Anti-Corbyn media bias

Written By: - Date published: 9:58 pm, July 19th, 2016 - 77 comments
Categories: journalism, making shit up, Media, uk politics - Tags: , , ,

A London School of Economics study has found significant bias against UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

As media and communication scholars we have been troubled by the problematic way in which the British media has systematically attacked Jeremy Corbyn ever since he came to national prominence in the summer of 2015. At the same time, we also acknowledge that the media needs to fulfill an important watchdog role in a democracy. Indeed, we expect and value our media to be critical and to ask difficult and probing questions of those in positions of power.

Jeremy Corbyn is an unconventional party leader in a British context, more leftwing than previous leaders of the Labour Party, contesting the neoliberal common sense and promoting an anti-austerity and anti-war agenda. The question we pose here is to what extent this warranted the acerbic and overtly aggressive media reaction he has consistently received over the last year? Is it acceptable for the media to delegitimise to such an extent a legitimate democratic actor who is the leader of the main opposition party in British politics?

This study, undertaken by the LSE’s Media and Communications Department, set out to empirically analyse the nature of the media representation of Jeremy Corbyn in 8 British newspapers from 1 September – 1 November 2015. First, it distinguishes between critical reporting and what we call antagonistic reporting. Second, it aims to demonstrate and assess the ways in which the British press systematically delegitimised Jeremy Corbyn as a political leader.

The results of this study show that Jeremy Corbyn was represented unfairly by the British press through a process of vilification that went well beyond the normal limits of fair debate and disagreement in a democracy.

The papers studied were The Sun, The Daily Express, The Daily Telegraph, The Daily Mail, the Evening Standard, the Independent, the Daily Mirror and the Guardian. Of the papers studied, the Independent is the only one showing in google as having reported on the study.

The Guardian has an opinion piece that asks “where’s the harm?”

But I wonder if that really is what the British people want? Do they hunger for unbiased political coverage? Do they want politicians treated with respect?

The authors of the study published an article on the study on Open Democracy UK.

77 comments on “Anti-Corbyn media bias ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. adam 1
    19 July 2016 at 10:23 pm

    Great post weka, thanks.

    • mosa 1.1
      20 July 2016 at 10:11 pm

      Great analysis Weka.
      Unlike the UK we have never had left leaning newspapers to balance the suffocating right wing view point on everything as we dont do balanced reporting , it has too always be a one sided view point.
      Interesting with the Daily Mirror , they were always anti tory but after waiting 18 years too finally see Tony Blair and his NEW LABOUR certainly NOT old Labour come back in for a 13 year stint i think they forgot about the socalist ideals they once supported and were happy just too have a sort of Labour government was better than the Tories.
      From what i have read in the Mirror they have not given Corbyn any support at all yet he is like the old socalist Labour leader Michael Foot they had in the early 80s who was up against Thatcher who the Mirror and its readers despised.
      Feels like the Mirror has jumped on board the neo lib ship that has even moved the UK Labour party right and cant see that Corbyn articulates what they used too believe was the gospel and the truth.

      • mosa 1.1.1
        20 July 2016 at 10:28 pm

        I have found the Canary on line too be a real informative news outlet about real left issues in the UK and very pro Corbyn and quite scathing of the current Labour party and does some great investigative work on how current polices are hurting Britons.
        http://www.thecanary.com

  2. Richard Christie 2
    19 July 2016 at 10:31 pm

    There goes LSE future research grant funding.

  3. AmaKiwi 3
    19 July 2016 at 11:37 pm

    A warning to the rich and powerful:

    Silence your moderate, democratic opponents and only dictatorial extremists will remain to overthrow you. And overthrow you they eventually will.

    I grieve for Turkey because this is the path Erdogan has taken. Erdogan prosecutes democratic opponents and journalists as terrorists. Soon the only opponents who can survive will be clandestine and violent, i.e., murderous terrorists.

    Democracy REQUIRES full and informed debate. Take note NZ’s main stream media.

    • Colonial Viper 3.1
      20 July 2016 at 8:59 am

      Erdogan has just suspended 41,000 educators and fired ALL university heads.

      It’s turned to utter madness. He’s had purge lists prepared all this time. Sultan Stalin Erdogan.

    • Gosman 3.2
      20 July 2016 at 10:19 am

      Nothing is stopping full and informed debate. You are free to start up a media company and the country has a wide range of media outlets including a non commercial State news radio station.

      • weka 3.2.1
        20 July 2016 at 10:23 am

        “You are free to start up a media company”

        That’s daft. It’s not free to start a media company, and not everyone has the resources to do so, therefore by definition there is no full and informed debate.

        Besides, the point of the post was that the MSM have a public duty that is not being well met currently. If you think they don’t, then by all means put up the argument for how democracy can function without the MSM fulfilling that duty.

        • Gosman 3.2.1.1
          20 July 2016 at 10:28 am

          I didn’t state it would be free or easy to set one up. But you are free to do so. You need to convince similar like minded people to get together and put in effort and/or money. Of course you could take the typical leftist response to such challenges and just expect the State to force others to do this for you.

          • weka 3.2.1.1.1
            20 July 2016 at 10:46 am

            In other words, you don’t believe that the MSM has a public duty but you can’t make an argument for why.

            ‘free to do so’ in your mind means that there is no law stopping someone. But free to do so in real terms for most people would include whether that’s even possible in the real world, which obviously it isn’t. So feel free to carry on with your neoliberal fantasy and now be ridiculed for it on a left wing blog (or put up an actual argument).

            Obviously if I did start my own MSM outlet the issues raised in the post still wouldn’t be addressed, because one outlet isn’t going to balance all the others. If you can make some political argument around that please do, but otherwise you comments are starting to look like a derailment.

            • Gosman 3.2.1.1.1.1
              20 July 2016 at 11:24 am

              I know and that is the problem. Despots always bang on about ‘Balance’ and ‘Fairness’ in the media. Then they set up government controlled bodies to ensure that they get the sort of ‘Balance’ and ‘Fairness’ they want. I prefer to have diverse range if media and let people choose where they get information from. Much like the UK has got now.

              • maninthemiddle …
                20 July 2016 at 1:14 pm

                You make some good points Gosman, but even with my antipathy towards Corbyn’s politics, this level of apparent bias is concerning. I saw it in Australia with Julia Gillard. I had no time for her politics either, but the way the media treated her was a disgrace, and there was no balance.

                • Gosman …
                  20 July 2016 at 3:34 pm

                  So how would you suggest you get ‘balance’ then? If it involves a government that controlled body you just have another way the state can restrict free speech and control the media.

                  • McFlock …
                    20 July 2016 at 4:02 pm

                    Firstly, “balance” is a well-known word used in this thread in its conventional sense. All your single-quoting does is demonstrate your unfamiliarity with basic English.

                    Secondly, “government funded” does not mean “government controlled”.

                    Some specific points on your question:
                    The government should fund a news agency that has a mandate towards balance and accuracy, and the standards (including balance and accuracy) should be reviewed by an agency as independent as possible.
                    News content should be clearly distinguishable from editorial opinion, entertainment, and advertising, and content should even be labelled as such. Complaints about any news organisation should be made to the above independent agency. The complaint resolution process should be public.

                    Civics and critical thinking should be core curriculum in secondary school.

                    I’d much rather that sort of system than some fucking equity firm controlling the media. They’re worse than our government.

                    • Gosman …
                      20 July 2016 at 5:16 pm

                      Funnily enough that is what people have with RNZ National and the BBC and still a number if lefties think they are biased.

                    • McFlock …
                      20 July 2016 at 5:20 pm

                      🙄

                      Actually, no it’s not, not quite.

                  • One Anonymous Bloke …
                    20 July 2016 at 4:03 pm

                    Must we educate Gosman? A simple Google search can link him to any amount of material that might enlighten him, and yet here he is, asking his innocent questions as though he’s useless and lazy.

