A tale of two journalists

Written By: - Date published: 8:59 am, March 2nd, 2014 - 111 comments
Categories: broadcasting, david cunliffe, john key, news, poverty, tv - Tags:

All is not well in the current state of NZ broadcasting.  Trisha Dunleavey of Victoria university has a very good article on Open Democracy (24 February 2014), on the past and possible future of NZ public broadcasting.  The article is promoted thus:

In the sorry book on Public Service Broadcasting’s travails world-wide in the age of neo-Liberalism, New Zealand occupies chapter one. There the undermining of the BBC look-alike NZBC began early. The attack really got underway with a wave of reform in 1988-1991. And it ain’t over yet.

Dunleavy ends the article looking towards the election later this year, hoping that public broadcasting will become an election issue, with Labour and the Greens leading the way.

Nowhere is the public service broadcasting ethos more needed than in the realms of mainstream news and current events. A tale brief tale of two journalists provides an indication of everything that is wrong with the current state of NZ’s television news.

Patrick Gower is an example of all that is wrong: desperate for sensationalist type headlines. Gower does little to enlighten viewers about the important issues.  Yesterday David Cunliffe did an excellent job of responding to Gower’s questions.

Rob Salmond nails it on his Polity blog, with this brief statement:

My only concern with the Cunliffe interview was that so much time was spent exploring post-election coalition minutae, which I’m sure Paddy knew no leader was going to get into on live TV before the election had been held. That left precious little time to discuss Labour’s wide-ranging plans to improve life for New Zealand families, which I think is a shame.

Cunliffe did manage to provide some clear statements on the values and issues important to him: for instance, about being different for John key even though both are very well off: Cunliffe will not pull the ladder up after him, unlike Key, and will continue to work for those struggling on low incomes.

Around 11.50 minutes into the video, Gower asks Cunliffe about his house:

CUNLIFFE: Well, that was in relation to John Key.  Probably not my best line, because the fact is we’ve both done bloody well. And we both started from humble beginnings. My dad was a country parson.  he grew up in a state house. I benefitted from the opportunities that a good state education system gave me.  And a health care system that looked after my dad when he had a series of heart attacks and nearly died. [Gower tries to interrupt – Cunliffe continues] But the difference between us is this: I’m not knocking the Salvation Army; I’m not cancelling state houses [Gower tries to interrupt again] in my own electorate.  What I’m doing is saying I want the ladder there for everybody else [Gower: “Yeah and no-one is…” ] and Mr Key’s government is pulling the ladder up.

GOWER: No one is denying that. But what you also are doing is attacking the prime minister for living in a nice house in a nice street

CUNLIFFE: Look, if I had my time again, Paddy, honestly, that would not be a line that I would use.  So fair cop, I’ve learned from that.  It was in the context of a debate, in the House, where the prime minister was dumping on the Salvation Army’s annual report on poverty, and I thought it was a bit rich. That’s why I got tempted.  I shouldn’t have.

Later that day, on TV3’s evening news, Gower then, went on to do a misleading and misrepresentative report drawing on his earlier interview. He focused on Cunliffe’s wealth, and his alleged hypocrisy in criticizing John Key for being wealthy. The TV3 News anchor begins by framing the report saying Cunliffe has been “forced” to admit he made a mistake. Then Gower:

Cunliffe admits that he got it wrong for attacking the prime minister with his nice house when he’s got one himself.

Then there’s very edited clips of Cunliffe saying the line about Key was not a good one to use.  However, any reference to the context of Key’s attacks on the Salvation army’s report on poverty have been deleted.  Gower makes it all about Cunliffe’s house. Ultimately, Gower is running National Party lines for them.

Contrast Gower’s approach, with that of Rachel Smalley.  Smalley was once tipped as a tough but fair interviewer, who probed politicians on significant issues when she started on TV3 news and current events shows.  This week on the NZ Herald, she explains her reasons for leaving TV3:

“I didn’t feel that there was any desire to invest in women in senior primetime roles and I knew I couldn’t keep doing those hours. So I was at a real crossroads. I was frustrated.

[…]

“The reality with TV is it can sometimes be like working in a crack den because there’s so much paranoia swirling around the corridors and there’s a lot of patch protection. And that’s quite exhausting.” She attributed that to new shows and uncertainty in the world of current affairs. “And that’s the environment you’re going into every day. It can be quite lonely, I think, working in television.”

She described herself as “purist journo” who was in the business because she loved knowing things – not the recognition – which in her opinion isn’t always the case in television.

“There’s a lot of people coming into media now, particularly TV … and the reality is a lot coming into TV now really should apply for X-Factor because they want the celebrity and the fame that goes with it,” Smalley said.

When need true public service broadcasting, where the likes of Smalley can does interviews that enlighten and inform the public, not, as Gower seeks to do, manipulate views.

111 comments on “A tale of two journalists ”

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  1. mickysavage 1
    2 March 2014 at 9:10 am

    Good post Karol. I thought the interview itself showed Cunliffe at his best and he really dominated Gower. Then when I saw the clip and the story I could not believe it. The spin is strong in this one …

    • Saarbo 1.1
      2 March 2014 at 9:58 am

      Gower’s 6.00pm news article was cynical but very much par for the course for Patrick Gower. I expect this type of thing from Gower after what I witnessed at the 2012 Conference debacle.

      Also what was interesting was the host of The Nation(al) stated at the start of the show that “The Nation(al) was NEW AND IMPROVED”…which I think was a veiled attack on Rachel Smalley who everyone knows is FAR superior to Patrick Gower. Gower is a disgrace to New Zealand journalism, Key’s little lap dog.

