Written By: - Date published: 3:30 pm, May 17th, 2008 - 47 comments
Categories: blogs, interview, Media -
Tags: darren hughes, dpf, jo de joux, russel norman, the standard
As The Standard has grown, we’ve started to receive inquires from the media and requests for a comment or interview. We’ve been a bit hesitant about what to do in this regard. On the one hand, like most bloggers, we blog under pseudonyms and we believe what’s important is the writing and the arguments, not who’s doing the typing, but that’s not really compatible with doing media work. On the other hand, we value media coverage of what we do and the ideas we present. We want to make the most of it, so it seems silly to refuse to deal with the media.
So, we decided we should have someone with their real name public for media stuff and anything else that comes up. Seeing as I’m doing the bulk of the posts, the job came to me.
Gidday, I’m Clinton Smith. I’ll be The Standard’s spokesperson. At least, until I really screw up or get caught in a ‘pageviews for sex’ scandal.
I’ll continue blogging under my pseudonym.
I did my first interview for a National Radio piece on politics and the Internet along with Darren Hughes, Russel Norman, David Farrar and Jo de Joux. It’s a good piece, put together by Kate Williamson, which gives an overview of the Internet in politics with some really interesting comments from the interviewees.
[PS. as the Kiwiblog Right has already googled me and found out: yes, that's me in the EFB video, in my pre-Standard days - I stand by what I said that day: I'm not a Labour activist (or an activist for any party) and democracy should be a contest of ideas, not who has the deepest wallet]
Facebook
Twitter
Scoopit!
Steve W:
If you check back in the old posts last year, you’ll find that wasn’t always the case.
The moderators and I got tired of reading trivia and started dragging the site to a higher standard. I’ve seen the process operate in a number of forums over the years.
It is just a matter of having some reasonably clear guidelines about what will be acceptable and what won’t. Then you have to be as persistent as a programmer weeding out bugs. What I’m after is an environment where people can agree to disagree, and have the room to explain why without being shouted down.
Russell Brown described it perfectly in terms of outcomes. With apologies for the gender differentiation. You find a much higher proportion of women start participating when they feel the environment is more secure. Similarly you find the average age of participants increases. That also means you start getting a broader spectrum of views.
Now if we could just produce some hard core female programmers…. But that is another discussion.
Billy: “I meant the old thread of Steve’s speech.”
http://www.thestandard.org.nz/?p=764
A good example of what started to drive me crazy. That was actually one of the better comment threads. There were a higher proportion of interesting comments. It seems so ‘dated’ reading it now.
Sorry guys – did jump the gun a bit there
.
tiger – I do understand the anger, believe me!
It’s ironic that with all the accusations that flew about Labour being anti free speech it was the National supporters in that video preventing him from talking.
Hi Steve Pierson
I don’t understand why in the stuff article it says you never voted Labour? Have you never voted before or did you use to vote for another party…?
Confused reaader.
Although I suspect you are trolling Alex, I can answer that one. Many of the writers on the Standard don’t vote Labour. I suggest you read our “about” page and pay particular attention to the “political angle” section.
lprent: “The national party in particular was formed to oppose the labour movement and that still seems to be its sole reason for existence.”
Have to disagree with you there Lynn. You’d have to say that National’s history of defending entrenched wealth and vested interests is exemplary, and that doesn’t always necessarily involve attacking workers’ interests.
Sometimes the Nats have a (small) spasm of liberal conscience too, and introduce something like the Human Rights Commission Act 1977, but they quickly make up for that.
Alex, there are other alternatives on the left for whom to vote. One could even vote for the government in 2002 by voting Progressive, knowing that one’s vote would help seat Matt Robson, well to the laft of most of the Labour MPs.
It’s great to see Clinton Smith stepping forward and giving the Standard a figure head. Sure, I understand the reasons for and against anonymity but it?s nice to see someone who is proud of their views and willing to publically stand up for them.
It’s also good to see that so many of the readers and commenters here are willing to put some thought and consideration into their respective arguments and avoid the ‘knee-jerk’ closed mindedness I’ve seen reading other political blogs.
Great Stuff
take the money and run kid…here have a cigar while I call a cab
hey steve…heres a free lesson if you want to get famous…read a book on lens sizes for shooting close ups and demand the news crew always finishes the closing shot in a “Warner Bros” closeup with the right lens so it is cyrstal clear and cuts off the hairline for maximum impact. like johnny boy hmmmmmmmmm.I think he must have friends in the media?
I hope your (voluntary) unmasking doesn’t create any problems for you Clinton, I wonder how long it will take everyone to stop calling you Steve?