                    Anyway fuck it, there’s no such thing as society, apparently, so why anyone would give a toss about maintaining its fragile institutions is beyond me. Pass the moonshine and shotguns.

                  • maninthemiddle …
                    20 July 2016 at 5:21 pm

                    Definitely NOT government controlled media. In fact my position is the government should have no ownership of any media enterprise. Your question is a good one, and I don’t have conclusive answers, but surely the answer is with the public saying ‘no’ to this sort of media bullying.

                • leftie …
                  20 July 2016 at 3:50 pm

                  ‘this level of apparent bias is concerning” ….it’s also happening here under the Nats.
                  The 2014 general election was msm’s vicious worst that I have ever seen. The shocking treatment dished out to David Cunliffe by John key’s dirty politics and the role msm played in that was more than just disgraceful.

                  • maninthemiddle …
                    20 July 2016 at 5:28 pm

                    That’s nonsense. The media in NZ is all over the place, but there is no ingrained bias one way or another. I remember throughout the Clark years the right moaned about pro-Labour media…it was bs then and your comments are bs now. Cunliffe made terrible mistakes. He was unelectable. End of story.

                    • mac1 …
                      20 July 2016 at 5:43 pm

                      No “ingrained bias” in the NZ media, you say, maninthemiddle?

                      Who said this yesterday?

                      “Despite what the left (and the compliant media) says, I was just as busy during the Clark administration.”

                      Bias-‘prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair.’
                      Compliant-‘inclined to agree with others or obey rules, especially to an excessive degree; acquiescent.’

                      Compliance results in bias in this context.

                      Bugger, eh?

                    • Maninthemiddle []
                      21 July 2016 at 2:03 pm

                      I’m not sure what your point is. My point was the media is all over the place. There is bias both left and right.

                    • leftie …
                      20 July 2016 at 8:37 pm

                      And that’s utter bullshit Maninthemiddle. How one eyed and hypocritical you are. Typical.

                    • mosa …
                      20 July 2016 at 9:22 pm

                      maninthemiddle you cant be serious, i have written and so have a lot of other bloggers on this site and TDB responding too posts that refer all the time too the ingrained bias of the right wing MSM and what we see and hear every day we are not imagining it.
                      MSM is corporate media with the following contributors all right wing.
                      1 Fairfax
                      2 Media Works
                      3 TVNZ
                      4 Associated press
                      5 American news networks
                      6 NZ Media and Entertainment-owns the NZ Herald
                      7 The radio Network-Newstalk ZB
                      There has not with the exception of RNZ( so called red radio) been a left leaning news outlet in this country which is why Martyn Bradbury formed Waatea fifth estate so incensed he was at the one sided right wing bias in our media which has worsened scince the National party gained government and the appalling tripe offered up too kiwis every morning and night that are just magazine shows with no real in depth stories free of bias and giving New Zealanders the real truth in what is happening in our country.
                      David Cunliffe you are right made mistakes but he was on a hiding too nothing by the dirty tricks campaign being waged behind the scenes and those tactics were used and supported by the MSM most notably by Gower who called Cunliffe a liar live on tv when he knew that Cunliffe was innocent of involvement with Don Wah Lieu unlike their boss John Key and party members and there has never been a pro Labour media only in the imaginations of the right wing who could never understand why the media were not getting the boot in too Helen and her government but they actually were just not with the viciousness they were expecting, that came post 2003.
                      The outrage when Tv one presenter Shane Taurima was found too be a paid up Labour party member and forced out yet you can have Nat party sympathies which is a pre requiste to being employed in these news organisations if you want too get ahead.
                      These are the facts and to quote your term not bullshit.

                    • Maninthemiddle []
                      21 July 2016 at 2:22 pm

                      I don’t care what you’ve written. Media bias is a reality, but it works across the political spectrum. You are sensitive to Labour figures being subject to this bias, and blind to the same bias directed against their opponents. This is your own bias being revealed.

                    • Stuart Munro …
                      21 July 2016 at 1:16 am

                      Piffle – even John Armstrong was ashamed of the dishonest media campaign against Cunliffe as you know perfectly well.

                    • Wensleydale …
                      21 July 2016 at 4:10 am

                      Don’t argue with him, people. He thrives on the attention. Like most right-wing trolls he’ll lie and obfuscate and deny until the end of forever, because it’s not about the truth. It’s about perception, and reshaping reality through endless repetition until it conforms to the falsehood. Like arguing with a religious zealot, it’s not worth the frustration-induced stomach ulcer.

                      Just nod and smile and say “Yes, dear.” And then move on with your life.

                    • Halfcrown …
                      21 July 2016 at 8:30 am

                      “Don’t argue with him, people. He thrives on the attention. Like most right-wing trolls he’ll lie and obfuscate and deny until the end of forever, because it’s not about the truth. It’s about perception, and reshaping reality through endless repetition until it conforms to the falsehood. Like arguing with a religious zealot, it’s not worth the frustration-induced stomach ulcer.”

                      Couldn’t agree with you more. I had a run in with this dick a few weeks ago ended up him writing that I implied something that was completely the opposite to what I had written.
                      Like others I thought he was as thick as two short planks or a manipulating fucking liar or both, so I can’t be bothered to read what this dick writes.
                      He’s not the only one that does it I have noticed Gosman and Slylands also resort to the same tricks
                      I have come to the conclusion that it must be in the Neo Lib instruction book somewhere.
                      The other thing I find amusing any journo who has opposite views that upsets their cosy fuck you Jack world they class them as communist or with Marxist views.

                    • Maninthemiddle []
                      21 July 2016 at 2:24 pm

                      Translation…”I can’t handle my opinions being exposed by smart and articulate people, so I ignore them”.

                    • mac1 …
                      21 July 2016 at 11:05 am

                      Wensleydale and Halfcrown, you are wise. I will take your advice.

                      maninthemiddle veered between insults, self-contradiction, Right-wing theory, and dishonest straw man arguments.

                      A man in the middle of the political road he was not.

                    • Halfcrown …
                      21 July 2016 at 3:36 pm

                      “Translation…”I can’t handle my opinions being exposed by smart and articulate people, so I ignore them”.

                      SMART! You smart and articulated! Nah mate you are more your actual smartarse
                      Now run along and visit Abdullah the Taxidermist and on your way google smartarse for the description..
                      End of any discussions with you dickhead.

                    • maninthemiddle …
                      21 July 2016 at 8:51 pm

                      “Now run along and visit Abdullah the Taxidermist and on your way google smartarse for the description..”

                      And there it is again.

      • AB 3.2.2
        20 July 2016 at 1:55 pm

        “You are free to start up a media company”
        Translation: “it is not illegal for you to start a media company”.
        i.e. a typical right-wing minimalist definition of freedom as nothing more than the absence of legal sanctions.
        But a real-world definition of freedom would in this case acknowledge the financial barriers to entry, competitive pressure, the resistance of potential advertisers (your revenue source) to non-orthodox opinions, etc.
        These linguistic tricks from the neolibs are SO exhausting because they so dishonestly repeat the same crap over and over and over. It is highly aggressive agitprop.

      • Psycho Milt 3.2.3
        20 July 2016 at 4:52 pm

        Nothing is stopping full and informed debate. You are free to start up a media company…

        Sure. And with most libertarian ideas it sounds fine in theory but in practice it means the people with the most money end up controlling the outcomes. The reasons why people on a left-wing blog won’t be satisfied with that are self-explanatory, so what’s your point?

  4. Tory 4
    20 July 2016 at 3:34 am

    Why not ask Andrea Vance, “darling of the left and ex gutter press journo” for her opinion? She appears to have transformed herself from one of those daily rag reporters to someone many on this site like to quote. Perhaps she can explain the bias journalists have as she is a classic example of bias from both sides of the political spectrum, including involvement in underhand and biased coverage.
    http://i.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/comment/5264885/A-tell-all-confession-my-days-working-for-the-gutter-press

    [lprent: I really don’t like fuckwits trying to use this site for personal vendettas. Looking through your comments on Vance it is pretty clear that is what you are doing.

