Each week on Dan News’ 11 Questions, we shine a light on the people shaping the media industry. From their inspirations and career highlights to their views on where the sector is headed, the series offers an insight into what makes them tick.
Broadcaster Wallace Chapman reflects on nearly three decades in media, from a chance start at Dunedin’s Radio One to career highlights like interviewing Dame Vera Lynn, sharing inspirations from creative radio pioneers to RNZ’s young reporters, and weighing in on the fast-changing industry and the role of AI.
When did you first become interested in media, and why?
I fell into it …I never had my eyes on media, but I was on a walking stick with a rare disease (Gaucher disease) in Dunedin, on the benefit, volunteered for Radio One in Dunedin – applied for a job there – And I really flew in the role. That was 1996 – I’ve been in media full time since then!
Who are some people you admire or look up to as role models, either in your career or in life in general?
I guess some of the bFM crew when I worked there. It was a height of creativity – Bill Kerton, Bob Kerrigan, Mikey and Jeremy. Also the young reporters and journos and Presenters at RNZ. Full of fire and passion. Incredible. Paul Henry and Pam Corkery on talkback, at the top of their game were very inspiring.
It’s an old question, but I love it: If you were to invite four people to dinner (living or dead), who would you choose and why?
Noam Chomsky, JD Vance, Jacinda Ardern, Slash. THERE’S a dinner party.
What is a memory from your career so far that will stick with you well after you retire?
Interviewing Dame Vera Lynn. I really felt I was talking to 20th C history. Was quite surreal. Silver medal for Best Talk Show Host at the New York Radio Awards, for RNZ was something. An afternoon out with Sir Bob Jones for my Radio Live show – El Vino, books, conversation, no seatbelt wearing. Crazy times.
Tell us some of your interests outside of work.
I love NZ art – contemporary and old. Follow it closely.
What is your favourite movie and television show? (I’ll allow you to choose a runner-up for both… just to be nice.)
Favourite show The Wire. Runner up – Adolescence. THE most extraordinary series for our times. Local: Neighbours at War.
What are some of your most played songs?
Gimme the Night – George Benson. California – TuPac. Keith Jarrett – almost always on.
Give us a random or weird fact that people may not know about you.
David Bain was around at my flat in Dunedin recording music with friends on the Friday evening before that fateful Monday morning.
A couple of harder ones. How would you describe the state of the media industry both locally and internationally at the moment, and do you have any suggestions about how things need to change?
What else to say. It’s a challenge. I’ve been in media 29 years full time, and rate of change is at pace. Much of this question has already been discussed – I just want to acknowledge the extraordinary work across platform,s papers and sites. The output and the great listening, watching and great reading is inspiring.
Where do you see AI fitting into a modern media industry? What do you personally see as the advantages and disadvantages of its use?
AI is influencing every sector – education, to architecture, to media and beyond. I do sometimes think the AI revolution gets overcooked a bit. It’s a bigger tool, sure. But, a tool. Linguist Noam Chomsky summed AI up as “a lumbering statistical engine for pattern matching, gorging on hundreds of terabytes of data. “The human mind is in contrast – “a surprisingly efficient and even elegant system that operates with small amounts of information.” There is hope human thinking will prevail.
Who from the industry would you like to see answering these eleven questions?
Mikey Havoc.
(Mikey, we will be in touch!)
Wallace Chapman is the host of The Panel on RNZ National from 6pm weekdays, including a new Politics Panel on Wednesdays. www.rnz.co.nz/thepanel
To our readers: Who would you like to see answering 11 Questions? Send us your ideas — or have a go at answering them yourself.
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