A discussion on the media

Written By: - Date published: 10:32 am, January 18th, 2015 - 24 comments
Categories: blogs, journalism, Media - Tags: , ,

The team at Scoop are running a series called “The State of the NZ News Media – A Public Conversation”.

The first piece, by Scoop Editor Alistair Thompson, is called “Reinventing News As A Public Right – A Public Conversation”.

The second, by Alison McCulloch, is “Stop The Press”.

Both are well worth a read, of course, and they also invite us to join the discussion via a mailing list. The future of Scoop (Operation Chrysalis – “Reinventing Scoop Together”) is a particular focus.

(Just while we’re on the subject of media, no doubt Cameron Slater’s new media venture will see the light of day at some point – see Pete George’s “Freed from what?”)


And just while we’re passing…

https://twitter.com/ow/status/556545199258611712

24 comments on “A discussion on the media ”

  1. Skinny 1

    A lot of people are tuning out from the media they don’t read, watch or listen to what’s happening outside of their own world. I questioned a guy that I knew deliberately switches off to the news media. He raised some relevant points about it’s usually grim etc. I guess there would be a connection to people not bothering to vote and general apathy on issues.

    • Macro 1.1

      I stopped watching TV 4 years ago, and haven’t read a NZ newspaper in years. Doesn’t stop me voting though.

    • Tom Jackson 1.2

      Well, perhaps people are taking a more realistic attitude towards NZ media. Globalisation means that the real decisions are taken overseas, so John Key is really nothing more significant than the governor of the equivalent of Kentucky or British Columbia, or perhaps the mayor of a reasonably large metro area.

      If you’ve ever lived in one of these places, the media is usually third rate and obsessed with the things that matter at that regional level of politics and the stuff that interests the local hayseeds and regional bigwigs. In short it looks a lot like the NZ media – even down to the horrible, ill-fitting clothes worn by the news anchors.

      There’s plenty of real news. It’s just covered in foreign papers.

    • Colonial Rawshark 1.3

      The MSM only speaks largely to the top 20% of NZers nowadays, and renders most other people invisible. Thousand dollar gowns at the Ellerslie races any one? How about that nice show on how to do up and sell your rental property in Parnell for a good little profit? And all the gourmet cooking shows! Families I know who are trying to keep their grocery bills under $150/week watch those all the time, for their relevance.

      Although to be fair, if you are poor and you are Maori, you’ll get some MSM focus whenever there is a gang altercation or case of benefit fraud.

  2. adam 2

    Do you think they will take a submission that the are nothing more than propaganda, and should just call it a day? Nah probably not.

    There is no 4th estate in NZ

    There are no milk cows on our farms

    There is no depression in NZ

    we can all keep perfectly calm…

  3. Herodotus 3

    Scoop (Alistair T) have done some great work here.
    IMO what is really lacking in our media is some good political satirists with a suitable platform to air their work. As it is far more damaging belittling the actions our leaders and government with the cleaver use of humour. Instead we get feed a stage managed 20-30 sec sound bite that has been prepared by the PR keepers and delivered by S&W impersonators. e.g. the release of John Keys diary !!!
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11366197
    “..Yesterday I misunderstood the question when I was asked what day it was.
    I should have said Monday but as usual the media were up to their old tricks, and twisted my words. What I’d said to them was, “At the end of the day it’s not Monday.” Which is correct, because at the stroke of midnight or just after, it’s Tuesday…”
    Cutting, relevant and sums this up 🙂

  4. I find the TV news unwatchable, trite, and infested by empty-headed narcissists. At least newspapers still report stories with minimal parading of the reporter’s ego in front of a camera.

  5. Lanthanide 5

    Given that about 90% of “live crosses” don’t actually serve any purpose in reporting the news, one has to wonder how much longer they’ll go on for when it boils down to a reporter standing in front of a building with a phone on a selfie stick.

    • tracey 5.1

      we got by without “live” crosses when I was young… you had the news reader and a tape that got played. Fewer people in front of cameras and more focus on news (not opinion) behind the camera.

  6. Truth Will Out 6

    It doesn’t help that the so-called opposition parties present bugger all opposition to some of the issues which the Key led regime need to be called out on.

    A very good example was South Canterbury Finance.

    Labour stayed quiet on that due to a combination of political expediency and highly risk averse political strategy.

    The whole process was a complete farce and has been utterly riddled with conflicts of interest, and the standard cronyism and corruption which surrounds everything Key touches.

    But where was Labour on it?

    Hiding in the corner, pretending it wasn’t happening.

    Same with the banks, utterly rorting this country and exploiting the financial illiteracy of the masses.

    And where is Labour on it?

    Morphing into National-lite with their silence, presenting no opposition.

    When Dirty Politics came along, the media ran with it and Key took a hiding.

    Key and his acolytes can claim all they like that it had no effect, but Key’s own reactions reveal the degree to which it rattled them.

    And the MSM were not entirely kind to him over it either, backed into corners themselves because their own support for him ran out of corners to hide in due to the sheer distastefulness of his actions and his relationship with an obviously psychotic blogger.

    So the fact is that if the opposition parties actually challenged a lot more of the crap that has gone on (and is going on) around Key, the MSM would almost certainly have no choice but to run with it.

    Even the Editor of the Herald described the Sky City deal as John Key running a banana republic without the banana’s, so it is fair to say they do not always do him favours.