      • phillip ure 1.1.1
        2 March 2014 at 10:49 am

        really..a pox on both their houses..

        ..in many past reviews of the nation..i have found good reasons to castigate smalley for woefully inept performances..

        ..and gowers’ effort in this one i reckon should go into media schools..

        ..as an example of how not to conduct an interview..

        ..phillip ure..

        • karol 1.1.1.1
          2 March 2014 at 6:15 pm

          Smalley looked really promising when she started for TV3, Newsline and The Nation, but her performance after that was patchy. I wonder if it was due to the guidelines she was given from her managers? I’ll be watching to see how she goes in her new job.

          However, I also thought her article about why she left TV3 goes some way to explaining Gower’s dodgy journalism. As Smalley explains, it doesn’t seem to be about informing people, but is more like some, individualistic, reality TV ethos.

          • phillip ure 1.1.1.1.1
            2 March 2014 at 6:35 pm

            yeah..i also thought smalley ‘showed promise’ at first..

            ..i dunno what happened..

            ..but her pitiful/pandering-to-govt-ministers/look-at-me!-i’m-a-well-behaved ‘acceptable-gatekeeper’/i-won’t-ask-any-awkward-questions! efforts on the nation last yr..

            ..pretty much had me bouncing off the walls..

            ..phillip ure

    • David H 1.2
      2 March 2014 at 10:20 am

      Is there no way to complain about the ‘editing of the story’ to give a totally different outlook.. Or can Cunliffe just Ban Gower from ALL Labour news conferences. But TV3 really need to detract and apologise to him for the misleading story.

  2. BM 2
    2 March 2014 at 9:32 am

    Cunliffe has obviously done something to really piss off Gower.
    What ever it is he needs to get it sorted other wise he’s boned.

    With the witch hunt which is currently happening within tvnz, labour will be struggling to get any positive media output.

    Not the best situation to be in, especially in a election year.

    • Ant 2.1
      2 March 2014 at 9:48 am

      I think he just wants a scalp, he got a taste of some success when he ran the story at the conference and got Cunliffe demoted. Now he thinks he can go all the way.

      Similar to Garner’s vendetta against Chris Carter.

    • Lanthanide 2.2
      2 March 2014 at 9:55 am

      “Cunliffe has obviously done something to really piss off Gower.”

      Lead a party that is against National, presumably. TV3 has always shown clear bias in their political reporting, first with Duncan Garner and now his understudy Gower.

      • BM 2.2.1
        2 March 2014 at 10:00 am

        What about Campbell live, that’s heavily biased to the left.

        I do remember that Clark got a fairly easy ride and they were’nt particularly harsh on Shearer either.

        So I don’t think you can say TV3 has always shown clear bias in their political reporting

        • Saarbo 2.2.1.1
          2 March 2014 at 10:03 am

          Don’t know about that, what did Helen Clark call Campbell after the Corn Gate ambush?

          • BM 2.2.1.1.1
            2 March 2014 at 10:06 am

            One rough interview in nine years = fairly easy ride.

            • Lanthanide 2.2.1.1.1.1
              2 March 2014 at 10:17 am

              It’s very easy to wave your hand and say “oh, they had an easy time with the media” from a vantage where you were never specifically monitoring the media coverage they received during the time. It was 5+ years ago, after all.

              • phillip ure …
                2 March 2014 at 10:59 am

                @ lanth..

                ..i do monitor the media..

                ..and have done so pretty much every day since 2005..

                ..and the clark govt..(tho’ i could criticise it for a raft of perceived ‘sins’/fails..and often do..)..

                ..it was not given an easy ride by the media..

                ..especially in contrast with the craven/unquestioning-obeisance shown to key/this govt..

                ..by almost all the media..

                ..for going on six years now..

                ..and this historical/institutional-knowledge from this media-monitoring –

                is also why i was so gobsmacked recently at the calls for trawling back thru the interviews for hints/evidence of ‘leftwing-bias’ by the recently fired head of the maori tv dept @ tvnz..

                ..i mean..f.f.s..!!

                ..how could they possibly have kept straight faces..

                ..while making those calls/claims..?

                ..phillip ure..

        • Lanthanide 2.2.1.2
          2 March 2014 at 10:05 am

          I was referring to TV3 news rather than the entirety of TV3, should have made that clearer.

      • Saarbo 2.2.2
        2 March 2014 at 10:00 am

        3ox News.

      • Blue 2.2.3
        2 March 2014 at 3:52 pm

        Actually, I don’t think Paddy is a partisan National hack. I don’t think he really cares about politics per se, and he doesn’t have the brains for it. He’s just a sensationalist drama queen.

        It’s much easier to score hits on the Opposition than the Government, and Paddy is just going for the free hit. John Key doesn’t have to talk to him, Cunliffe does. It’s far easier to line up the bat with Cunliffe’s head.

        It’s not exactly responsible to kick the shit out of the Opposition while giving the Government of the day a free pass, but that doesn’t seem to bother Paddy’s bosses.

        • felix 2.2.3.1
          2 March 2014 at 5:47 pm

          This.

        • karol 2.2.3.2
          2 March 2014 at 6:21 pm

          Gower is more about his own ego and career ambitions.

          However, now he also has some history re-Cunliffe, having thought he’d seen him off after the Labour Party conference reporting the year before last. He seems to keep looking for some (relatively trivial) angle to smear Cunliffe with, and seems to have little interest in policies and the general values of various parties.

          • North 2.2.3.2.1
            2 March 2014 at 10:19 pm

            Poor Potty Gower having failed painfully in the “fine-figure-of-an-individual” stakes allays his lifelong burden with an extraordinary narcissism which says he is a major part of every story. All of this manifested in his cheap obfuscating tabloidism. A dangerous fool.

