John Campbell an honourable departure.

Now and then the public is privy to some pure emotion on air or on screen; I don’t mean some contrived shedding of verbal clap-trap such as the John Bank’s PR tears of joy at having his criminal charges dropped for some legal technicality, but real and deeply felt emotion at the loss of a fellow worker.

MediaWorks money grubbing egotistical boss and very close friend of John Key repaid an unstated debt to his old buddy and shut down ‘Campbell Live’.

Key has won his on-going very public battle with John Campbell who was the only TV presenter who had over the years stood up to John Key’s corporate backed pressure.

The TV announcement of the expected dumping was carried out on budget day in the hope that the public would be too busy evaluating the budget. His strange boss at TV3 did the dirty on all the many thousands of Campbell’s fans and viewers. They were shocked when they heard the most unwelcome news.

Hilary Barry is not simply a dumb bimbo fall guy…she is an intelligent news presenter of the highest order…and being asked the read out MediaWorks press release of John’s demise was just too much. Here is what happened as reported by TVNZ.    

“TV3 newsreader Hilary Barry has broken down in tears on air over the departure of her long-time colleague John Campbell.

MediaWorks announced this afternoon that the Campbell Live host had resigned from the company, rather than take a job as co-presenter of a redesigned 7pm current affairs show.

Ms Barry became emotional after watching a news story on her colleague's departure.

As she tried to read the next item, she choked up. "I think Mike might have to read this one," she said, referring to her co-anchor Mike McRoberts.

She left the studio, but returned later in the broadcast.

Campbell later used the final segment of his show to confirm it wouldn't be his final broadcast on TV3.

He thanked the audience for the surge in his show's ratings in the six weeks since it was announced that it was under review.

"You made the effort to watch us and in doing so you made our team feel very grateful and very proud."

The National radio programme also reported this shocking event, but none of MediaWorks so-called bosses would be interviewed and spinelessly hid away out of public view. Proof of their absolute gutlessness and submission to the PMs open desire for Campbell's head on a plate.

So TV3’s Current Affairs programme is now going to be replaced by some ignoramus coat tugging twit accompanied by some blond no-body who laughs at his stupid mutterings in the style of Paul Henry or Mike Hosking infamy.

What the hell has happened to our main stream media? The guy who dumped John Campbell is not exactly the brightest news kid on the block: Here is a little bit of his back ground. His name is Mark Weldon:

1: He’s the man John Key picked to chair the “Summit on Employment” in 2009

2:He’s also the man John Key picked to lead The Christchurch Earthquake Appeal.

3: He’s also the man who used that position to breach the Bill of Rights Act and force “the advancement of religion” into the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal Trust’s constitution.

4: And he’s the man Cameron Slater (Whaleoil) characterises as “allegedly a friend of John Key”.

5: Slater also asked on October 15 last year “Who will be the first (of many) casualties under Mark “I’m the boss” Weldon at Mediaworks?” with one commenter on that story saying “The man is a tyrant who doesn’t play nicely with others. Frankly, I love the idea of Weldon and John Campbell having to work together …”.

6: he’s also the man whom insiders were picking as a potential National Party candidate for the safe seat of Tamaki.

7: And he’s a man who praised John Key’s program of asset sales announced in 2011 as “bold, it was clear, it was early – and very positive…” and called those who were cautious about it “fearmongering”. That’s the same assets sales program that had to be drastically cut back and became something of an embarrassment to the government.

8: He’s the man who made a substantial personal gain ($6 million) as a result of Key’s asset sales announcement.

9: He’s also the man who, as CEO of the NZX, characterised those who voiced concerns about aspects of the Exchange’s operations as mentally ill.

10: He’s the man who’s already got rid of two of Mediaworks’s main financial watchdogs – chief financial officer Peter Crossan and company secretary and lawyer Claire Bradley.)

11: He’s the man of whom blogger Cactus Kate (business lawyer and commentator Cathy Odgers) noted “MediaWorks currently does not employ anyone on your television or radio with a larger ego than Weldon, even Willie Jackson, Sean Plunket and Duncan Garner combined can’t compete” and that “NZX was the greatest reality soap opera in town under Weldon’s leadership, the casting couch of characters was enormous as disgruntled staff left and new bright eyed disciples were employed”.

12: He’s the man Odgers also described (in a blog post now deleted by referenced by another, also right wing, blogger) as a “weasel word corporate-welfared CEO…” and a “shallow self-promoting tool”.

13: He’s the man who said there was no conflict of interest in allowing the NZX to be the provider of NZX services, the supervisor of its members, a listed participant on its own exchange and the market regulator… a statement one broker described as “utter balderdash”.

Mark Weldon.

This is a CEO who is Key’s best corporate friend and [MediaWorks] is a foreign owned media company who have been given sweet heart deals from this Government.[40 million interest free loans] The lax regulation has allowed MediaWorks to gain a dominant market position, so claims that they are a private company who can do what they like is bullshit. They have done well from NZ; they owe us fourth estate obligations more than they owe their vulture fund shareholders.

All we have left to hold the powerful to account is Native Affairs on Maori TV.

- See more at: http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2015/05/21/and-then-they-came-for-campbell-live-the-end-of-political-journalism-on-nz-television/#sthash.qkXixez4.dpuf

John Campbell can feel proud of his time with TV3, he tackled the difficult questions, he never lowered his behaviour to the muck raking level of a Paul Henry or the sexist jacket pulling of Mike Hosking, he didn't even pull the pony tails of hard working waitresses; he was not about that kind of deviant and weird behaviour and stupidity. He was and still is a genuine investigative TV journalist. I wish him well and I hope you do to…he refused to join the rat race of ‘you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours’…style of creepy behaviour. He is an honorable person.  

A personal message from the team at Campbell Live to each and everyone of you...

From everyone on Campbell Live, your support and kindness has saved us during these past seven weeks. Not only did it lift us personally, it reminded us why we’re here and that what we do matters and can make a difference. To the 86,000 people who so kindly signed the petition, and even marched for us, thank you – very much. We’re so proud to have you as viewers.

Pip Keane, John Campbell, Ali Ikram, Anna Burns Francis, Sarah Stewart, Tory Evans, Chris Jones, Jayne Devine, Julian Lee, Lachlan Forsyth, Marise Hurley, Michael Hardcastle, Mike Wesley-Smith, Sarah Rowan, Claire Eastham-Farrelly, Tristram Clayton, Vanessa Forrest, Billy Weepu, Dan Parker, Whena Owen, Lee Thomson, Emily Samonta, Jendy Harper, John Sellwood, Kate McCallum, Graeme Mulholland.