NewstalkZB's political editor Barry Soper talks to Frank Ritchie about his 40 year career as a political journalist in New Zealand. Photo: Stephanie Soh
A very fortunate case of mistaken identity in 1991 culminated in Barry Soper introducing then-NZ Prime Minister Jim Bolger to Nelson Mandela at a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
The chance meeting led to breakfast and several more encounters with the legendary anti-apartheid activist, culminating in a lifelong fascination with the man who’d go on to become South Africa’s first president.
In this conversation with broadcaster and media chaplain Rev Frank Ritchie, Barry discusses his rendezvous with world leaders, his years holding the powerful to account, and the changing face of journalism.
re_covering is a Media Chaplaincy New Zealand podcast series produced for RNZ by Love It Media.
Listen free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Google Podcasts or any good podcast app.