    Banned 8 weeks as an incentive to learn to how to control yourself on this site. 4 of those weeks are for trying to say that a diverse group of ‘lefties’ all hold the same opinion – something that I find quite offensive. ]

    • Wensleydale 4.1
      20 July 2016 at 3:57 am

      As opposed to Michael Hosking, Paul Henry or Larry Williams, who are all unerringly fair paragons of virtue.

    • Stunned mullet 4.2
      20 July 2016 at 6:46 am

      Lol…people using the site for personal vendettas…lol

      [lprent: A weeks ban for being a fool. You should have recovered from your stunning long ago and read the policy. ]

  5. Tory 5
    20 July 2016 at 4:30 am

    Hosking and Henry etc are all clearly self confessed right leaning commentators where as Vance is an ex NOTW sleeve reporter who now seems to be held in high regard by the left. The post is about bias and she is a classic of “running with the hares and hunting with the hounds” (promoting sleeve on behalf of securing readers and now promoting left views as some sort of self confessed “road to Damacus conversion”, it’s simply hypocritical and hypocritical of the fools who like to quote her).

    • Gangnam Style 5.1
      20 July 2016 at 6:20 am

      Who the fuck regards Vance in ‘high regard’, please show some evidence of ‘the left’ showing Vance ‘high regard’.

    • lprent 5.2
      20 July 2016 at 6:36 am

      I tend to like Vance’s work because it is well researched and usually as accurate as is possible. I like her because she is a competent journalist.

      I can understand why a thick Tory like you doesn’t like her. After all she isn’t a lazy intellectually incompetent self opinionated wanker who sprouts ignorant Farrar focus group lines like Mike Hosking or that other morning dipshit comedian. Perhaps you should go back to drooling over them like a good little moron.

      • Gangnam Style 5.2.1
        20 July 2016 at 9:33 am

        Personally I cannot stand her, but I have never thought of her as ‘left leaning’, not that I care too much, I just don’t like or have much respect for many NZ journalists, especially the embedded ones, though I guess they have to be scheming creeps to get their work done. Dirty Politics was a real eye opener for me but then I got to remember they just faulty people like the rest of us.

  6. miravox 6
    20 July 2016 at 7:05 am

    That Guardian piece by Roy Greenslade is quite something. He quotes..

    “Overall, their analysis found that more than 50% of the news coverage of Corbyn was “critical or blatantly antagonistic” with no “distinction between comment, conjecture and fact.”

    And then, in a newspaper with the tagline “facts are sacred”, asks what the harm is. I’m looking for a retraction and analysis forthwith of why this piece doesn’t abide with Guardian standards.

  7. Tory 7
    20 July 2016 at 7:19 am

    Vance worked for a company that was accused of phone hacking and police bribery, prosecutions and a public enquiry were the result. When asked about her knowledge of what was going on at NOTW her reply was “no comment”. I don’t mind Paul Henry and shall leave the drooling over Vance to you and Dunne.

    • peterlepaysan 7.1
      20 July 2016 at 8:24 pm

      Tory, your response reveals a lot about your mental processing.
      You would not be biased, would you?

  8. Paul 8
    20 July 2016 at 7:27 am

    It would be interesting to see what a London School of Economics study would have made of the coverage of ex Labour leader David Cunliffe.
    We have exactly the same problems in this country.
    Our media is just a collection of hired guns paid to defend the establishment and attack any perceived threats to it.
    As Rawden Christie discovered this week , these puppets are dispensable to the elite.

  9. Adrian Thornton 9
    20 July 2016 at 9:05 am

    You know I was really happy to see this piece about MSM bias, and lack of balance, it is, in my mind one of the most relevant and important topics in politics today…
    ..and then I get to the comments section where I see one commenter banned for 8 weeks and called a “fuckwit” and another banned for a week for a completely innocuous comment and called a “fool”.
    The incredible irony that this piece is all about free speech and media control is both sad and frightening.

    • lprent 9.1
      20 July 2016 at 9:37 am

      We aren’t here to provide “free speech”. Read the about and the policy. We are here to provide a space for robust debate, and that includes the blunt opinions.

      I deal with fuckwits acting as trolls and their entirely predictable meme attacks. After doing it for here for eight years, they are as easy to read as people expressing ‘concern’.

      Don’t like it? Then get off your lazy arse and start your own site as the about suggests. Otherwise be careful of our policies.

      • Bob 9.1.1
        20 July 2016 at 2:37 pm

        lprent, you have simply reinforced Adrian’s point. In response to this post you could equally say to Weka:
        “Don’t like it? Then get off your lazy arse and start your own media company”

        I understand that you are free to run this site with any way you like, but pushing this point, as Adrian has pointed out, on a post around the media running stories with bias, does come with a certain level of irony.

        • weka 9.1.1.1
          20 July 2016 at 11:32 pm

          Are you suggesting there shouldn’t be any moderation here?

          • Bob 9.1.1.1.1
            21 July 2016 at 1:53 pm

            Not at all, I think for the most part moderation is done quite well on this site, even if at times a bit excessive, i.e. “Banned 8 weeks as an incentive to learn to how to control yourself on this site. 4 of those weeks are for trying to say that a diverse group of ‘lefties’ all hold the same opinion”, same goes for so called ‘RWNJ’s’, I certainly hold very different opinions to those of Tory, yet we are happily bracketed together by a number of regulars on this site, is there any thought of balance around this?

    • weka 9.2
      20 July 2016 at 10:10 am

      “The incredible irony that this piece is all about free speech and media control is both sad and frightening.”

      I”m glad you liked the piece and appreciate the importance of MSM bias. The Standard blog isn’t mainstream media, and as such has a different set of objectives, ethics and rules. The places on the internet that are free speech free for alls are hideous. All internet spaces that facilitate open dialogue and function well have rules. The problem arises when that’s not transparent.

      In the case of the MSM, it’s even worse because they do have a responsibility to present things in an even manner. They also still have a responsibility to society. The Standard’s authors’ responsibility is to publish a range of articles on subjects that broadly fit within the labour movement, and to promote robust debate and provide a space for that to happen within. That includes moderation.

      If you’re objecting to the language and tone used by the moderator, that’s a different thing, but good luck with talking to Lynn about that 😉 (and read the rules first about telling moderators how to moderate. It’s possible to comment on moderation here, but there is a line where it’s not ok to cross over into criticising the person or hassling them about their decisions).

      • Adrian Thornton 9.2.1
        20 July 2016 at 10:58 pm

        The Standard is a proud name, deeply rooted in the history of the world wide Labour movement, so even if this site is mainly controlled by one guy, with help from a small band of helpers, it can be easily seen from the outside of this circle and it’s regular readers, to be at least partly representative of the NZ left, whether the people who run this site like that or not, it is just a fact.
        So in that light, I actually think this site also has a very real responsibility to be, and be seen as an unbiased and welcoming place to have these political conversations and debates. from a mainly left wing vantage point, which it is most of the time, and I enjoy reading the articles and comments and occasionally commenting myself.
        Now I totally get the need for tight moderation in a site like this, where it can often almost become like a forum, so as a consequence, can probably get pretty heated or personal at times, and of course this needs to be quickly moderated.
        However I feel that this moderation should be very subtle and totally non confrontational….that’s just my two cents.

        • weka 9.2.1.1
          20 July 2016 at 11:29 pm

          I think you are talking about different things there. Bias is inherent in blogs. People here write from their own perspectives. There’s no need nor responsibility to write neutrally. The whole point is that it’s left wing, and that individuals write what they want. The robust debate culture means that if an author writes something that is untrue they will be called on it. I would say the site admin have a responsibility to not publish slander, and that the authors have a responsibility to post things that are true. But other than that, individual views are appropriate.

