Failure after failure

Written By: - Date published: 7:56 pm, June 17th, 2013 - 90 comments
Categories: Media - Tags: ,

Truth has had a long and proud (and often not so proud but bloody fun) history. But now it’s over. Killed off by one of the biggest failures in the blogosphere.

He’s already trying to blame it on everyone else but the truth is, like Simon Lusk’s political career, like the “freedom of speech coalition”, like the Port of Auckland’s campaign against its own workers, like the reputation of anyone that goes near him, like every other thing that wretched man-child touches,  the Truth died on Slater’s watch.

It’s an ignominious way for a 125 year old publication to finish up.

90 comments on “Failure after failure ”

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  1. Jimmie 1
    17 June 2013 at 8:21 pm

    The Truth failed as in the internet age week old news isn’t and it had a limited clientele and couldn’t escape its falling porno ad income base.

    I bought 3 copies after WO took over as editor and enjoyed the news section but gave up as I don’t like having the soft porn pages lying around our house.

    I’m sure it was good experience for WO and may help him find other work.

    As for your comment about WO being the blogosphere’s biggest failure you really are dreaming.
    (And if WO is a failure then this blog must be a wretched mess)

    He receives more hits than anyone else (several times more monthly than The Standard) and also receives regular media exposure as a commentator so I would say that he has done quite well actually.

    I know that WO and the left are mortal enemies but calling him a failure shows that you are no better than him.

    • quartz 1.1
      17 June 2013 at 8:25 pm

      I took a look at Slater’s blog after reading this and all it seems to be is a bunch of meme posts designed to suck in random overseas traffic. I also noticed this from Steve Crow:

      Steve Crow • 33 minutes ago−

      I should be annoyed for being blamed for the demise – but I am amused, so typical Cameron, blame everyone else but yourself.

      I have NEVER managed Truth and have not even consulted to the place since mid last year so I am flattered that you credit me with so much power that I can destroy a newspaper in 6 months – wow.

      Nice, I suggest you for the job and promoted your merits to the shareholders and you blame me for your failure. You had the grand idea to replace the evil adult advertising with main steam – how did that work out lol.

      I will issue you one caution, don’t defame me again. You might be the country’s biggest blogger for what that is worth but… be very careful.

      One day I might tell the real story of your and Russel Beaumont’s staggering ineptitude and dishonesty.

      Let’s see if this gets published.

      Oh yeah, and why don’t you tell your loyal followers just how little of this blog you actually do yourself and how much is done by anonymous third parties.

      • karol 1.1.1
        17 June 2013 at 8:32 pm

        Whoa! Thanks for capturing in case it disappears.

        This bit gave me pause, though:

        You had the grand idea to replace the evil adult advertising with main steam – how did that work out lol.

        Typo or a version of sly mainstream soft porn?

        Gee, some allegations in there:

        One day I might tell the real story of your and Russel Beaumont’s staggering ineptitude and dishonesty….
        Oh yeah, and why don’t you tell your loyal followers just how little of this blog you actually do yourself and how much is done by anonymous third parties.

        In the collapse, much garbage falls out.

      • Rogue Trooper 1.1.2
        17 June 2013 at 8:40 pm

        oooh. Boobs on Likes.

      • the pigman 1.1.3
        17 June 2013 at 11:25 pm

        And that’s all coming from failed Act candidate Stephen Crowe… it really shows what a disparate bunch of dangerous extremists that party was (what’s that you say – that party still exists?)

        Well they say the Left is good at devouring its own, but let’s see what these clowns can do..

    • Colonial Viper 1.2
      17 June 2013 at 8:28 pm

      but calling him a failure shows that you are no better than him.

      It’s simply a factual label mate. You get a Tui.

    • rosy 1.3
      17 June 2013 at 8:29 pm

      “Truth has had a long and proud (and often not so proud but bloody fun) history.”

      Yep, back in the day the whole neighbourhood knew the divorce details of our parents thanks to the pages of ‘court reports’ they used to run. Fun times for kids that was. Glad to see the back of that rag.

      • Macro 1.3.1
        17 June 2013 at 9:23 pm

        Never had your experience rosy – but it was always a tactless, crass publication, and I agree, I’m pleased to see the back of it.