  3. ianmac 3
    2 March 2014 at 9:43 am

    At the start of that TV3 News item they played the wrong (accidentally?) clip which showed David getting his point across. Then suddenly the screen goes blank for half a minute. Followed by the heavily edited Gower anti-Cunliffe clip.
    And yes having watched the full interview Gower/Cunliffe, it was almost criminal for a supposedly neutral supposed journalist, to edit so unprofessionally.

    • ianmac 3.1
      2 March 2014 at 9:50 am

      I notice that the official link does not show the initial clip that was shown in error which showed David giving good account of himself.

  4. Tim 4
    2 March 2014 at 9:50 am

    Clever lady that Trish D – I hope she’s one involved when it comes time to reconstruct Public Service Television in NZ

    • TightyRighty 4.1
      2 March 2014 at 11:46 am

      you mean sell it? it’s not public service if it’s riddled with partisan lefties.

  5. David H 5
    2 March 2014 at 10:24 am

    Or a blanket ban on TV3 until it’s sorted out. No interviews or anything and the same reason given, the lying Gower MUST apologise. I expect Matt Macarten will be on this very quickly.

    • TightyRighty 5.1
      2 March 2014 at 11:48 am

      hahahaha. great media strategy you have there. you are a fucking genius. that will absolutely help Labour win this year, by shutting out the largest non publicly owned broadcaster in the country as he gave your leader a rough ride. toughen up.

      It’ll be interesting to see russell norman take cunliffes place in the TV3 leaders debate. better for cunliffe though, seeing russell get taken down by john key instead of him self.

    • PapaMike 5.2
      2 March 2014 at 2:33 pm

      Is Matt the new Labour Leader already ?
      Why is the media taking the shine off David C in favour of Matt ?
      Or is Matt not Chief of Staff ?

  6. newsense 6
    2 March 2014 at 11:00 am

    If you want to make the news you must do something controversial…either clock Gower if you want the publicity or get Matt to do it later if you don’t…

  7. Clemgeopin 7
    2 March 2014 at 12:13 pm

    It is a shame that the so called ‘journalists’ like Gower are so shallow in their job. They should be presenting issues related to economic, social and environmental policies of the parties, so that the voters have a better understanding of how to vote more effectively in a democracy. Voters depend on the news provided by the journalists.

    When these two bit media personalities spend their time with trivialities and headline grabbing crap news stuff, it is a sad disservice from the important branch of democracy, the fourth estate, and not a worth while service at all. A pity!

    Gower has turned into a biased, shameless, nasty vermin masquerading as a ‘journalist’. He is doing much harm to himself, to journalism, to news and to TV3. I am sure most people will soon realise, if they haven’t already, that Gower is just crap.

  8. aerobubble 8
    2 March 2014 at 12:26 pm

    Key attacks Labour about hiring a unionist and how Cunliffe lives in top notch
    home. Sorry, is Key attacking Labour for being too far left or too far right?

    Cunliffe was there when Labour went neo, McCarten was there with the Alliance.
    Geez, and Key knows what exactly? That Labour have the widest possible church
    and Key only represents glib vain envy — oh pooh pooh Cunliffe lives in a better
    house than poor little Key.

    • tamati 8.1
      2 March 2014 at 3:58 pm

      So everyone who lives in a flash house is a Tory and every who lives in a scummy flat is a socialist?

    • Rodel 9.1
      2 March 2014 at 11:10 pm

      Clemgeopin
      Thanks for that.
      Full marks to Cunliffe for keeping his cool and chuckling at Gower.
      Easy interview for Cunliffe though so I guess Gower had to edit it to salvage the ego.
      I think just laughing at him as DC did is a good strategy.

      • Clemgeopin 9.1.1
        2 March 2014 at 11:36 pm

        You are welcome.
        It was an interview that Mr Cunliffe did very well and the Gower sewer rat of a journalist did very badly.

        Mr Cunliffe=8/10
        Nasty Gower=1/10
        TV3=0/10

        • Rodel 9.1.1.1
          3 March 2014 at 10:16 pm

          Watched the interview and later Gower’s edited version. It really was shameful. Sadly we seem to be growing another mini Fox News unethical channel in New Zealand .

          • Clemgeopin 9.1.1.1.1
            3 March 2014 at 10:47 pm

            Yes, that is a shame, because in the past, it has had and still has some quite credible journalists, intelligent and erudite commentators with balanced opinions such as Bill Ralston, Colin James, Rachel Smalley, Brian Edwards, John Campbell etc. Unfortunately they also have some biased, completely nasty crap sewer vermin, pricks like Patrick Gower amidst them!

  10. anker 10
    2 March 2014 at 1:04 pm

    Yes I watched David’s superb performance on yesterdays the Nation. Perfection.

    I was gobsmacked to see the edited version on t.v. news that night. I emailed tv 3 news and made a complaint. Probably will have new impact at all, but felt at least I was doing something. I would encourage others to so as well.

    I am hoping enough people saw the full interview to have a good impact. I have never doubted for a moment that Cunliffe it the one to lead Labour. His appointment on McCarten and the Nation interview just confirmed it.

    Is there anyway we could gather up all of Gowers interview’s with Cunliffe etc and make a complaint to the broadcasting standards?

    • Paul 10.1
      2 March 2014 at 2:13 pm

      An online petition?

    • Skinny 10.2
      2 March 2014 at 2:24 pm

      Here is the funny thing and I know this to be true. Paddy was so annoyed Cunliffe dominated his grand entrance debut, fronting The Nation as interviewer, he tried getting his own back by editing the main 6pm New item himself. His sidekick who does the dirty editing wasn’t around was he Paddy! He was off to the Boss concert, that little glitch had me wondering and now the truth gets leaked out of TV3.

