogs lie, The Post, 18 January 2025
  2. 1 2 "Mike White - crime journalism". RNZ . 10 January 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 "Contributors". North & South: 11. September 2003.
  4. ↑ "Journalist Mike White will interview speakers at the Marlborough Book Festival". Stuff. 25 July 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  5. ↑ Skinner, Tony (24 March 2003). "Picton man heads for war zone". The Marlborough Express.
  6. ↑ Mike White Stuff Interactives
  7. ↑ "Mike White News". Stuff. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  8. 1 2 "Confessions of a media junkie". www.noted.co.nz. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  9. ↑ "Good reads for the long weekend". RNZ . 23 October 2017. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  10. ↑ Murder, Wrongful Conviction and the Law, Mike White 2023
  11. ↑ Ashcroft, Nerida. "Mike White chats about Scott Watson". www.rhema.co.nz. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  12. ↑ "Journalists and jailbirds: The pros and cons". RNZ . 3 November 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  13. ↑ "The right to talk to the media - in and out of jail". RNZ . 4 June 2015. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  14. ↑ "Journalist Mike White welcomes High Court decision on Scott Watson, Gerald Hope meeting". Stuff. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  15. ↑ "Full Interview: Mike White on Scott Watson decision". Newshub. 6 April 2015. Archived from the original on 15 December 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  16. ↑ White, Mike. "From the archives: An interview with Scott Watson - North & South". Noted. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  17. ↑ White, Mike. "The full interview: Gerald Hope and Scott Watson - North & South". Noted. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  18. ↑ Hollings, James (2017). A moral truth : 150 years of investigative journalism in New Zealand. Hollings, James (James H.). Auckland, New Zealand. ISBN   9780994141583. OCLC   993043075.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  19. ↑ "Contributors". North & South. May 2015.
  20. ↑ White, Mike (February 2009). "What The Jury Didn't Hear". North & South.
  21. ↑ White, Mike (May 2015). "Evidence That Will Make You Think Again". North & South.
  22. 1 2 White, Mike. "A long walk to justice". Noted. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  23. ↑ Justice at last - inside the new wrongful conviction body, Stuff, 19 June 2020
  24. ↑ Murder, Wrongful Conviction and the Law, Mike White 2023
  25. ↑ Jailhouse snitches: How to control the worst of witnesses, Stuff, 1 May 2021
  26. ↑ Jailhouse snitches: How to control the worst of witnesses, Stuff, 1 May 2021
  27. 1 2 "Contributors". North & South: 12. May 2005.
  28. 1 2 "ACP Media the High Flyer at Qantas Media Awards". www.scoop.co.nz. 16 May 2005. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  29. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Cathay Pacific Travel Media Awards" (PDF). Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  30. 1 2 3 "North & South, Metro scoop Qantas Magazine Awards". www.scoop.co.nz. 21 May 2007. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  31. 1 2 "Qantas Media Awards 2008 Results". www.scoop.co.nz. 10 May 2008. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  32. ↑ "Qantas Media Awards 2009 Results". www.scoop.co.nz. 16 May 2009. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  33. ↑ "ACP Magazines Score Multiple Wins at Qantas Awards". www.scoop.co.nz. 15 June 2010. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  34. ↑ "nzherald.co.nz wins supreme award at Canon Media Awards". The New Zealand Herald. 27 May 2011. ISSN   1170-0777 . Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  35. ↑ "2014 Winners". Voyager Media Awards. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  36. ↑ "Wolfson Fellowship". Voyager Media Awards. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  37. ↑ "Wellington.scoop.co.nz » Mike White wins travel writer of year award" . Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  38. ↑ "2015 Winners". Voyager Media Awards. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  39. ↑ "2016 Winners". Voyager Media Awards. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  40. ↑ "2016 Winners". Voyager Media Awards. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  41. ↑ "2018 winners". Voyager Media Awards. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.