          I’m curious where you see the bias is in this instance.

          As for moderation subtlety, I’m not sure how you mean that could happen. If you mean the swearing, then I doubt anything can be done about that, and Lynn has a pretty consistent argument for why he moderates rudely. I don’t particularly like it, but it does work.

          If you mean the ban wasn’t warranted, then I’d point to the fact that seeing the context is hard from the front end of the site. Often people get banned for a pattern of behaviour. Or multiple factors. It takes time to moderate. People tend to find ways to be efficient with that time 😉

          • Adrian Thornton 9.2.1.1.1
            21 July 2016 at 12:07 am

            What I mean in a nutshell, is that I know some people on the Left, ( I am talking about mainly Woman here btw, but not all) who find this confrontational style of moderation to be…well just that, so they don’t feel comfortable participating in the dialogue on this site. I think that is a real shame, as there is so few of us as it is.
            Just in response to your reply, I think you misunderstood me, I am of course all for people writing from their perspective and experience, with all the bias and baggage that entails…which we all do to some extent, and I completely agree, as long as we get the facts right…go for it.
            Infact that’s what I really like about the comment section, that other commenters will often be the first one’s to pull you up about your facts, if you have been sloppy or imprecise. I find it is quite a good way of getting forced into some further research, usually to back your self out of a corner…
            What I meant was that the overall structure is of calm balance ( if you know what I mean), but as I said previously, that’s just my opinion…maybe it works better this way.

            • weka 9.2.1.1.1.1
              21 July 2016 at 12:27 am

              I agree there is definitely an issue about why more women don’t participate as commenters and authors (and not just women). Ironically, stronger moderation would improve that. However it would also take more time and that’s not available at the moment.

              I’m a woman btw, and am thinking through some ways to make the place more conducive to women, especially authors (and hopefully commenters), so would be interested in your perspectives on this.

              How much of the off putting thing is the occasional moderation Lynn style, and how much the overall culture of the comments section? If the macho moderation changed (hypothetically), would you see the comments section as being a place more women would take part in?

  10. Erik Bloodaxe 10
    20 July 2016 at 9:57 am

    I think there is a similar media bias in New Zealand against the Labour and Green Parties – wouldn’t be surprised if similar bias occurs in a range of other Western Neoliberal States. I believe this is just part of the resource the right put in place to maintain neoliberal hegemony. Other actions include “think tanks”, “task forces” and various groups (e.g. in NZ is the NZ Initiative) that masqerade as non-partisan, critical analysis ‘vessels’ but which are appointed with predominantly right-wing spin merchants who seek to maintain the neoliberal status quo.

    • Anne 10.1
      20 July 2016 at 10:51 am

      Anyone over the age of 50 will recall the political scientists and commentators of the 60s, 70s and 80s, and their ability to provide mature and objective commentary.

      Compare them to today’s mainstream commentators. To begin with most are only in their 20s and 30s. They frequently show an alarming ignorance and no clear political comprehesion. Few of them have any knowledge whatsoever of the world prior to the emergence of the ideological neoliberal madness. In the case of the TV channels most of the female reporters appear to be chosen for their good looks rather than ability. A good example occurred a couple of days after the Aussie election. TV1’s Aussie correspondent (forgotten her name) intoned mournfully that Bill Shorten’s leadership was on shaky ground and that he may not survive. No mention of the fact Labor had done a tremendous job winning back a large chunk of the seats lost in the previous election and came close to winning the election.

      • Chuck 10.1.1
        20 July 2016 at 2:19 pm

        “Anyone over the age of 50 will recall the political scientists and commentators of the 60s, 70s and 80s, and their ability to provide mature and objective commentary.”

        Anne, I think a major reason for the decline in standards of today is back in the 60/70/80’s people needed to sit down and watch TV1 (example) for the news and comments of the day (political per this thread). This was often an in dept affair…contrast to today…its all about 1 or 2 minute sound bites as TV tries to complete with social media / blogs / etc…

  11. Gosman 11
    20 July 2016 at 10:25 am

    What I find interesting about this is that a country that probably has the media environment that has the widest range of opinions AND the strong Influence of a non commercial State controlled media agency (BBC) it is still not enough for some people. You seemingly want more control of the message. It is a particularly ugly side of the left.

    • weka 11.1
      20 July 2016 at 10:56 am

      Going by that comment I’ll now assume that you either didn’t read the reports or you didn’t understand them. If you want to critique the study, you are free to do so. This is nothing to do with the State btw, so you can drop that straw man now.

      • framu 11.1.1
        20 July 2016 at 12:21 pm

        is gossie anything BUT straw man?

      • adam 11.1.2
        20 July 2016 at 1:03 pm

        Gosman like many of his brethren have moral blindness when it comes to corporations. They struggle with the fact that business don’t operate in self interest. And in many cases the corporations and so called free market models he holds so dear, end up acting in exactly the same way as the state does. This means they attack the state more, whilst all the time being deluded by business.

        Gosman, you realise your brethren in the USA have woken up to the fact that the Republicans and many of the corporations are hand in hand. So the State and Business are being dishonest. Indeed they are engaging in the worst sin of all -THE MANIPULATION OF THE MARKETS!

      • Gosman 11.1.3
        20 July 2016 at 1:09 pm

        How else would you ensure ‘balance’ and ‘fairness’ without State involvement?

        • weka 11.1.3.1
          20 July 2016 at 11:40 pm

          You seem to be confusing things Gosman. The suggestion isn’t for the State to control the message, but that the MSM needs to be less biased in its approach. If the MSM can’t do that of their own accord then of course the State should use legislation to make it happen. But that’s not the State controlling content. That’s the State mandating standards.

          Having said that, the post is about the existing situation, whereby the MSM exhibits demonstrable bias. You think that’s fine. Others think it’s a problem, because as outlined in the report, it has implications for democracy.

    • Siobhan 11.2
      20 July 2016 at 3:51 pm

      The problem here is that I, and it would seem a good number of Guardian readers think of the Guardian as being Left leaning, in a very polite sort of way.
      What we are forgetting is their stated position if very much Centrist.
      They are, and have always been, very actively, Blair supporters. So there is no reason in the world for them to offer balanced commentary on Corbyn who is a very credible threat to the status quo.
      I’m all for calling them out on their appalling political coverage, both in America and the UK, not to mention their irrational coverage of Israel, but I view them as being like a grumpy old Uncle, who occasionally says something I can get my head around, but who I know is about to kill the room by expressing something absolutely inappropriate.

  12. Rodel 12
    20 July 2016 at 11:45 am

    Just finished reading ‘Exceptions to the Rulers’ by Amy Goodman (of Democracy Now) and her brother David Goodman. Unsurprising revelations about the Bushes, Rumsfield, Clinton, Kissinger, Blair, East Timor, Iraq , etc.etc and the appalling bias of giant media companies.
    Alarming investigative journalism but worth a read.

  13. Andrea 13
    20 July 2016 at 9:12 pm

    How many people read the ‘main stream media’ for indepth articles on politics and political players both local and international?

    How many people now tune in to ‘the news’ on radio and/or tv? Which demographics?

    And of those who do – how many hold their noses and go looking for contrary views so they get many sides to ‘the story’?

    Why should they? With all the other calls on time, and much more pleasant things to do – why should they give you their ears and eyeballs for your ‘messages’? Most of them/us would be hard pressed to recognise our MP or even Mayor in the street. Politics is like one of those weird sports we see once every four years at the Olympics (bowls. Synchronised swimming.) We don’t know the rules, the players, the leaders of the pack. No ‘winner’s halo’ from this sport.