      Seems not everyone approves of ya style aye young Paddy my son. I hope someone films him entering TV3 HQ tomorrow. I bet his bottom lip will be hanging low to the ground. In trouble I hear, especially after a high number of formal complaints have been made to TV3. Maybe an apology is coming tonight or tomorrow? Watch this space!

      • felix 10.2.1
        2 March 2014 at 8:51 pm

        Enjoying your observations from inside the sausage factory. Keep them coming…

      • Clemgeopin 10.2.2
        3 March 2014 at 10:39 am

        I don’t think there was any apology or correction last night. Was there? I did not see the full news.

  11. blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 11
    2 March 2014 at 2:06 pm

    Thanks Karol for the excellent article – highlighting a real problem we are having here in NZ. A true public service broadcasting is what I would like to see too.

    I don’t like what TV3 News are doing and strongly recommend people to switch off or over to TV1 News – who do not show things in as much detail – yet at least manage some semblance of passing on the basic political issues going on in the country.

    in 2011, prior to the last election, I spent a hell of a lot of time viewing political shows on TV – the ‘experts’ on both sides of the political spectrum spent a lot of time sharing shallow opinions that anyone could muster up – and as you comment in your article – did not bother to focus the viewer on the policies or any ramifications of policies that any party was putting forward.

    I can have the types of discussions I viewed on TV within my own social circles – I switched on to view programmes to gain more knowledge and insight into what exactly I would be voting for – and I viewed programmes that were more akin to some opinionated commentary on the clothes, debating and personality styles of each politician, completely devoid of focus on what these politicians were planning to do to our country if elected.

    This was a really stink experience, this continues to be a really stink experience and I fail to understand the merit of such an approach to politics when sound democracy requires we make informed choices not those based on trivialities conjured up by the few apparently very shallow and easily distracted types who TV bosses deem to be mainstream enough to make it onto their pathetic ‘entertainment-masquerading-as-information’ shows that appear to be only really be aired to fill the gaps inbetween the advertisments.

  12. Clemgeopin 12
    2 March 2014 at 2:50 pm

    TV3 RESPONDS!

    I sent an email to TV3 news this morning stating my disgust at their 6 pm coverage of Cunliffe’s interview.

    To my surprise, I just received a fairly long reply/explanation/excuse from them!
    Unfortunately, I can not reproduce it here as there is a warning at the end of the letter that says,

    “This message is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited”.

    So, I suggest if you are interested, do complain about the news and Gower’s shocking coverage and read their response.

    Here is their complaint box:
    http://www.3news.co.nz/TVShows/3News/Contact.aspx

    • Zorr 12.1
      2 March 2014 at 4:32 pm

      Actually, that means that you are allowed to post it here. Just no-one else is. It is your information to do with as you wish.

    • Bill 12.2
      2 March 2014 at 4:34 pm

      Well, you are the intended recipient, yes? And the retransmission etc by anyone other than the intended recipient only pertains to confidential and/or privileged info. I’d suggest that since it ain’t no lawyers letter, that the ‘privileged’ can be dispensed with. And as for ‘confidential’, redact any email addresses (such as your own).

      Failing that, carefully (ie, accurately with intent to meaning) paraphrase the damned thing.

      • Clemgeopin 12.2.1
        2 March 2014 at 4:42 pm

        Ok, ok!

        Here is my letter to TV3:

        Hi,

        The interview on the Nation by Patrick Gower of Mr Cunliffe was good, but the news report of it on TV3 6 pm news was a shocker, being biased and nasty as though Gower has a personal vendetta against the Labour leader.
        Please look into this and rectify matters if TV3 were to preserve any credibility and value. TV3 is my favourite station and I hope its values do not go down the toilet.

        I would appreciate a reply from you.

        Thank you,
        Clem,

        Here is their response:

        Thanks for your email.

        There was a technical error on air last night which meant that the introductions for the two stories based on David Cunliffe’s interviews on “The Nation” did not get played before the stories were shown on the 6pm news.

        While this may not change your views about the stories, the introductions often provide context and detail that is an integral part of the story. Because of a series of highly unusual technical breakdowns, the stories ran without commentary and introduction.

        The corrected versions are on line.

        Shorter news items can never provide the full context and detail that a long interview can include. Reporters need to select a single “subject” or angle to cover in the item, and I’m sorry on this occasion you did not agree with the selection.
        Our reporters cover a wide range of subjects and certainly do not hold “personal vendettas”, or “biases” in the way you suggest.

        I hope you will continue to watch 3 news.

        Regards

        • Ant 12.2.1.1
          2 March 2014 at 4:55 pm

          They’re so full of shit…3 News bend over backwards to cut out the context of stories, like erasing any mention of the Salvation Army.

          • Clemgeopin 12.2.1.1.1
            2 March 2014 at 5:23 pm

            Yes, technical error, my foot!

            The point was the BIASED nasty piece, not the ‘introduction’ she claims was missing due to ‘technical’ reasons.

            The report by the vermin Gower could have been and should have been a factual summary of the interview, not just a silly unimportant crap about their house values! And even that piece he did not report factually, completely ignoring the very important ‘Salvation Army’ put down by Key that caused Cunliffe to respond in the first place.

            I expect and we should expect journalists who are basically reporters to report fairly and factually and not try to create their own mischief and mislead the public. Gower has been very unjust, unfair, nasty and utter crap so far towards Labour and Cunliffe.

            TV3 news is after all a news reporting outlet and not a toilet blog for Gower’s personal power trip.

