New Zealand’s Greta Thunberg, who flew to Fiji for a holiday, was unfairly “ridiculed” by a journalist who questioned the teenager’s travel, a watchdog has ruled.
Izzy Cook, 16, has become the face of teenage climate activism in New Zealand and has led the country’s school strikes, which were made popular by Thunberg.
Despite advocating for flight bans, Mr Cook was forced to admit during a recent interview that she travelled to Fiji from Wellington on a recent holiday.
A broadcaster from the radio channel Newstalk ZB has now been reprimanded over her handling of the interview.
Following complaints, the Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) investigated the interview and concluded there was a clear “power imbalance” during the discussion, warning media outlets they should not deter “passionate young people” from “speaking up for important causes”.
In a now viral recording, radio host Heather du Plessis-Allan says through laughter: “Don’t you care about the climate?”
“You went to Fiji. Come on, mate. Are you serious?”
Ms Cook replies it was “ironic” but says she could not “really get out of it because my parents wanted to go”.
When the teenager says she “did not have the best time”, the journalist continues: “I’m sorry, mate… You’re such a champion. I think you’ve got a brilliant future ahead of you.”
Supporters of the broadcast argued children being used as spokespeople for campaigns should face scrutiny over their own polluting behaviours.
Ms Cook’s mother Rose Cook said it was her idea for her daughter to take the family holiday. She had “listened in horror” as the journalist “appeared to be bullying” her daughter.
Du Plessis-Allan viewed the teenage activist’s social media profiles to “discredit her personally and derail the conversation about climate action”, Mrs Cook said.
“Izzy does what she does because she cares… I try to help by proofreading and preparing her for media interviews where I can,” Mrs Cook said.
New Zealand Media and Entertainment [NZME], the owner of Newstalk ZB, and du Plessis-Allan apologised to Miss Cook.
Du Plessis-Allan was “rude”, “transitioned into ridicule” and mocked the teen, BSA found.
Source: telegraph.co.uk