        • David H 1.3.1.1
          18 June 2013 at 12:33 am

          Well it was also one of my employers back in the 1970’s and 80’s when I was young and stoopid lol got Lead Poisoning there too from all the lead dust that is produced when you melt lead ingots and old type. But they did pay well and it was a break from painting in the cold miserable winters days and it was warm too.

      • Malcolm 1.3.2
        21 June 2013 at 3:51 pm

        The Truth has an interesting history though. It started in 1905. Don’t know where the 125 years claim comes from. I think it is spurious.

        When it started it was sympathetic to the radical labour movement.

        People interested should check out Redmer Yska’s book, Truth : the rise and fall of the people’s paper.

    • karol 1.4
      17 June 2013 at 8:35 pm

      Actually, I think there’s still a place for weekly papers to do more backgrounded and detailed stories looking deeper into the current news stories.

      • chris73 1.4.1
        17 June 2013 at 8:59 pm

        Its a nice thought but digital would be a better option

        • karol 1.4.1.1
          17 June 2013 at 9:03 pm

          Well, i think a mix of he two works well for some Sunday papers – at least for those who can access Press Display.

      • felix 1.4.2
        17 June 2013 at 11:04 pm

        “Actually, I think there’s still a place for weekly papers to do more backgrounded and detailed stories looking deeper into the current news stories.”

        Has that ever been the role of The Truth though?

    • Rogue Trooper 1.5
      17 June 2013 at 8:41 pm

      an anachronism now. “No More Tears”, back to Purex.

  2. chris73 2
    17 June 2013 at 8:57 pm

    Please explain to me how hes “one of the biggest failures in the blogosphere”

    I mean he gets more visits and page views then this site (by a comfortable margin), he gets national exposure through print and radio (again more then anyone from here, by a comfortable margin)

    So I’d just like to know how you define failure?

    • Chris 2.1
      17 June 2013 at 9:23 pm

      I would give him first prize in tawdry, spiteful, venomous etcetera ….oh and creepy

      • chris73 2.1.1
        17 June 2013 at 9:45 pm

        Yes very good but still doesn’t answer the question

        • Chris 2.1.1.1
          17 June 2013 at 9:55 pm

          Which question was that… oh define failure. The condition or fact of not achieving the desired end or ends. My intent was to point out his achievements, his failures are irrelevant

    • Blue 2.2
      17 June 2013 at 9:28 pm

      You’re perfectly correct. It’s not Cameron Slater who is the failure. It’s our failure as a country that his blog is so popular and that he is taken seriously by our media.

      • rob 2.2.1
        18 June 2013 at 12:30 am

        No he is taken seriously by the MSM because of his high ranking
        National Party associations
        His father was their president previously and he has close ties to Collins.

    • Arfamo 2.3
      17 June 2013 at 9:38 pm

      Notoriety sells better than fame. He knows it & proves it. But only on his blog. Truth was probably stuffed the minute he took over as editor.

    • Cemetery Jones 2.4
      18 June 2013 at 11:44 am

      chris73 2
      17 June 2013 at 8:57 pm

      Please explain to me how hes “one of the biggest failures in the blogosphere”

      I mean he gets more visits and page views then this site (by a comfortable margin), he gets national exposure through print and radio (again more then anyone from here, by a comfortable margin)

      So I’d just like to know how you define failure?

      ***

      I’m not sure what the OP meant by it, but I would provide you a very fitting definition of failure which applies to the situation thus far.

      We could start with the example of WO’s ardent support for the Ports of Auckland campaign against the Maritime Union and its workers. Despite all the advantages you mention above, all the publicity and connections they can boast of, the use of those connections in conjunction with underhand tactics like the leaking of a union member’s personal details, even WO’s triumphalist running score during their campaign (I think he had the titles of his posts up to something like ‘POA 24 – Maritime Union 0’ at one point), his campaign on behalf of the POA board and its supporters failed. Now that the dust has settled, the union is still where it was, and the board had to compromise instead of getting its own way hands down.

      If the campaign against the Maritime Union and its workers was supposed to be a test run for their ability to use the blog as the pivot point in an astroturf attack strategy, then it was a failure, and a bruising one given the amount of personal attacks on Gary Parsloe and the union that were delivered and encouraged. Subsequent events have addded to this. Lusk’s cover is now MSM blown rather than beltway blown; their campaign to elevate Judith Collins and her faction is now well and truly out in the open; the bitterness of their campaign against Len Brown intensifies constantly, but there is no sign of it diminishing Brown’s standing. If they make their campaign against Brown the next test of their capabilities, I think they will once again be disappointed in the results.