          • Clemgeopin 12.2.1.1.2
            2 March 2014 at 11:41 pm

            I just replied to TV3’s response. Here it is:

            Thank you.

            I appreciate your reply.

            The point was the BIASED nasty piece, not the ‘introduction’ you said was missing due to ‘technical’ reasons.

            The report by Gower could have been and should have been a factual summary of the interview, not just a silly unimportant crap piece about their house values! See the interview and his report again. I don’t believe you honestly think that was fair to Mr Cunliffe or the Labour party and its supporters. And even that piece he did not report factually, completely ignoring the very important ‘Salvation Army’ put down by Key that caused Cunliffe to respond in the first place.

            I do not care if Gower likes National and supports it. But I expect and we should all expect journalists on National TV, who are basically reporters to report fairly and factually and not try to create their own mischief and mislead the public. Gower has been very unjust, unfair, nasty and utter crap so far towards Labour and Mr Cunliffe.

            TV3 news is after all a news reporting outlet and not a toilet blog for Gower’s personal power trip.

            What I mind is his blatantly biased constant unfair nasty reporting of the opposition leader or party as if he has a personal vendetta, even though you say he doesn’t have that. He is supposed to be a ‘reporter’ or ‘journalist’ and not a filthy mouth piece of propaganda in favour of Key or National.

            Why would TV3 want to be unjust to half the population of the country due to the vain vagaries of a single crooked front man masquerading as a powerful ‘journalist’?

            Kick him out of TV3 or make him understand how nasty he has been.

            Cheers,

            Regards,

            Clem

        • Skinny 12.2.1.2
          2 March 2014 at 7:39 pm

          The glitch was Gowers editing ‘which he usually does on a laptop’ I have stood watching him him frothing and foaming in a self gratifying way as they mince footage into ‘selected clips and sound bites. I’ve worked in the film industry it’s quite amazing what you can mash together if you have plenty of footage.

  13. anker 13
    2 March 2014 at 4:12 pm

    That’s so good (the letter from TV3). I’ll await mine with interest.

    Lets complain every time we see biases like this, especially by PG.

    And just in case you are trolling this website Paddy, try being fair, try really challenging John K and try asking questions about things that matter i.e. policy. Who knows you might even get a bouquet!

    • phillip ure 13.1
      2 March 2014 at 5:03 pm

      next weekend is a watershed one for gower..

      ..on the back of this attempted hatchet-job on cunnliffe..

      ..he is going to interview key..

      ..and he will either:

      1)..just allow key to get away with all the usual bullshit he has been peddling for so long to seemingly credulous/unquestioning/unthinking hacks/repeaters –

      masquerading as journalists…

      .i.e..key-stock-answer to child-poverty questions:..

      ..’throwing money at it won’t work..but arbeit macht frei!’…

      2)..he will call key on all this bullshit..

      ..will he fawn…or will he bite..?

      ..and this twinning of these two interviews..and how he handles this key one..

      ..could well be the making or the breaking of his ‘reputation’..

      ..this is the big one..

      ..for him more than for key..

      and i am leaning towards the first outcome..and not only for that moment in gowers’ interview of cunnliffe..

      ..when he spoke with his wallet..

      ..wide-eyed in his articulation of ‘the opposition by most’ – to any idea of raising the top-tax rate..(!)

      ..(um..!..paddy..!..no..!..factual-error there..!..’most’ of those top-earners..certainly..otheres..?..not so much..eh..?..)

      ..and of course there gower touches on the self-interest motivating..even if only subconsciously..the articulated views of most corporate/access-media hacks..

      ..which of course..is why they were all jonesing for key to get into power..

      ..that his first broken promise was halving those promised-cuts..for these hacks/top-earners..

      ..seems to have put them into a stunned silence/unawareness..

      ..from which they are yet to awake..

      ..phillip ure..

  14. Colonial Viper 14
    2 March 2014 at 4:30 pm

    So…why does Gower still have top tier priority access to stab Cunliffe in the back?

    • Ant 14.1
      2 March 2014 at 5:02 pm

      Because if he didn’t he’d probably be more of a little shit.

      • Colonial Viper 14.1.1
        2 March 2014 at 5:06 pm

        If you’re a reporter with no access, you’ve got no stories to report.

        • Ant 14.1.1.1
          2 March 2014 at 6:20 pm

          Don’t know if that will stop him, he’ll just use archival or parliamentary footage of Cunliffe while using John Key interview/persser soundbites about the topic, much like the initial ‘Battle of the Mansions’ story he cut together.

  15. Old Tony 15
    2 March 2014 at 4:56 pm

    If Gower is biased, which I doubt, good luck to him. It might redress the imbalance created by National Radio and John Campbell’s obvious kink to the left and Labour’s spawning ground in TVNZ.

    • Colonial Viper 15.1
      2 March 2014 at 5:11 pm

      So your answer to bias is more bias?

      That’s a pretty thoughtless and unworkable approach mate.

      • Old Tony 15.1.1
        2 March 2014 at 5:44 pm

        If it lacks integrity does it lack any more than countless words of antagonism towards PG without a mention of the need to ensure balance across the MSM generally? Or could it be that in fact what you seek is not balance but only one kind of bias? I note that the pleas for a rebuilt public broadcasting system are all cast in the context of antagonism to PG, which pretty much proves that point. Please Patrick just go, and leave us to dominate all forms of journalism as we long to do….

        • Clemgeopin 15.1.1.1
          2 March 2014 at 5:51 pm

          What nonsense you spout. You don’t even understand the specific issue being discussed here re the 6 pm crap TV3 news reporting by Gower yesterday. Watch the interview and then its reporting to see for yourself.

