UN press discovers Helengrad

Former NZ PM and Life Member of the Order of Control Freaks Helen Clark has formally introduced herself to the international press. Seems that some UN watchers are getting ropey with the lack of communication from the new head of the UNDP. Aside from photo ops and press releases for Africa, Heather Simpson maintains Cerberus-like protection of Frau Clark from independent media.

While DPF and Madame Prawn have a go at it, I wondered whether this was just a journo with an axe to grind or was there something to it. After all, Clark can't be that unworldwise. How uncosmopolitan of her, eh. But after wading through screeds of press releases, I found proof. There's Helen's Red Right Hand all over this:

For The Record provides official responses to inaccurate press reports on the work of UNDP. If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Communications at 212-906-5382.

Up until April this year, there were three or four official replies every month in response to "inaccurate media". There's one in June and that's it. No more. Finito, Benito.

Congratulations to members of the United Nations press gallery. Now you know what we had to put up with for nine long years.