      If the greater aim or strategy for WO is to provide an astroturf campaign base on the far right of National’s voter base (for the benefit of its bigger donors) by shifting the debate in their favour through the momentum they create on the blog, then so far their only fleece they can proclaim is that of Aaron Gilmore, and, welp, that’s like going after a tortoise with a tommy gun. Their coursing has so far failed to net them greater quarry in the form of the sort of trophy kills which would indicate real success for a long-term, multiple target astroturfing operation.

      Until then, guest starring with paid-advertising shill ‘presenters’ on talkback radio who seek to have their prejudices confirmed by a third party and getting yourself retweeted by Judith Collins would seem to be WO’s apogee, and in that context the fall of The Truth may be simply the latest in a series of failures which signify the limits of the astroturf strategy in a small country like NZ.

      Cem.

  3. xtasy 3
    17 June 2013 at 9:39 pm

    Good bye and rest in peace “The Truth”, long live the real truth!

    Thank you Cameron “Whaleoil”, you have done a thorough job, sinking the paper you were going to make such a great success, thoroughly down into the grave.

    A few months back Slater was sitting next to Brian Edwards and Bill Ralston on the media panel of The Nation (TV3) and boasting how he would turn “The Truth” around and bring great, hot, top stories, leading to increased circulation and an ensured survival of that paper. He was going to hold politicians to account and reveal lots of stuff he “knew”.

    He ridiculed Edwards and he was on such a “high”, they (the rest of the panel and Rachel Smalley) even started to think he was serious about his ambitions and aspirations.

    Now the real truth, at last.

    I am waiting for the demise and close down of his blog next, which would certainly be a great relief and much needed improvement of the New Zealand blogosphere.

    A “cleansing” exercise, kind of, once that happens.

    Reality check for a stranded whale, I suppose.

    • chris73 3.1
      17 June 2013 at 9:47 pm

      “I am waiting for the demise and close down of his blog next, which would certainly be a great relief and much needed improvement of the New Zealand blogosphere.”

      – I wouldn’t hold your breath

      • xtasy 3.1.1
        17 June 2013 at 11:03 pm

        No need to hold my breath. I breathe easy on this one, and time will bring his blog down, for sure. All he needs to do is seriously upset someone who could perhaps take him on and do some real harm to his “entrepreneurship” of questionable quality and “skill”.

        For instance just look at what “quartz” quoted under 1.1!

      • Arfamo 3.1.2
        18 June 2013 at 3:01 pm

        – I wouldn’t hold your breath

        That’s fair enough. I’ll bet no one here would want to hold your breath either.

  4. Frank 4
    17 June 2013 at 9:51 pm

    Fat boy is under his blankey blubbering, HA. No response yet! Come out you piece of shit! Ha Ha.

    Sorry Wrong Blog.

    HaJaHA

  5. Ed 5
    17 June 2013 at 10:36 pm

    Skin-deep was just not enough – Private Eye it wasn’t. The whole paper was however high risk, and employing Slater must have been another high risk; it is not as though there weren’t writers / journalists / aspiring editors looking for work. There is however a market for salacious gossip, extravagant unsupported claims and extremist attacks on others – the audience numbers for Whaleoil illustrate the passion of the far right for such soft porn affirmation of irrational prejudices – while also serving to make Farrar’s blog appear moderate to the uncritical. Truth however had no such attraction – a paper requires some real content to justify purchase, even at a circus side-show level. It seems the newspaper required skills that Slater does not have.

  6. felix 6
    17 June 2013 at 11:08 pm

    Pity really.

    I think “Truth Editor” is the most appropriate job description he’s ever likely to find.

  7. millsy 7
    17 June 2013 at 11:30 pm

    I noticed that Josie got the boot as the token left columnist a few months ago.

