Brian Edwards (New Zealand)
Encyclopedia
Brian Edwards CNZM
(born 4 November 1937, Cork) is an Irish
-born New Zealand
media personality and author. Edwards arrived in New Zealand in 1964, where he intended to lecture in German at the University of Canterbury
. After three years he quit this role and embarked on a career in the media.
's highly rated show Top of the Morning from 1994 to 1999, a role which he returned to in 2006. He is also known for his television appearances, starting in the 1960s. Edwards has been a host of numerous television series, notably Fair Go
(which he devised, and hosted for eight years), and in 2003 hosted his own talk show, Edwards at Large.
Helen Clark
, an autobiography: Daddy Was A German Spy, And Other Scandals , published in 2008, and is also a prolific newspaper and magazine columnist. He holds an honours B.A. from the Queen’s University of Belfast and a Ph.D. from the University of Edinburgh
.
, arguing for "user pays" library books as a compensation to authors. The response from library supporters and creative public was overwhelmingly negative. Edwards later removed the post and comments with no explanation.
New Zealand has a public lending right scheme, administered by the National Library, under which authors are compensated for their books being in libraries.
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
(born 4 November 1937, Cork) is an Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
-born New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
media personality and author. Edwards arrived in New Zealand in 1964, where he intended to lecture in German at the University of Canterbury
University of Canterbury
The University of Canterbury , New Zealand's second-oldest university, operates its main campus in the suburb of Ilam in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand...
. After three years he quit this role and embarked on a career in the media.
Radio & television career
Edwards is best known as a radio and television interviewer, and was the host of Radio New ZealandRadio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand is a New Zealand public service radio broadcaster and Crown entity formed by the Radio New Zealand Act 1995. It operates news, current affairs and arts network Radio New Zealand National and classical music and jazz network Radio New Zealand Concert with full government funding...
's highly rated show Top of the Morning from 1994 to 1999, a role which he returned to in 2006. He is also known for his television appearances, starting in the 1960s. Edwards has been a host of numerous television series, notably Fair Go
Fair Go
Fair Go is a New Zealand consumer affairs television program now co-hosted by Gordon Harcourt and Alison Mau. First aired in 1977, it is one of New Zealand's longest-running and highest-rated programmes, frequently placed high in the New Zealand TV Guide list of most viewed programs.Fair Go...
(which he devised, and hosted for eight years), and in 2003 hosted his own talk show, Edwards at Large.
Books
Edwards is also author of numerous books, including a biography of Prime Minister of New ZealandPrime Minister of New Zealand
The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand...
Helen Clark
Helen Clark
Helen Elizabeth Clark, ONZ is a New Zealand political figure who was the 37th Prime Minister of New Zealand for three consecutive terms from 1999 to 2008...
, an autobiography: Daddy Was A German Spy, And Other Scandals , published in 2008, and is also a prolific newspaper and magazine columnist. He holds an honours B.A. from the Queen’s University of Belfast and a Ph.D. from the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
.
Awards
Edwards has twice won the Media Peace Prize for his work on radio and in print, and was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) in 1999 for services to Broadcasting and Journalism. He currently runs a media training and communications consultancy in partnership with his wife Judy Callingham.Controversy
On 23 September 2009 Edwards claimed that "Public Libraries are just a Form of Theft", arguing for "user pays" library books as a compensation to authors. The response from library supporters and creative public was overwhelmingly negative. Edwards later removed the post and comments with no explanation.
-
- "Every public library in New Zealand bought at least one copy of Helen. And they lent each of those copies to other people to read for… nothing. Last year there were still 227.4 copies of the book in New Zealand public libraries. If each of those copies was taken out by one person a month, that’s 2,729 people who read but didn’t pay for my book - my six month’s work. At $4.50 per unsold copy, that’s a theoretical loss of income to me in one year of $12,280."
- "But there’s a principle here: when one person buys a book and lends it to another person to read, they effectively become an accessory to theft. Their generous act amounts to little more than stealing the author’s work. When a public library buys a book and lends it to thousands of other people to read, it’s grand theft copyright and really no different from illegally downloading music or movies or copying CDs or DVDs on your computer."
New Zealand has a public lending right scheme, administered by the National Library, under which authors are compensated for their books being in libraries.