        • phillip ure 15.1.1.2
          2 March 2014 at 5:55 pm

          good that you are speaking up for the poor persecuted corporate/access-media hacks..there..old tony..

          ..they don’t have a ‘voice’..do they..?

          ..and just ‘cos campbell..goes ‘um!..i look over there..i think we have some poverty-issues..!’..

          ..this does not indicate a ‘kink to the left’..eh..?

          ..and just on that issue for a mo’..

          ..you..old tony..would rather the media just shut up about stuff like that..eh..?

          ..it might mean you have to pay a few more dollars in tax..eh..?..old tony..?

          ..just another greedy old boomer-arsewipe..aren’t ya..?

          ..eh ‘old tony’..?

          ..phillip ure..

        • Skinny 15.1.1.3
          2 March 2014 at 7:53 pm

          Come on Old Tory your taking the piss now. Key-National have had a soft run ever since elected. Your shrill fools no one on here.

          • swordfish 15.1.1.3.1
            2 March 2014 at 11:06 pm

            Spot on, except for a very brief interlude following Key’s cuppa with young master Banks late 2011.

    • Lanthanide 15.2
      2 March 2014 at 10:07 pm

      Does Campbell have an obvious kink to the left, or is he actually just reporting the reality of life in New Zealand for many people?

    • ghostwhowalksnz 15.3
      3 March 2014 at 12:25 pm

      The newspapers are Nationals recruit school.

      Don Brash’s Chief of staff was the former Editor of the Dominion

      Keys office is full of former newspaper political reporters, then there is Maggie Barry, a former Radio NZ political reporter , now an MP- for National of course

  16. anker 16
    2 March 2014 at 5:36 pm

    Still haven’t received a letter from TV3.

    Sorry Clem, I wrote my post before I saw what your letter contained. Bs..t.

    PG has very, very obviously got it in for DC.

    I think we need to brain storm a strategy.

    Any thoughts?

    • JK 16.1
      2 March 2014 at 7:24 pm

      Anker, and Clemgeopin – I’ve just watched the Nation replay, and last night’s TV3 news and I totally agree with you. When you get your letter from TV3 Anker, reply politely and then send your complaint onto the Broadcasting Standards Authority. And Clem – do that too !
      Paddy Gower needs taking down a peg or two …… more than two….. his news item after the Nation interview was just OTT and WRONG.
      I’m going to complain, first to TV3 News, and then to Broadcasting SA. That’s the way to get some attention to it, and him.

      • Anne 16.1.1
        2 March 2014 at 8:00 pm

        Complaints work! You won’t win the case. The Board of the BSA are a bunch of timid wankers. But it will give Gower a fright. Don’t be fobbed off with TV3’s reply to your complaints – of which you will get a copy. Bullying tactics couched in nice legalese are not uncommon in these cases. Take it to the bitter conclusion where the w—–s have to make a decision.

        I did it to Paul Holmes over and outrageous Q&A interview. I was the only one who took it to the very end. I lost on hugely laughable grounds, but won’t repeat them because it would identify the interview and possibly me.

        The amusing part was the extreme care Holmes took with subsequent political interviews.

        Edit: I might add it was well before he became ill the second time.

        • Lanthanide 16.1.1.1
          2 March 2014 at 10:11 pm

          I complained to the BSA about a segment on The Edge morning show where 3 of the hosts tried to get another one to eat a marijuana cookie. I complained on the basis of it being between 8 and 8:30 so kids could easily be listening, and that they were promoting drug use.

          They narrowly rejected my complaint.

          I realised later that if I’d emphasised the peer-pressure aspect of what was happening, again with children potentially listening, I may have won.

    • Clemgeopin 16.2
      2 March 2014 at 8:21 pm

      When you notice any biased unfair reporting, post everywhere and complain to TV3 management and to the BSA as commented by JK above.

      Just tell the vermin off. I don’t mind if he supports National or other Tories. He still needs to be balanced, factual and fair in his reporting. What I mind is his blatantly biased constant unfair nasty reporting of the opposition leader or party as if he has a personal vendetta. After all he is supposed to be a ‘reporter’ or ‘journalist’ and not a filthy mouth piece of propaganda in favour of Key or National.

      Why would TV3 want to be unjust to half the population of the country due to the vain vagaries of a single crooked front man masquerading as a powerful ‘journalist’?

  17. TightyRighty 17
    2 March 2014 at 6:27 pm

    @clem – original docs or it’s bollocks. You could have typed anything

    • Clemgeopin 17.1
      2 March 2014 at 6:49 pm

      I could have, but I didn’t.
      I don’t believe I have low standards or a lack of conscience like you generally find in many right wing nasty spinners and their gutter worthy toilet blog. Rest assured.

      • TightyRighty 17.1.1
        3 March 2014 at 1:27 pm

        on the internet no one knows your a dog. so without dox, it didn’t happen. it’s just your word which is hiding behind anonymity while having the ability to easily back it up makes me think you are full of it.

  18. felix 18
    2 March 2014 at 6:45 pm

    Not excusing Gower’s cretinous behaviour here, but David was wrong to admit to something he didn’t actually do.

    The correct answer to Gower’s infantile line of questioning is

    Well Patrick, if I’d known you and your mates weren’t able to understand my remarks in the context in which they were made then I would have used smaller words and spoken more slowly. But what I said was that John Key has no business describing the Salvation Army as out-of-touch with poverty, and he doesn’t. It’s the truth, and I said it, and I stand by it.

    And the correct answer to the inevitable bleating that follows is

    Yes I know that’s not how you reported the story Patrick but my statements are a matter of record published in the Hansard and recorded on video. And anyone who cares to look can see my version lines up with the record whereas yours simply doesn’t.