  8. Michael 8
    18 June 2013 at 12:01 am

    I’m glad Slater ran Truth into the ground. IMHO, he was put in the editor’s chair to publish vile nonsense that would turn working men against Labour. Just look at the articles in the rag since he took it over. Again IMHO, Slater was put there by NACT donors, in much the same way that they run NBR to appeal to the prejudices of the “business community”. Anyway, Labour doesn’t need Slater, Lusk, or any of the others to drive workers away from it – its current leadership is doing a brilliant job all by itself.

  9. tc 9
    18 June 2013 at 12:35 am

    I always thought appointing him wasnt about turning it around, as he lacks the experience and brains, but more to give him another outlet for his minders material before it closed.

  10. infused 10
    18 June 2013 at 12:36 am

    Never read it.

  11. weizguy 11
    18 June 2013 at 2:03 am

    Sorry – purely out of curiosity, how is it possible that Whaleoil is so far in front of other blogs that clearly have a more active readership?

    I sincerely doubt it’s read by more people than either Kiwiblog or the Standard… So what is it?

    • Arfamo 11.1
      18 June 2013 at 2:05 am

      Read the comments in his blog. Then read the comments on topics in this one.

      Lowest common denominator is the attraction, I reckon. I used to read it more often than now, but the comments put me off as much as his style. I learn stuff here that interests me. I learn stuff there that doesn’t.

      • quartz 11.1.1
        18 June 2013 at 6:16 am

        He reposts a lot of content from popular US sites as it’s trending so he can leech views. It means most of his site views are people looking for content that has nothing to do with him, and who have no interest in, or effect on, New Zealand politics.

        They could do the same here but three out of four posts would be quirky videos of cats falling out of trees or celebrity gossip, and most of the regulars would probably leave.

        • Pasupial 11.1.1.1
          18 June 2013 at 9:20 am

          The last time I was over there was Queen’s birthday weekend. I was quite irritated to find an old Vsauce clip (a sciencey youtube channel I adore), posted there amongst the; cute cat clips, and vile rants.

          I’ve got the heater warming up the bathroom, so I might have another glance today; after I put the Basupial into his cot, and before I have a shower (which I’m going to need).

      • Sanctuary 11.1.2
        18 June 2013 at 8:33 am

        Arfamo, I had a look at the comments thread on Whaleoil based on your post. All I can say is wow. Talk about a descent into a surreal world of insanity. Much of it appears to be from the staff and assorted absolutely foaming nutters of regular readers, arguing with a provincial pornographer. All presided over by Slater, a whining piece of low life shit any decent man would regard with the same respect as something disgusting you are trying to scrape off your shoe. All in all, you couldn’t wish for a nastier, more deranged bunch of bottom dwellers getting some richly deserved come-uppance if you tried.

        • GarethGee 11.1.2.1
          19 June 2013 at 10:46 pm

          The Whale Oil blog is terrible. But, frankly, so is The Standard. You people are to the Left what he is to the Right – a cringe-inducing embarrassment.

  12. bad12 12
    18 June 2013 at 8:37 am

    Oh dear poor poor Blubber Boy, two large F’s on the resume for the slobbering fool, Failed as an editor, and, Failed at the business of running a newspaper,

    Never mind the tragic fat tub of lard can fall back on the Socialism He so hates to keep Him munching them big Mac’s,

    Looks like it’s back on the sickness bene for Blubber Boy, a deserved comeuppance for such a gross waste of space…

  13. One Anonymous Knucklehead 13
    18 June 2013 at 8:40 am

    Hmm, schadenfreude.

    Mr. Oil generates considerable animus. I’m sure the Right will still find a use for him.

  14. Wayne (a different one) 14
    18 June 2013 at 9:16 am

    The nasty bitterness, hatred and envy of the left – it’s all here on this page for everyone to see.

    You really do your party proud – and you carry on that trait learned from politicians, such as Helen Clark, Michael Cullen, Clayton Cosgrove, Steve Maharey and Trevor Mallard – all a buch of spiteful, nasty people.

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 14.1
      18 June 2013 at 9:19 am

      Paging Dr. Hypocrite.

    • Sanctuary 14.2
      18 June 2013 at 9:31 am

      Suck it up, cry baby.

    • Pasupial 14.3
      18 June 2013 at 9:39 am

      @ Wayne (ado)

      Bitterness and Hatred; perhaps, I doubt you’ll find much envy of Slater here though (except from Jimmie & chris73). However, it is confined to this one page, where it is on the topic of his; running a 125 year old paper into the ground in the space of 6 months.

