To use an old but, nevertheless, true saying, it would never have happened in my day. 

I read with alarm the revelation that TVNZ, a place I have worked for a couple of times over the years, including starting the countries first TV breakfast show about a life time ago, has taken money from the Government. In this case, the money came from a Government energy agency and in return TVNZ produced so-called news stories about climate and climate change. 

The agency is the EECA, the Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority. They spent $300,000 and, in return, got a prime time climate special, a bunch of online content on the TV1 news page, five specific articles on the TV1 website and five social media posts. 

The breakfast show I once started and hosted gave out five interviews with a series of so-called experts and, indeed, they got an interview on Seven Sharp, another show I once hosted. 

So, a Government agency can hand over money and get on the news by doing so. If that isn't a scam and a scandal I don’t know what is. 

The defence was that in the corner of the screen was some sort of recognition that the EECA was involved. 

In my 42 years in this industry, that does not even come close to covering your badly exposed arse. 

Part of the trouble here is that the media has never been more under scrutiny and it is this very sort of thing that gives the critics all the material they need. 

Of course, it's made worse that it's a Government department handing over taxpayers money to a Government run media outlet, the same outlet that the same Government was desperate to merge with its Government radio station. 

That was the same merger that in its rules of engagement, as pointed out by the former TVNZ CEO no less, had editorial independence further down the list of priorities than it already was. 

You can't claim editorial independence, you can't defend and get exercised about editorial independence as so much of the media have these past handful of tumultuous years, if you are for sale to the Government who get to buy your content for $300,000. 

Yes, money is tight. The media are in the gun financially, sponsorship and partnerships are real and well established and, to be blunt, most welcome. 

But that’s not what we are talking about here. No one buys an interview on this show. Never have, never will. 

I would have said the same thing when I was at TVNZ and when I was at TVNZ the thought would have horrified us. I can hand on heart say I would not have touched it with a barge pole. 

So yes, it would not have happened in my day.