    Never apologise for something you haven’t done. Cretins can not be appeased.

    • Clemgeopin 18.1
      2 March 2014 at 6:52 pm

      Well said. Good post.

    • BM 18.2
      2 March 2014 at 7:02 pm

      To be a successful politician you need the media on your side, otherwise you’re going no where fast.

      It’s taken a while but I think the penny has finally dropped for David and he maybe regretting some of the comments and actions he made earlier in his career.

      • RedLogix 18.2.1
        2 March 2014 at 7:26 pm

        To be a successful politician you need the media on your side, otherwise you’re going no where fast.

        Which is an interesting thing to say BM. I invite you to think through the implications of it.

      • Lanthanide 18.2.2
        2 March 2014 at 10:15 pm

        Yes, because Winston Peters definitely has the media on his side.

  19. Benghazi 19
    2 March 2014 at 7:12 pm

    From now on let’s refer to Gower, the gutter journo, as ‘Ratty Gower’.

    • Clemgeopin 19.1
      2 March 2014 at 7:49 pm

      Gutter Rat Gower. [GRG]

      Seriously Lousy Underhand Tool.
      Secretly Handpicked Instrument of Tories.

      • TightyRighty 19.1.1
        3 March 2014 at 1:30 pm

        as opposed to how many long term sleeper labour agents at TVNZ? oh no, there is one good journalist who is giving dear leader cunliffe a hard time. He must be a tory agent. what about the never ending stream of labour pollys coming out of presenting positions at tvnz? thats just good public service right?

        • felix 19.1.1.1
          3 March 2014 at 7:39 pm

          “what about the never ending stream of labour pollys coming out of presenting positions at tvnz?”

          Eh? can you rattle off a few names to refresh my memory? Just the first half dozen or so of the “never ending stream” please.

          ps if what you say were true (it’s not), why would you be surprised? In what universe do you imagine that anyone with an interest in public service would be attracted to National?

  20. Whatever next 20
    2 March 2014 at 9:43 pm

    If Patrick Gower was simply competing in “top real estate agent” or the like, I wouldn’t bat an eyelid.His relentless promotion of a self serving regime, at the cost of decent people is unforgivable, how does he sleep at night? Does he EVER consider the long term ramifications of his actions?

  21. Frank Macskasy 21
    2 March 2014 at 10:10 pm

    Having watched the interview, in my ‘umble opinion, it wasn’t so much the questions (trivial though they were) that were pointless – but Gower’s constant interuption of Cunliffe’s attempt to answer.

    The Labour leader could barely get an incomplete single sentence in, before Gower interjected and talked over him.

    “Just answer the question!” seemed to be his refrain.

    “Well, I’d love to,” Cunliffe should’ve said, “if you shut the f**k up and draw breath, Paddy!”

    That wasn’t an interview so much as an interogation, with Gower trying to show he could talk over Cunliffe.

    As such, it was a pointless exercise as no one came away any wiser from the event.

    Gower. Needs. To. Shut. The. F**k. Up.

    As an aside; it’s a shame that Rachel Smalley is no longer “The Nation’s” host – she is far superior to Gower.

    • Clemgeopin 21.1
      2 March 2014 at 10:25 pm

      TV3 is doing a great injustice and disservice to itself and to NZ by keeping an absolute #@$% hole as their political front man. The nasty unfair biased prick needs to be given the marching orders.

    • karol 21.2
      3 March 2014 at 8:19 am

      Yes Gower’s interruptions made for very poor viewing. Underlying this and the choice of questions is that Gower is not aiming to inform the general population, but to influence them.

      I do have a problem also with most of Gower’s line of questioning. Polls, post-election strategies etc dominated, with very little interest in enlightening viewers about what Cunliiffe and Labour plan to do in office – their priorities, policies, etc – along with the focus on personality politics (Key’s house vs Cunliffe’s).

      This is very much the (so-called) “beltway” focus, plus a bit of celebrity culture. Kathryn Ryan took a pretty similar, horse-race-focused line in her questions to Cunliffe on RNZ recently – except she did it better than Gower, without all the interruptions etc.

      The “horse race” obscures the significant issues. And it’s a focus that puts loads of people off politics. My guess is that the horse race focus is likely to appeal more to the “neoliberals” than to potential left voters.

    • fender 21.3
      3 March 2014 at 12:38 pm

      “Gower. Needs. To. Shut. The. F**k. Up.”
      +1

      But he won’t will he, his over inflated ego won’t allow it. Gower is the main reason I don’t watch 3News any more, I’m not interested in a reporter that makes me feel violent..

  22. xtasy 22
    3 March 2014 at 12:20 am

    Yes, this is a timely post, Karol.

    Paddy Gower is an embarrassment for any media outlet, as he ensures gutter standards. He is a “hunter” with low lying instincts, it seems, and it indeed seems like he has a personal dislike or even hatred for David Cunliffe.

    But he is just one of too many, who are clearly biased, who do not report objectively and who do not inform. It is scandal, emotive and hitting headline stuff, that he is after, nothing much worth paying attention to. If there is a lack of something that may sound exciting, he just kind of makes it up, by whipping up something out of next to nothing. Sadly the MSM have almost all descended to low levels, just listen to breakfast radio on 1ZB and Radio Live, where moderators and reporters constantly bring in their own personal views and reactions.

    What really astonished me was Rachel Smalley’s move to work for 1ZB to do their morning show. I have not bothered listening in, as I HATE the ads they drum into you, the news there actually do not even start with news, they start with an aggressive ad, usually that is!