    Gosman is probably right (eek! Pun!) With what’s available it should be possible to do an online rag – like http://bellacaledonia.org.uk/. The challenge would be – how to capture those eyeballs often enough. The UK may have an answer of sorts: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/more-people-have-joined-labour-since-the-election-than-are-in-the-entire-conservative-party-a6686001.html

    It probably wasn’t with the help of the MSM.

  14. Psycho Milt 14
    21 July 2016 at 7:02 am

    As if wanting to help illustrate your post, this morning’s Guardian has the story “Labour supporters have cooled on Corbyn, Guardian survey finds”. In it, we don’t learn to what extent enthusiasm for Corbyn has reduced, but we do learn that

    … there is no evidence of support for an alternative candidate – with barely a mention of either Owen Smith, relatively unknown until he launched his challenge to Corbyn, or Angela Eagle, who dropped out shortly after the survey was completed.

    Also buried within the story:

    Others expressed outrage at the parliamentary Labour party for undermining him from the start of his leadership and mounting the coup attempt against him.

    But the take-home message is that support for Corbyn among the membership is reduced, by some unspecified amount.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • “Financially reckless” Parker ignores election
    Environment Minister David Parker is pressing ahead with a report which will almost certainly advocate greater rights for Maori over water allocation. Parker has set up a working group to investigate allocation, and he has done so only 12 days before an election. And just over three weeks ago ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    58 mins ago

  • At a glance – Climate scientists would make more money in other careers
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    11 hours ago

  • Chris Trotter: Nostalgic for a joyous Left
    I WAS A CAPTAIN COOK MAN, Grant Robertson was a Robbie Burns man. If you know anything about the great student pubs of Dunedin in the 1970s, 80s and 90s, those allegiances should tell you a lot. While I was at varsity, the “Cook” had a reputation for entertaining more ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    12 hours ago

  • Spray, spray, spray. There we go. Problem solved.
    Good old WD40. Is there nothing it can't do?Door squeaking? No problem, WD-40.Chewing gum stuck to the carpet? No worries, WD-40. Crayon marks? Spanner rusted up? Zipper won't undo? WD-40. WD-40. WD-40. It can even waterproof your shoes, I hear.(More Than A Feilding makes no warranty as to the efficacy of WD40 ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    13 hours ago

  • Taxpayers might be piste off, as govt lending to ski field is lifted to $50m – but more corporate ...
    Buzz from the Beehive The distributions of two dollops of corporate welfare have been proudly announced in government press statements today, but neither mentions or relates to the further taxpayer funding for ski fields on the skids. The government’s official website tells of $7 million being provided to boost aerospace ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    14 hours ago

  • The police know they suck at the OIA
    In recent years I've done a long series of posts poking into police OIA data and how it hides how badly the police suck at carrying out their obligations under the Act. And in a response to a recent request, it seems the police have been doing the same. A ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    14 hours ago

  • Gordon Campbell on National’s disdain for the Press debate
    Christopher Luxon evidently thinks this election is SO in the bag that he can afford to spurn the still-undecideds, the entire South Island, and the old Christchurch money that still reads the Press and shops at Ballantynes. We should all shed a tear for the National Party candidates across the ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    16 hours ago

  • ELIZABETH RATA: Two Treaties of Waitangi – the Articles Treaty and the Principles Treaty
    Elizabeth Rate writes – There are two versions of the Treaty of Waitangi.  The first is the 1840 Treaty – the ‘Articles Treaty’. The second is what I call the ‘Principles Treaty’. It dates from 1986 when the principles were first included in legislation. Astonishingly, the parliamentary ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    19 hours ago

  • Tuesday’s Chorus: When it's ok to borrow to invest
    Mayor Wayne Brown, a Northland land-banker himself, appears relaxed about borrowing to invest in land but not in, for example, transport infrastructure and services. File photo: Lynn Grieveson/Getty ImagesTL;DR: You couldn’t make this stuff up. A mayor determined to cut council debt by selling shares in a monopoly business because ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    20 hours ago

  • How well do our Rapid Transit Stations perform
    As we invest in our public transport network, it’s critical that we not only invest in transformative projects like the City Rail Link, but that we also get as much use as we can out of the network we already have – which will also maximise the outcomes of those ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    22 hours ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Ten reasons Labour’s support has halved
    The Labour Government was elected with 50 per cent of the vote three years ago, but current opinion polls show their vote could halve in this year’s election, which would be one of the biggest plunges in political history. Most polls have Labour on about 26 per cent. And the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    22 hours ago

  • Elizabeth Rata: Two Treaties of Waitangi: The Articles Treaty and the Principles Treaty
    Commentary There are two versions of the Treaty of Waitangi.  The first is the 1840 Treaty – the ‘Articles Treaty’. The second is what I call the ‘Principles Treaty’. It dates from 1986 when the principles were first included in legislation. Astonishingly the parliamentary representatives who inserted the word ‘principles’ ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    22 hours ago

  • Climate Emergency!
    It’s hard not to become a bit blasé towards climate change headlines. Flooding kills hundreds - blah. Catastrophic droughts - blah blah. One-in-a-hundred year events happening every year - blah blah blah.The earth had its highest temperature on record - again. Think we’ve read that one.So many articles telling us ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    23 hours ago

  • The Kākā Project: The economics of sufficiency
    The Kākā’s climate correspondent and had a chat with environmental historian and author Catherine Knight about why ‘feel good' actions like recycling and owning an electric car are unlikely to be enough to create a transition to zero emissions, let alone a just one. Knight says comments like ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    24 hours ago

  • Chippy misses a chance
    National leader Christopher Luxon has pulled out of any rescheduling of tonight’s Press debate, which has had to be cancelled because Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has Covid. The cancellation has given National an excuse to avoid a debate, which was always going to be a risk for Luxon. But ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago

  • The Angry Majority.
    The People's Champion vs The People's Prosecutor: It is the news media’s job to elicit information from politicians – not to prosecute them. Peters’ promise to sort out TVNZ should be believed. If he finds himself in a position to carry out his threat, then it will only be because ...
    Bowalley Road
    2 days ago

  • Verrall is chuffed by govt’s latest push into pay equity while Woods enthuses about an $11m spend ...
    Buzz from the Beehive The headline on a ministerial press statement curiously expresses the government’s position when it declares:   Government shows further commitment to pay equity for healthcare workers. Is it not enough to declare just one commitment? Or is the government’s commitment to pay equity being declared sector by ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • A very worthy coalition partner for Seymour and Luxon
    There have been 53 New Zealand Parliaments so far. The 39th of them was elected in 1978. It was a parliament of 92 MPs, most of them men. The New Zealand Music Awards that year named John Rowles Male Vocalist of the Year and — after a short twelve months ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Labour still protecting the status quo
    Aotearoa has a cost of living crisis. And one of the major drivers of this crisis is the supermarket duopoly, who gouge every dollar they can out of us. Last year, the Commerce Commission found that the duopoly was in fact anti-competititve, giving the government social licence to fix the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on National’s myths about the desolated state of the economy
    Familiarity breeds consent. If you repeat the line “six years of economic mis-management” about 10,000 times, it sounds like the received wisdom, whatever the evidence to the contrary. Yes, the global pandemic and the global surge in inflation that came in its wake occurred here as well – but if ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    2 days ago

  • MICHAEL BASSETT: Hapless Hipkins and his racism
    Michael Bassett writes – Without so much as batting an eyelid, Chris Hipkins told an audience on Saturday that there had been “more racism” in this election campaign than ever before. And he blamed it on the opposition parties, National, Act and New Zealand First. In those ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • BRIAN EASTON: The ‘recession’ has been called off, but some households are still struggling
    While the economy is not doing too badly in output terms, external circumstances are not favourable, and there is probably a sizeable group of households struggling because of rising interest rates. Brian Easton writes – Last week’s announcement of a 0.9 percent increase in volume GDP for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Monday’s Chorus: Richie Poulton's lament
    “You can't really undo what happens during childhood”, said the director of the Dunedin longitudinal study. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Richie Poulton, the director of the world-leading Dunedin longitudinal study showing how devastating poverty in early life is, died yesterday. With his final words, he lamented the lack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • North-western downgrades
    This is a guest post from reader Peter N As many of us know, Auckland Transport and Waka Kotahi are well into progressing works on the northwestern interim “busway” with services to kick off in just over a month from now on Sunday 12th November 2023. Some of the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    2 days ago