      As for doing our “party proud”; that’s nonsensical, given that we are a mix of: Labour, Greens, Mana, and other party; members, voters, and non-voters. Do you define “nasty” as; someone you disagree with?

  15. Winston Smith 15
    18 June 2013 at 9:57 am

    His blog is more popular because:

    He doesn’t hide behind a pen name, he posts more then just political stuff, the stuff he reposts is generally interesting and he slams anyone (not just the left) so its more balanced then the usual partisan blogs

    and spare a thought for those that are out of a job

    • pollywog 15.1
      18 June 2013 at 10:28 am

      His blog is popular for the same reason we liked The Muppets.

      • Arfamo 15.1.1
        18 June 2013 at 11:25 am

        +1 lol

      • Winston Smith 15.1.2
        18 June 2013 at 1:03 pm

        Which means more people get his message

        • McFlock 15.1.2.1
          18 June 2013 at 1:13 pm

          That would be why nact support is on the increase, and everyone supported PoAL. /sarc

          • Winston Smith 15.1.2.1.1
            18 June 2013 at 2:06 pm

            I’m sorry but you’ll have to remind whos running the country…

            • McFlock 15.1.2.1.1.1
              18 June 2013 at 2:30 pm

              but then I’d probably also have to remind you of their declining vote and retreating poll results. Good work by slater, that. Lots of people must be getting his message…

            • Pascal's bookie 15.1.2.1.1.2
              18 June 2013 at 2:38 pm

              Not Judith Collins.

              • chris73 …
                18 June 2013 at 4:55 pm

                She should be…

                • Pascal's bookie …
                  18 June 2013 at 4:59 pm

                  A fan of fake toughness are you? Good for you.

                  • Arfamo …
                    18 June 2013 at 5:06 pm

                    I’m sure she’s really all soft and mushy inside. All it will take is her falling under a bus to bring out that side of her.

                    • Pascal's bookie …
                      18 June 2013 at 5:12 pm

                      Don’t get me wrong, if L+G win next year, there’s a good chance she’ll end up leader of the oppo; and she’ll be pretty bloody good at it. I’d give her even odds to take down a Shearer govt after one term.

                      But she will suck as a leader of National, and fail miserably as a PM. Before the first term was out she’d be a figure of mockery of Palinesque proportions.

                  • chris73 …
                    18 June 2013 at 5:08 pm

                    I don’t think theres anything fake about her, shes all woman

                    • Arfamo …
                      18 June 2013 at 5:09 pm

                      What about the eyebrows?

                    • Pascal's bookie …
                      18 June 2013 at 5:18 pm

                      oh god. having flashbacks to that WO thread where the resident mouth breathers were literally talking about how she gets them hard.

                      You’re an idiot Chris. Collins is a paper tiger who talks tough but has no follow through when people actually stand up to her. She thinks a big talk will scare people off, and often ends up looking stupid when they aren’t. She gets away with at the moment, but as leader she would have no where to hide.

                    • Arfamo …
                      18 June 2013 at 5:20 pm

                      She certainly couldn’t hide behind those eyebrows. Her smirk always reminds me of Muldoon’s, but perhaps you’re right & she’s more posturing than substance.

                    • Pascal's bookie …
                      18 June 2013 at 5:32 pm

                      Try and think of an example of actual toughness. Plenty of show stuff for the cameras.

                      But the classic is the Collins/Little/mallard defamation stuff.

                      Hilarious. From go to woah flail fail.

                      Starts out with a hiss and a roar, releasing, on ministerial letterhead, that as minister she took what they said as a slur on the office and would be suing if they didn’t retract within hours, which turned into weeks.

                      Mallard and Little basically laughed at her and said they’d be paying for their own costs, and she went to ground, not saying anything until after the next cabinet meeting (whose permission she would need for the govt to foot her bills). All of a sudden the defamation was against her personally and not as minister and she would pay her bills. Why not say that before cabinet met then? hahaha.

                      then bluster bluster bluster settle.

                      Fake it till you flake it.

                    • Arfamo …
                      18 June 2013 at 5:40 pm

                      They said go ahead and sue but ended up publicly apologising though, didn’t they? Hardly counts as a win for them either. Dunno much about Little but I think Mallard’s a dick well into his 2nd adolescence & well past his useful date.