    How does Rachel feel there, amongst the mostly right wing radio hacks at that station, predominantly male, I ask?

    http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/auckland/news/byline/rachel-smalley

    But perhaps she has gone there for only temporary employment, as she apparently is going to co-host Q+A on TVNZ.

    http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/rachel-smalley-joins-tvnz-5822538

    So all those who cherish her journalistic skills may feel relieved that she is staying in current affairs, now it seems for TV One. Personally I find her a bit of a mixed bag, when it comes to interviews and so. Sometimes she has impressed with her performance, at other times the opposite.

    • ghostwhowalksnz 22.1
      3 March 2014 at 12:28 pm

      The money is in radio.

      Plus she will probably be promised stand ins for that old aussie buzzard Leighton Smith or Hoskings.

      Then one day she will have her own show

  23. Papa Tuanuku 23
    3 March 2014 at 11:30 am

    How can Labour go on the attack over this?

    • karol 23.1
      3 March 2014 at 11:37 am

      Labour (and the Greens) can campaign for the development of a digitally connected true public broadcasting service.

  24. Clemgeopin 24
    3 March 2014 at 12:20 pm

    I have now made a FORMAL complaint to media works. They are OBLIGED to investigate and respond within 20 days. After that, depending on their response, I can drop the matter or lay a formal complaint with the Broadcasting Standards Authority.

    Here is the link for Formal complaints.
    http://www.mediaworks.co.nz/Default.aspx?tabid=288

    Cheers!

  25. Murray Olsen 25
    3 March 2014 at 6:40 pm

    I complained to TV3 about Gower. Unlikely to do any good, but……..

    • Skinny 25.1
      3 March 2014 at 7:33 pm

      Good work Murray, just watched TV3 News no sign of Gower probably laying low for a day or two, however their reporters appeared nervous especially O’Brian who was all over the shop getting her blurb out. Brooke ‘snake’ Sabin started off playing a straight bat but sniped a cheap shot at the end. Frontman Mc Robert held the ship steady, he always keeps his cards close to his chest in a true professional manner.

    • Clemgeopin 25.2
      3 March 2014 at 8:59 pm

      Good on you.

      I think when we see injustice or unfairness we should take some action and let the nasty scoundrels get away with crapping to the public. Otherwise the bastards will continue their dirty tricks with impunity.

      • Clemgeopin 25.2.1
        4 March 2014 at 4:23 pm

        Oops, the word ‘not’ is missing in line 1.
        It should read ‘not let the nasty scoundrels get away’ etc

  26. Whatever next 26
    3 March 2014 at 6:52 pm

    Mediaworks would need to be impartial to hear any complaints, or it is like complaining to JK about Judith Collins Twitter comments, but very good on you Clemgeopin for doing something

  27. poem 27
    3 March 2014 at 6:53 pm

    As always, another great post Karol !!

    I find Patrick Gower totally repugnant. What was seen on The Nation wasn’t even a real interview, it was more of an exceedingly lame attempt by Patrick Gower to try and crucify David Cunliffe in a mindless political point scoring exercise, and thanks to a confident, capable and eloquent speaking David Cunliffe, it back fired on Gower beautifully. Gower couldn’t look more of a petty little fame seeking dork if he tried harder, and his twisted skewered piece on it later was disgraceful AND disgusting and I have made a complaint to TV3 as well.

    Never saw Smalley as being much better, was pleasing when David Cunliffe had her floundering like a fish out of water too.

    • Clemgeopin 27.1
      3 March 2014 at 9:20 pm

      I was informed by the ‘Broadcasting Standards Authority’ that it is no use using TV3 their ‘informal feedback’ box found under ‘contact’ to complain because if they do reply to you, that response will be an informal response which does not count if you want to later proceed to the broadcasting Standards Authority to complain that you are unsatisfied with their excuse or explanation.

      So, you should use the ‘formal’ complaint process using the following link:
      http://www.mediaworks.co.nz/Default.aspx?tabid=288

      TV3 are OBLIGED to investigate and respond within 20 days. After that, depending on their response, you can decide to drop the matter or lay a formal complaint with the Broadcasting Standards Authority. You can not complain to the BSA without first getting a formal response from TV3 which they are legally required to give within 20 days.

      After that, you can, if you wish, complain to the BSA through this link:
      http://bsa.govt.nz/complaints/how-to-complain

      Cheers!

  28. JK 28
    3 March 2014 at 9:47 pm

    Thanks for this, Clemgeopin. I was wondering why TV3 hadn’t responded to my complaint on their website. I’ve now re-written it and sent it to MediaWorks – and following their response, it will go to the BSA. (I’ve kept a copy so I know what I’ve sent !) Hope you’ve done the same ….. tedious stuff, doing all of this …. but worth doing if we can get Gower, TV3, and other like-minded hicks to pull their sox up and behave more objectively.

    Please keep us informed of ongoing conversations you have with mediaworks/BSA etc – I’ll do the same. Might have to move it across to Open Mike if it takes 20-days or so to get a response.

  29. floyd 29
    4 March 2014 at 10:23 am

    There is online under THE DIARY by Rachel Glucina an article about the bromance between key and gower accompanied by photo of them in pool in Indonesia. Need to be made of stern stuff to look at it. Two rats in a swamp! Also in the pool was… a security guard! I wonder where he kept his gun???? What was going to happen to key in a pool with only three people in it.? Needy much.
    Bet this is where it all started. gowers desparation to abuse and denigrate and leave false impressions of the Opposition parties under the guise of journalism is palpable. He should be followed to see how many times he goes to keys tacky mansion to get his weekly orders and training. Mind you it would be very hard to track a rodent.

    pg is an insult to all real journalists

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