  • Has Webworm Found New Zealand’s Weirdest School?
    Hi,Before we talk about weird schools people choose to send their kids to, a few things on my mind. I adored the Ask Me Anything we did last week. Thanks for taking part. I love answering your weird and nosy questions, even questions about beans.I am excited and scared as Mister ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago

  • Another mother of a budget
    A National government would make spending cuts on a scale not seen since the 1990 – 96 Bolger government.That much was confirmed with the release of their Fiscal Plan on Friday.Government spending is currently high as a percentage of GDP — as high as it was during the Muldoon ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago

  • A crucial week starts as early voting opens in the NZ Elections … it’s been a ride so far. Are y...
    Chris Hipkins down with Covid, at least for 5 days isolation, National continue to obfuscate, ACT continues to double-down on the poor and Winston… well, he’s being Winston really. Voters beware: this week could be even more infuriating than the last. No Party is what they used to be ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    2 days ago

  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #39
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Sep 24, 2023 thru Sat, Sep 30, 2023. Story of the Week We’re not doomed yet’: climate scientist Michael Mann on our last chance to save human civilisation The renowned US ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • Clusterf**ck of Chaos.
    On the 11th of April 1945 advancing US forces liberated the Nazi concentration camp of Buchenwald near Weimar in Germany. In the coming days, under the order of General Patton, a thousand nearby residents were forced to march to the camp to see the atrocities that had been committed in ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • The party of business deals with the future by pretending it isn’t coming
    Years and years ago, when Helen Clark was Prime Minister and John Key was gunning for her job, I had a conversation with a mate, a trader who knew John Key well enough to paint a helpful picture.It was many drinks ago so it’s not a complete one. But there’s ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • 2023 More Reading: September (+ Old Phuul update)
    Completed reads for September: The Lost Continent, by C.J. Cutcliffe Hyne Flatland, by Edwin Abbott All Quiet on the Western Front, by Erich Maria Remarque The Country of the Blind, by H.G. Wells The Day of the Triffids, by John Wyndham A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    4 days ago

  • Losing The Left.
    Descending Into The Dark: The ideological cadres currently controlling both Labour and the Greens are forcing “justice”, “participation” and “democracy” to make way for what is “appropriate” and “responsible”. But, where does that leave the people who, for most of their adult lives, have voted for left-wing parties, precisely to ...
    Bowalley Road
    4 days ago

  • The New “Emperor’s New Clothes”.
    “‘BUT HE HASN’T GOT ANYTHING ON,’ a little boy said ….. ‘But he hasn’t got anything on!’ the whole town cried out at last.”On this optimistic note, Hans Christian Andersen brings his cautionary tale of “The Emperor’s New Clothes” to an end.Andersen’s children’s story was written nearly two centuries ago, ...
    Bowalley Road
    4 days ago

  • BRYCE EDWARDS: The vested interests shaping National Party policies
      Bryce Edwards writes – As the National Party gets closer to government, lobbyists and business interests will be lining up for influence and to get policies adopted. It’s therefore in the public interest to have much more scrutiny and transparency about potential conflicts of interests that ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: A conundrum for those pushing racist dogma
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – The heavily promoted narrative, which has ramped up over the last six years, is that Maori somehow have special vulnerabilities which arise from outside forces they cannot control; that contemporary society fails to meet their needs. They are not receptive to messages and ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • CHRIS TROTTER:  The greater of two evils
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.   Chris Trotter writes – THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • The Hoon around the week to Sept 30
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:Labour presented a climate manifesto that aimed to claim the high ground on climate action vs National, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • The ‘Recession’ Has Been Called Off, But Some Households Are Still Struggling
    While the economy is not doing too badly in output terms, external circumstances are not favourable, and there is probably a sizeable group of households struggling because of rising interest rates.Last week’s announcement of a 0.9 percent increase in volume GDP for the June quarter had the commentariat backing down ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    5 days ago

  • Climate Change: The wrong direction
    This week the International Energy Association released its Net Zero Roadmap, intended to guide us towards a liveable climate. The report demanded huge increases in renewable generation, no new gas or oil, and massive cuts to methane emissions. It was positive about our current path, but recommended that countries with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • “Racism” becomes a buzz word on the campaign trail – but our media watchdogs stay muzzled when...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Oh, dear.  We have nothing to report from the Beehive. At least, we have nothing to report from the government’s official website. But the drones have not gone silent.  They are out on the election campaign trail, busy buzzing about this and that in the hope ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • Play it, Elvis
    Election Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t have time for. You’re welcome, etc. Let us press on, etc. 1.  What did Christopher Luxon use to his advantage in ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Pure class warfare
    National unveiled its fiscal policy today, announcing all the usual things which business cares about and I don't. But it did finally tell us how National plans to pay for its handouts to landlords: by effectively cutting benefits: The biggest saving announced on Friday was $2b cut from the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • Ask Me Anything about the week to Sept 29
    Photo by Anna Ogiienko on UnsplashIt’s that time of the week for an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session for paying subscribers about the week that was for an hour, including:duelling fiscal plans from National and Labour;Labour cutting cycling spending while accusing National of being weak on climate;Research showing the need for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • Weekly Roundup 29-September-2023
    Welcome to Friday and the last one for September. This week in Greater Auckland On Monday, Matt highlighted at the latest with the City Rail Link. On Tuesday, Matt covered the interesting items from Auckland Transport’s latest board meeting agendas. On Thursday, a guest post from Darren Davis ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago

  • Protest at Parliament: The Reunion.
    Brian’s god spoke to him. He, for of course the Lord in Tamaki’s mind was a male god, with a mighty rod, and probably some black leathers. He, told Brian - “you must put a stop to all this love, hope, and kindness”. And it did please the Brian.He said ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Labour cuts $50m from cycleway spending
    Labour is cutting spending on cycling infrastructure while still trying to claim the higher ground on climate. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Labour Government released a climate manifesto this week to try to claim the high ground against National, despite having ignored the Climate Commission’s advice to toughen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • The Greater Of Two Evils.
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very rarely is an opposition party elected ...
    Bowalley Road
    5 days ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #39 2023
    Open access notables "Net zero is only a distraction— we just have to end fossil fuel emissions." The latter is true but the former isn't, or  not in the real world as it's likely to be in the immediate future. And "just" just doesn't enter into it; we don't have ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • Chris Trotter: Losing the Left
    IN THE CURRENT MIX of electoral alternatives, there is no longer a credible left-wing party. Not when “a credible left-wing party” is defined as: a class-oriented, mass-based, democratically-structured political organisation; dedicated to promoting ideas sharply critical of laissez-faire capitalism; and committed to advancing democratic, egalitarian and emancipatory ideals across the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    5 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • Hipkins fires up in leaders’ debate, but has the curtain already fallen on the Labour-led coalitio...
    Labour’s  Chris Hipkins came out firing, in the  leaders’ debate  on Newshub’s evening programme, and most of  the pundits  rated  him the winner against National’s  Christopher Luxon. But will this make any difference when New  Zealanders  start casting their ballots? The problem  for  Hipkins is  that  voters are  all too ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    6 days ago

