It blew up immediately. Seconds after it was announced John Campbell would join RNZ, we sent a "marvellous" tweet, and hit publish on Facebook.
Photo: RNZ/ Alexander Robertson
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Within 20 minutes, the Facebook post had been shared a hundred times - even more than when we changed our cover image to a tui.
Within minutes, John Campbell was trending on Twitter - not for the first time in his career - as were RNZ, RadioNZ, and RNZ_News.
I have two screens open on Twitter right now, and I still can't keep up with your tweets to @rnz_news.
— Mégan (@meganjwhelan) August 6, 2015
What was trending on Twitter Photo: RNZ
Most people were excited to hear the news.
— David Farrier (@davidfarrier) August 6, 2015
@rnz_news Great news. We might get some balance back in reporting now.
— Uma Te Kani (@MondoWhangarei) August 6, 2015
Titling my sunglasses at koka @CarolHirschfeld for #PuttingTheBandBackTogether @JohnJCampbell @Mihi_Forbes @SHaunui @rnz_news #KaWaniKee!
— Annabelle Lee (@n8tvaffairs) August 6, 2015
.@JohnJCampbell Nice to see you've got a day job @rnz_news. You were in danger of there of relaxing for a second.
— Mark (@MarkSReynolds) August 6, 2015
Some, while pleased about the news, felt they were going to miss Checkpoint's current presenter, and fierce interviewer, Mary Wilson.
Yep! Great re @JohnJCampbell + @CheckpointRNZ; + deep thanks to Mary Wilson, our bravest, most determined journo ^SW https://t.co/BzCEIEKtEm
— Metro (@MetroMagNZ) August 6, 2015
I CAN'T BELIEVE WE'RE LOSING MARY WILSON THOU
— Morgan Godfery (@MorganGodfery) August 6, 2015
But ... but ... does this mean no more Mary Wilson on my wireless? http://t.co/SCjTOOIimF
— Lew (@LewSOS) August 6, 2015
But no Mary Wilson...!! Politicians across NZ will be sleeping better tonight https://t.co/KBunXD9i1l
— Michael Field (@MichaelFieldNZ) August 6, 2015
Mary Wilson will no longer be on Checkpoint, but her new role will allow her to hide in cupboards around Radio NZ, surprising staff & guests
— James Macbeth Dann (@edmuzik) August 6, 2015
Not sure why people think politicians will sleep easier as Mary Wilson leaves Checkpoint, she'll be in charge of programmes! #doublethepower
— Belinda McCammon (@BelMcCammon) August 6, 2015
Others had slightly wider views of Radio New Zealand's role in New Zealand society. More than one commenter on Facebook suggested Radio New Zealand start its own TV channel.
Private sector market failure remedied by state sector intervention https://t.co/LYyYf5NWEO
— Edward Willis (@retrospectivman) August 6, 2015
So @JohnJCampbell is joining @rnz_news for a drive time programme. Don't all their listeners already take the bus?
— Hamish Price (@hamishpricenz) August 6, 2015
because everyone is retweeting this and I don't want #fomo https://t.co/KnnoGN8JMR
— Kate Robertson (@Kate_Robertson_) August 6, 2015
I'm happy for him of course. But cramming all the talent inside RNZ is both dangerous and a diminishing return. https://t.co/pzKdHnnnli
— Giovanni Tiso (@gtiso) August 6, 2015
Not everyone is happy though. Over on Stuff.co.nz, a commenter asked if his new show would be as "soppy and left wing as his TV show, boring/yawn."
"He's lucky to get another job in any media because, to me, he is a poor interviewer," said another. "All you ever know at the end of the interview is what he thinks. Paul Henry leaves him for dead in that regard."
So now @radionz daytime is white bloke + white woman, white woman, news, white bloke, white bloke, white bloke?
— Grumpy (@GrumpyYetAmusin) August 6, 2015
As the man said: more journalism to follow.
Dear Everyone Who's Offered Such Kindness Over The Past Months, just to say I'm going to RNZ. Details, & journalism, follow! Thank you, all!
— John Campbell (@JohnJCampbell) August 6, 2015