                    • Pascal's bookie …
                      18 June 2013 at 5:48 pm

                      Nah. On the morning of the last day she was saying she wanted an unreserved apology and a withdrawal of what they said on the radio etc. They ended up with some mealy mouthed stuff about what was said in parliament. The statement didn’t even identify what particular thing they were sort of apologising for.

                      That’s what I mean about stuff she wouldn’t get away with as party leader. If she was leader the statements would have gotten more attention and analysis. She folded.

                    • felix …
                      18 June 2013 at 6:53 pm

                      I liked it when she was being all tough and that on the telly, and Paddy Gower was asking her some questions, and she was all tough and that, and then he asked her the same question a few times, and then she nearly cried.

                    • Pascal's bookie …
                      18 June 2013 at 7:14 pm

                      hahaha I’d forgotten about that.

                    • Arfamo …
                      18 June 2013 at 7:39 pm

                      Lol. First time I’ve seen it. See what I mean though. She couldn’t hide from Gower behind those eyebrows. They were saying more than she was.

                    • GarethGee …
                      19 June 2013 at 10:51 pm

                      Oh look, Standard contributors denigrating the looks of a woman. Classy stuff guys. Can we make fun of John Key’s nose next? Or Shearer’s ever thinning hair? No? Gee I wonder why.

                    • Arfamo …
                      19 June 2013 at 11:00 pm

                      Fair point. I will try not to do it again.

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      19 June 2013 at 11:07 pm

                      Yeah she can’t hide the lies even behind those eyebrows.

                      Can we make fun of John Key’s nose next? Or Shearer’s ever thinning hair? No? Gee I wonder why.

                      Oh lighten up. Think about John Key’s hairpiece for a second. And the last person who drew John Key’s nose in a cartoon was accused of being antisemitic. Bloody PC brigade.

                    • Alanz …
                      19 June 2013 at 11:55 pm

                      Collins has such a loverley sense of entitlement.
                      Born to trough and rort.
                      Collins rules!

        • Arfamo 15.1.2.2
          18 June 2013 at 1:25 pm

          No it means people still like watching muppets for entertainment.

    • bad12 15.2
      18 June 2013 at 1:45 pm

      But at least i, and probably more, HAVE thought about those out of a job because of that smutty rags demise at the hands of it’s ugly smutty editor,

      Result= as far as Blubber boy goes really really f**king good job, the waste of oxygen can go back on the sickness bene from whence He came for psyche reasons with the less kind among us,(me at the front of the queue), believing in that one’s case psyche reasons is a misnomer which needs correction to psycho…

  16. Me 16
    18 June 2013 at 10:29 am

    I’m just lost about how a blog that just seems to post endless mind numbing youtube videos and copy and pastes from the Herald can put itself out as the universes most popular web thingy

  17. busman 17
    18 June 2013 at 12:03 pm

    Good while it was going , a bit of fun and some sunlight mixed in there for all political partys, good on Cameron for giving it a go , judging by the comments there must be quite a few regulars to whaleoil site here , good on you and keep it up .

    • felix 17.1
      18 June 2013 at 8:09 pm

      Good while it was going?

      Bahaha it was feckin rubbish while it was going, hence the not going any more.

      • Arfamo 17.1.1
        18 June 2013 at 8:15 pm

        Yeah but I must admit I liked the way Cam ran it and where he ran it to 🙂

  18. ropata 18
    19 June 2013 at 4:42 pm

    Slater (slayer) has never quite come to terms with reality nor attempted to be truthful in his paid political broadcasts. Truth and integrity are not words one usually associates with WO, unless they are bent and abused.
    The first casualty of Whaleoil is the Truth. I wish he would use his obvious talent for rolling in muck to expose the seedy side of the Nats

  19. ropata 19
    19 June 2013 at 4:45 pm

    Slater (slayer) has never quite come to terms with reality nor attempted to be truthful in his paid political broadcasts. Truth and integrity are not words one usually associates with WO, unless they are bent and abused.
    The first casualty of Whaleoil is the Truth. I wish he would use his obvious talent for rolling in muck to expose the seedy side of the Nats. The failure is his wasted life devoted to a stupid cause