  • Govt is energising housing projects with solar power – and fuelling the public’s concept of a di...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Not long after Point of Order published data which show the substantial number of New Zealanders (77%) who believe NZ is becoming more divided, government ministers were braying about a programme which distributes some money to “the public” and some to “Maori”. The ministers were dishing ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • MIKE GRIMSHAW: Election 2023 – a totemic & charisma failure?
    The D&W analysis Michael Grimshaw writes –  Given the apathy, disengagement, disillusionment, and all-round ennui of this year’s general election, it was considered time to bring in those noted political operatives and spin doctors D&W, the long-established consultancy firm run by Emile Durkheim and Max Weber. Known for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • FROM BFD: Will Winston be the spectre we think?
    Kissy kissy. Cartoon credit BoomSlang. The BFD. JC writes-  Allow me to preface this contribution with the following statement: If I were asked to express a preference between a National/ACT coalition or a National/ACT/NZF coalition then it would be the former. This week Luxon declared his position, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • California’s climate disclosure bill could have a huge impact across the U.S.
    This re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Andy Furillo was originally published by Capital & Main and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. The California Legislature took a step last week that has the potential to accelerate the fight against climate ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • Untangling South East Queensland’s Public Transport
    This is a cross post Adventures in Transitland by Darren Davis. I recently visited Brisbane and South East Queensland and came away both impressed while also pondering some key changes to make public transport even better in the region. Here goes with my take on things. A bit of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    6 days ago

  • Try A Little Kindness.
    My daughter arrived home from the supermarket yesterday and she seemed a bit worried about something. It turned out she wanted to know if someone could get her bank number from a receipt.We wound the story back.She was in the store and there was a man there who was distressed, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • What makes NZFirst tick
    New Zealand’s longest-running political roadshow rolled into Opotiki yesterday, with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters knowing another poll last night showed he would make it back to Parliament and National would need him and his party if they wanted to form a government. The Newshub Reid Research poll ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago

  • September AMA
    Hi,As September draws to a close — I feel it’s probably time to do an Ask Me Anything. You know how it goes: If you have any burning questions, fire away in the comments and I will do my best to answer. You might have questions about Webworm, or podcast ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago

  • Bludgers lying in the scratcher making fools of us all
    The mediocrity who stands to be a Prime Minister has a litany.He uses it a bit like a Koru Lounge card. He will brandish it to say: these people are eligible. And more than that, too: These people are deserving. They have earned this policy.They have a right to this policy. What ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    7 days ago

  • More “partnerships” (by the look of it) and redress of over $30 million in Treaty settlement wit...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point of Order has waited until now – 3.45pm – for today’s officially posted government announcements.  There have been none. The only addition to the news on the Beehive’s website was posted later yesterday, after we had published our September 26 Buzz report. It came from ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 days ago

  • ALEX HOLLAND: Labour’s spending
    Alex Holland writes –  In 2017 when Labour came to power, crown spending was $76 billion per year. Now in 2023 it is $139 billion per year, which equates to a $63 billion annual increase (over $1 billion extra spend every week!) In 2017, New Zealand’s government debt ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago

  • If not now, then when?
    Labour released its fiscal plan today, promising the same old, same old: "responsibility", balanced books, and of course no new taxes: "Labour will maintain income tax settings to provide consistency and certainty in these volatile times. Now is not the time for additional taxes or to promise billions of ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago

  • THE FACTS:  77% of Kiwis believe NZ is becoming more divided
    The Facts has posted –        KEY INSIGHTSOf New Zealander’s polled: Social unity/division 77%believe NZ is becoming more divided (42% ‘much more’ + 35% ‘a little more’) 3%believe NZ is becoming less divided (1% ‘much less’ + 2% ‘a little less’) ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the cynical brutality of the centre-right’s welfare policies
    The centre-right’s enthusiasm for forcing people off the benefit and into paid work is matched only by the enthusiasm (shared by Treasury and the Reserve Bank) for throwing people out of paid work to curb inflation, and achieve the optimal balance of workers to job seekers deemed to be desirable ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    7 days ago

  • Wednesday’s Chorus: Arthur Grimes on why building many, many more social houses is so critical
    New research shows that tenants in social housing - such as these Wellington apartments - are just as happy as home owners and much happier than private tenants. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The election campaign took an ugly turn yesterday, and in completely the wrong direction. All three ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 days ago

  • Bennie Bashing.
    If there’s one thing the mob loves more than keeping Māori in their place, more than getting tough on the gangs, maybe even more than tax cuts. It’s a good old round of beneficiary bashing.Are those meanies in the ACT party stealing your votes because they think David Seymour is ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago

  • The kindest cuts
    Labour kicks off the fiscal credibility battle today with the release of its fiscal plan. National is expected to follow, possibly as soon as Thursday, with its own plan, which may (or may not) address the large hole that the problems with its foreign buyers’ ban might open up. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 week ago

  • Green right turn in Britain? Well, a start
    While it may be unlikely to register in New Zealand’s general election, Britain’s PM Rishi Sunak has done something which might just be important in the long run. He’s announced a far-reaching change in his Conservative government’s approach to environmental, and particularly net zero, policy. The starting point – ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    1 week ago

  • At a glance – How do human CO2 emissions compare to natural CO2 emissions?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • How could this happen?
    Canada is in uproar after the exposure that its parliament on September 22 provided a standing ovation to a Nazi veteran who had been invited into the chamber to participate in the parliamentary welcome to Ukrainian President Zelensky. Yaroslav Hunka, 98, a Ukrainian man who volunteered for service in ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    1 week ago

  • Youth justice programme expands to break cycle of offending
    The successful ‘Circuit Breaker’ fast track programme designed to stop repeat youth offending was launched in two new locations today by Children’s Minister Kelvin Davis. The programme, first piloted in West and South Auckland in December last year, is aimed at children aged 10-13 who commit serious offending or continue ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago

  • Major milestone with 20,000 employers using Apprenticeship Boost
    The Government’s Apprenticeship Boost initiative has now supported 20,000 employers to help keep on and train up apprentices, Minister for Social Development and Employment Carmel Sepuloni announced in Christchurch today. Almost 62,000 apprentices have been supported to start and keep training for a trade since the initiative was introduced in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago

  • Government supporting wood processing jobs and more diverse industry
    The Government is supporting non-pine tree sawmilling and backing further job creation in sawmills in Rotorua and Whangarei, Forestry Minister Peeni Henare said.   “The Forestry and Wood Processing Industry Transformation Plan identified the need to add more diversity to our productions forests, wood products and markets,” Peeni Henare said. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago

  • Government backing Canterbury’s future in aerospace industry
    The Government is helping Canterbury’s aerospace industry take off with further infrastructure support for the Tāwhaki Aerospace Centre at Kaitorete, Infrastructure Minister Dr Megan Woods has announced. “Today I can confirm we will provide a $5.4 million grant to the Tāwhaki Joint Venture to fund a sealed runway and hangar ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago

  • Updated forestry regulations increase council controls and require large slash removal
    Local councils will have more power to decide where new commercial forests – including carbon forests – are located, to reduce impacts on communities and the environment, Environment Minister David Parker said today. “New national standards give councils greater control over commercial forestry, including clear rules on harvesting practices and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago

  • New Zealand resumes peacekeeping force leadership
    New Zealand will again contribute to the leadership of the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, with a senior New Zealand Defence Force officer returning as Interim Force Commander. Defence Minister Andrew Little and Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta have announced the deployment of New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • New national direction provides clarity for development and the environment
    The Government has taken an important step in implementing the new resource management system, by issuing a draft National Planning Framework (NPF) document under the new legislation, Environment Minister David Parker said today. “The NPF consolidates existing national direction, bringing together around 20 existing instruments including policy statements, standards, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government shows further commitment to pay equity for healthcare workers
    The Government welcomes the proposed pay equity settlement that will see significant pay increases for around 18,000 Te Whatu Ora Allied, Scientific, and Technical employees, if accepted said Health Minister Ayesha Verrall. The proposal reached between Te Whatu Ora, the New Zealand Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • 100 new public EV chargers to be added to national network
    The public EV charging network has received a significant boost with government co-funding announced today for over 100 EV chargers – with over 200 charging ports altogether – across New Zealand, and many planned to be up and running on key holiday routes by Christmas this year. Minister of Energy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Safeguarding Tuvalu language and identity
    Tuvalu is in the spotlight this week as communities across New Zealand celebrate Vaiaso o te Gagana Tuvalu – Tuvalu Language Week. “The Government has a proven record of supporting Pacific communities and ensuring more of our languages are spoken, heard and celebrated,” Pacific Peoples Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Many ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • New community-level energy projects to support more than 800 Māori households
    Seven more innovative community-scale energy projects will receive government funding through the Māori and Public Housing Renewable Energy Fund to bring more affordable, locally generated clean energy to more than 800 Māori households, Energy and Resources Minister Dr Megan Woods says. “We’ve already funded 42 small-scale clean energy projects that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Huge boost to Te Tai Tokerau flood resilience
    The Government has approved new funding that will boost resilience and greatly reduce the risk of major flood damage across Te Tai Tokerau. Significant weather events this year caused severe flooding and damage across the region. The $8.9m will be used to provide some of the smaller communities and maraes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Napier’s largest public housing development comes with solar
    The largest public housing development in Napier for many years has been recently completed and has the added benefit of innovative solar technology, thanks to Government programmes, says Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods. The 24 warm, dry homes are in Seddon Crescent, Marewa and Megan Woods says the whanau living ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Te Whānau a Apanui and the Crown initial Deed of Settlement I Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me...
    Māori: Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna te Whakaaetanga Whakataunga Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna i tētahi Whakaaetanga Whakataunga hei whakamihi i ō rātou tāhuhu kerēme Tiriti o Waitangi. E tekau mā rua ngā hapū o roto mai o Te Whānau ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Plan for 3,000 more public homes by 2025 – regions set to benefit
    Regions around the country will get significant boosts of public housing in the next two years, as outlined in the latest public housing plan update, released by the Housing Minister, Dr Megan Woods. “We’re delivering the most public homes each year since the Nash government of the 1950s with one ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Immigration settings updates
    Judicial warrant process for out-of-hours compliance visits 2023/24 Recognised Seasonal Employer cap increased by 500 Additional roles for Construction and Infrastructure Sector Agreement More roles added to Green List Three-month extension for onshore Recovery Visa holders The Government has confirmed a number of updates to immigration settings as part of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Poroporoaki: Tā Patrick (Patu) Wahanga Hohepa
    Tangi ngunguru ana ngā tai ki te wahapū o Hokianga Whakapau Karakia. Tārehu ana ngā pae maunga ki Te Puna o te Ao Marama. Korihi tangi ana ngā manu, kua hinga he kauri nui ki te Wao Nui o Tāne. He Toa. He Pou. He Ahorangi. E papaki tū ana ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Renewable energy fund to support community resilience
    40 solar energy systems on community buildings in regions affected by Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events Virtual capability-building hub to support community organisations get projects off the ground Boost for community-level renewable energy projects across the country At least 40 community buildings used to support the emergency response ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • COVID-19 funding returned to Government
    The lifting of COVID-19 isolation and mask mandates in August has resulted in a return of almost $50m in savings and recovered contingencies, Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. Following the revocation of mandates and isolation, specialised COVID-19 telehealth and alternative isolation accommodation are among the operational elements ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Appointment of District Court Judge
    Susie Houghton of Auckland has been appointed as a new District Court Judge, to serve on the Family Court, Attorney-General David Parker said today.  Judge Houghton has acted as a lawyer for child for more than 20 years. She has acted on matters relating to the Hague Convention, an international ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Government invests further in Central Hawke’s Bay resilience
    The Government has today confirmed $2.5 million to fund a replace and upgrade a stopbank to protect the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant. “As a result of Cyclone Gabrielle, the original stopbank protecting the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant was destroyed. The plant was operational within 6 weeks of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Govt boost for Hawke’s Bay cyclone waste clean-up
    Another $2.1 million to boost capacity to deal with waste left in Cyclone Gabrielle’s wake. Funds for Hastings District Council, Phoenix Contracting and Hog Fuel NZ to increase local waste-processing infrastructure. The Government is beefing up Hawke’s Bay’s Cyclone Gabrielle clean-up capacity with more support dealing with the massive amount ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Taupō Supercars revs up with Government support
    The future of Supercars events in New Zealand has been secured with new Government support. The Government is getting engines started through the Major Events Fund, a special fund to support high profile events in New Zealand that provide long-term economic, social and cultural benefits. “The Repco Supercars Championship is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • There is no recession in NZ, economy grows nearly 1 percent in June quarter
    The economy has turned a corner with confirmation today New Zealand never was in recession and stronger than expected growth in the June quarter, Finance Minister Grant Robertson said. “The New Zealand economy is doing better than expected,” Grant Robertson said. “It’s continuing to grow, with the latest figures showing ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Highest legal protection for New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs
    The Government has accepted the Environment Court’s recommendation to give special legal protection to New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs, Te Waikoropupū Springs (also known as Pupū Springs), Environment Minister David Parker announced today.   “Te Waikoropupū Springs, near Takaka in Golden Bay, have the second clearest water in New Zealand after ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • More support for victims of migrant exploitation
    Temporary package of funding for accommodation and essential living support for victims of migrant exploitation Exploited migrant workers able to apply for a further Migrant Exploitation Protection Visa (MEPV), giving people more time to find a job Free job search assistance to get people back into work Use of 90-day ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Strong export boost as NZ economy turns corner
    An export boost is supporting New Zealand’s economy to grow, adding to signs that the economy has turned a corner and is on a stronger footing as we rebuild from Cyclone Gabrielle and lock in the benefits of multiple new trade deals, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. “The economy is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Funding approved for flood resilience work in Te Karaka
    The Government has approved $15 million to raise about 200 homes at risk of future flooding. More than half of this is expected to be spent in the Tairāwhiti settlement of Te Karaka, lifting about 100 homes there. “Te Karaka was badly hit during Cyclone Gabrielle when the Waipāoa River ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Further business support for cyclone-affected regions
    The Government is helping businesses recover from Cyclone Gabrielle and attract more people back into their regions. “Cyclone Gabrielle has caused considerable damage across North Island regions with impacts continuing to be felt by businesses and communities,” Economic Development Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Building on our earlier business support, this ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • New maintenance facility at Burnham Military Camp underway
    Defence Minister Andrew Little has turned the first sod to start construction of a new Maintenance Support Facility (MSF) at Burnham Military Camp today. “This new state-of-art facility replaces Second World War-era buildings and will enable our Defence Force to better maintain and repair equipment,” Andrew Little said. “This Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Foreign Minister to attend United Nations General Assembly
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will represent New Zealand at the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York this week, before visiting Washington DC for further Pacific focussed meetings. Nanaia Mahuta will be in New York from Wednesday 20 September, and will participate in UNGA leaders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Midwives’ pay equity offer reached
    Around 1,700 Te Whatu Ora employed midwives and maternity care assistants will soon vote on a proposed pay equity settlement agreed by Te Whatu Ora, the Midwifery Employee Representation and Advisory Service (MERAS) and New Zealand Nurses Association (NZNO), Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. “Addressing historical pay ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

  • New Zealand provides support to Morocco
    Aotearoa New Zealand will provide humanitarian support to those affected by last week’s earthquake in Morocco, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced today. “We are making a contribution of $1 million to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to help meet humanitarian needs,” Nanaia Mahuta said. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

  • Government invests in West Coast’s roading resilience
    The Government is investing over $22 million across 18 projects to improve the resilience of roads in the West Coast that have been affected by recent extreme weather, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed today.  A dedicated Transport Resilience Fund has been established for early preventative works to protect the state ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2023-10-03T16:57:37+00:00