    The media has SOME of the current state of affairs to answer for, but not all of it.

    The fact is they may have little choice but to manufacture news in the vacuum created by the opposition’s consistent unwillingness to oppose many of the things which are really screwing New Zealanders.

    Labour could help themselves by giving the MSM some meat to actually sink their teeth into.

    Watching so many people wringing their hands in this forum, claiming that Labour is somehow a perpetual victim of the MSM, is frankly intellectually dishonest.

    Labour is a bigger victim of it’s own unwillingness to present strident opposition to Key’s consistent erosion of democracy and the integrity of our systems of government and justice.

    It could just be that the MSM is waiting for Labour and the other so-called opposition parties to do their jobs, which is to actively oppose Key and what he is doing, emphatically.

  7. dave 7

    New Zealand media are crap why would we waste our time or viewing to give these want to be never to be any ratings at all until they start doing there jobs properly give harger his own show and let him loose. then there might be something worth watching.

  8. Weepus beard 8

    I’m starting to rethink my opinion of Pete George.

    He simply cannot be pinned down. Argumentative, fiercely independent, and sometimes infuriatingly obtuse. Also, ultra-political, but strangely unbranded by either the right or the left.

    He seems to get an earful from all sides but that does not dampen his enthusiasm one bit.

    Perhaps he really does just want to clean up government.

    • Colonial Rawshark 8.1

      😯

      • Weepus beard 8.1.1

        Lol. I can understand your shock but he doesn’t just micro-argue topics here, it’s all over the place.

        And he hates Slater with as much passion as he’s able to muster, so in my book he’s ok.

        • Murray Rawshark 8.1.1.1

          Hating Slug Boy does rate as a positive. I thought his piece on Freed was OK, but I couldn’t bring myself to comment and encourage him. That probably says something about me 🙂

          Scoop runs some interesting stuff. Stuff doesn’t run interesting scoops. I’ll try to support Scoop in some way.

        • Pete George 8.1.1.2

          I don’t hate Slater. I agree with some of what he says and commend him for some of what he has achieved. But I hold him to account, which I think is important for someone who rates himself as the biggest baddest blogger around with even bigger ambitions.

          This post on possible ‘pay for post’ is more important (but has implications for Freed): Curious – Whale Oil versus Uber post

          Ironically I pinged mickysavage for overplaying ‘Dirty Politics’ this morning and he missed this which could be much closer to it.

          • Weepus beard 8.1.1.2.1

            Yes. I noticed that too, although forgot quite quickly with the kids’ summer holidays being in full swing.

            Even the titles one week to the next were enough for any observer to be suspicious that Slater had done a complete about face on Uber having been paid to do so.

            PG, I know you don’t want to necessarily be known for it, but Slaterwatch is a venerable pursuit in today’s New Zealand and you have a talent for it.

            Also, I’m not as charitable as you on Slater. I do hate him because I think he promotes societal hate and division for his own profit.

  9. Bunnykinz 10

    A political journalist admitting that the political media singles out only one party for scrutiny:
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/65159674/a-gameplan-that-may-just-work-for-little

    The horrible thing is that she doesn’t seem to have an issue with a supposed independent media acting as National’s attack dogs.

    • tracey 10.1

      It is an odd mixture of an article… I read it yesterday and couldn’t quite work out if she was taking a stance or not.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • EV road user charges bill passes
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April.  “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Bill targets illegal, unregulated fishing in international waters
    New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Reserve Bank appointments
    Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates.  Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Stronger protections for apartment owners
    Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Travel focused on traditional partners and Middle East
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend.    “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says.   Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Keep safe on our roads this Easter
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Cost of living support for over 1.4 million Kiwis
    About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Tenancy reviews for social housing restart
    Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary plan halted
    The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Cutting all that dam red tape
    Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track.  “Dam safety regulations ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Drought support extended to parts of North Island
    The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Passage of major tax bill welcomed
    The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Lifting economy through science, tertiary sectors
    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government announces Budget priorities
    The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.  The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government to consider accommodation solution
    The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Government approves extension to Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care
    Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says.                                         “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • $18m boost for Kiwis travelling to health treatment
    The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says.   “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • PM’s Prizes for Space to showcase sector’s talent
    The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Concerns conveyed to China over cyber activity
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government.     “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry
    Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function.  The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Brynderwyns open for Easter
    State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech to the Infrastructure Funding & Financing Conference
    Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Parliamentary network breached by the PRC
    New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to provide support for Solomon Islands election
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ-EU FTA gains Royal Assent for 1 May entry to force
    The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union.    “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • COVID-19 inquiry attracts 11,000 submissions
    Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says.  “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Families to receive up to $75 a week help with ECE fees
    Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Unlocking a sustainable, low-emissions future
    A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Chief of Army thanked for his service
    Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders
    25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government commits nearly $3 million for period products in schools
    Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech – Making it easier to build.
    Good morning, it’s great to be here.   First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning.  I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Pacific youth to shine from boost to Polyfest
    Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • 2024 Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships announced
    ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Breast Cancer Foundation – Insights Conference
    Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Kiwi research soars to International Space Station
    New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to the New Zealand Planning Institute
    Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Support for Northland emergency response centre
    The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed.  “Northland has faced a number ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Celebrating 20 years of Whakaata Māori
    New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Some commercial fishery catch limits increased
    Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-29T15:22:47+00:00