Stuff and RNZ release new crime podcast

MEDIA RELEASE
Monday, 25 June - for immediate release

Stuff and RNZ release new crime podcast

Stuff and RNZ combine for a groundbreaking podcast investigation. In an eight-part series released today, Gone Fishing tells the story of a woman serving a life sentence for ordering the murder of a man. But she says she never even met him. In fact, she doesn’t think he was murdered at all.

Last year, Stuff cracked open the Bain murders in Black Hands, which became New Zealand's most successful podcast within just a few days of launching. And since starting a dedicated podcasts unit, RNZ has published more than 50 podcasts of their own, including the award-winning The 9th Floor and The Lost, which both also appeared on Stuff.

Now, in a new collaboration, Gone Fishing explores the story of Gail Maney, who is serving a life sentence for ordering the murder of Deane Fuller-Sandys who disappeared in 1989. Now out on parole, she continues to protest her innocence. Maney says she has never even met Fuller-Sandys. In fact, she doesn’t think he was murdered at all. She thinks he’d just… gone fishing.

“Gone Fishing is engrossing,” says Stuff Editor in Chief Patrick Crewdson. “It’s a fascinating story, deeply reported, and the audio is beautifully produced.”

The collaboration was instigated by senior Stuff journalist Amy Maas, who has recently returned to Stuff following a tenure as Auckland Bureau Chief at RNZ. Maas, along with senior Stuff journalist Adam Dudding, researched, wrote and narrated the episodes.

“Amy and Adam have produced a compelling piece of investigative journalism,” says Crewdson. “As well as examining the shady characters, conflicting stories and outright lies of the Deane Fuller-Sandys case, the podcast raises troubling questions about police methods and how some of the incriminating statements from witnesses were procured.”

Gone Fishing was recorded and mixed at RNZ’s Auckland studio with their expert hand over the audio production. Stuff led the digital production, creating an interactive page from which to experience the podcast, including extended video, maps, a timeline and more.

“These partnerships with other media outlets don’t stop us competing for news, but pooling our diverse talents for these projects helps us tell powerful stories in bold new ways,” says Crewdson.

RNZ currently has more than 30 content sharing agreements with a range of media organisations.

“It’s great to be able to share our expertise in audio storytelling and the integrity and quality of RNZ journalism,” says Glen Scanlon, RNZ’s Head of News and Digital.

“Content-sharing agreements broaden the reach for independent journalism in a highly competitive media environment and we believe these kind of deals enhance our public media role and help meet our charter commitments by getting quality content in front of new audiences.

“This collaboration with Stuff reflects RNZ’s continuing dedication to partnerships with different media outlets.”

The first three episodes of the eight-part series were released today, with a new episode added daily till Saturday. The podcast is available on iTunes, Stitcher and Spotify, and the episodes will also be serialised at 8.30pm on RNZ Nights over the next two weeks.

There will be news and features on Stuff and on RNZ’s flagship news programmes, Morning Report and Checkpoint.

Find out more and listen to the podcast at: www.stuff.co.nz/gone-fishing

ENDS

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