ImperatorFish: Patrick Gower put on notice by colleagues

Written By: - Date published: 2:51 pm, June 30th, 2013 - 25 comments
Categories: Satire, tv - Tags:

Scott at Imperator Fish has kindly given us permission to syndicate posts from his blog – the original of this post is here.

3 News Political Editor Patrick Gower has been put on notice that his performance must improve if he is to keep his job.

A member of 3 News’ political reporting team told 3 News yesterday that Gower had two months to improve his performance.

Questions have been raised about Gower’s leadership style ever since he took over as political editor from Duncan Garner.

One person inside the 3 News camp has accused Gower of being “tight”, and of failing to motivate his colleagues.

The journalist, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “the team is just really flat and unmotivated. Whenever we have a team gathering to celebrate a great story it’s always instant coffee and wine biscuits.

“We’ve told him we want something nicer. God, even a sandwich would be an improvement. But Gower is just so tight. I’m not even sure whether he eats.”

The journalist said that his colleagues had almost run out of patience with Gower.

“I give Paddy a couple more months. I’m talking to his bosses about his performance at the moment, and I reckon we could see a change before the end of the year if he doesn’t buck up his ideas.”

Gower’s transition to the political editor role has not been an easy one.

The departure of Duncan Garner and the recent receivership of MediaWorks have strained nerves within the 3 News team, and 3 News continues to trail in the TV ratings against One News.

It is understood that Gower is still in contact with Garner, and that Garner may be offering support and advice to Gower.

“We send each other texts occasionally,” Gower has previously admitted. “But I’m my own leader.”

Gower has also appeared preoccupied with uncovering scandals and chasing MPs down building corridors, and has failed to tackle the important business of keeping everyone in the office moderately contented.

Some within TV3 fear an ugly and bloody battle between Tova O’Brien and Brook Sabin for leadership of the 3 News political reporting team, should Gower be forced aside.

But the journalist who spoke to 3 News is not a member of either faction.

Gower told 3 News last night that he was not concerned about questions surrounding his leadership, or the failure of 3 News to move ahead of One News in the ratings.

“Look, I’m confident I’ll still be here for the 2014 election,” Gower said. “Nobody in the team has said anything to me about any trouble.”

Reporter Brook Sabin has also claimed that he knows nothing about any challenge to Gower’s leadership.

“Obviously if the position became available I would have to assess where I stood on the issue,” said Sabin.

“But right now I’m happy just being a political reporter.”

Tova O’Brien failed to return any of 3 News’ calls.

25 comments on “ImperatorFish: Patrick Gower put on notice by colleagues ”

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  1. Rogue Trooper 1
    30 June 2013 at 3:20 pm

    cos’ the shark, babe, has such pretty teeth dear, And he shows them pearly white…

  2. Rumour Willis 2
    30 June 2013 at 5:46 pm

    Patrick Gower looks like a ventriloquist’s dummy!

  3. tc 3
    30 June 2013 at 6:00 pm

    This clown is soo hilarious even people who don’t follow politics can see what a dork he is, speculatio this, rumour that and a shocking presentation style to boot.

    Garner must be very very happy with this, he can’t lose so watch out Paddy, innuendo may be coming a lot closer to home than you think.

    • karol 3.1
      30 June 2013 at 6:21 pm

      The clip of Gower’s interview with Shearer on 3 News tonight – it was hard to decide who looked most like a deer caught in the headlights.

    • North 3.2
      30 June 2013 at 11:17 pm

      This is an absolute hoot ! Paddy Boy hoist on his own shit petard !

      Heard him pressing Shearer with the “two months – shape up or ship out” scuttlebutt, related directly to Paddy (Part Of The Story) Boy by a caucus member apparently.

      Shearer haltingly claimed he’d heard nothing of it. So Paddy Boy gets that dead face, sandwich short of a picnic, mouth hanging open thing about him and says – “Do you think I’m making it up……”. Faaarrk ! Punishing Paddy aye ?

      Fair enough question of course but you know, never heard him do the same number on His Omnipotence ShonKey Python. Paddy a dullard with no balls, clearly. And of course any fool knows it’s not advised to press ShonKey like that……..a possible sinecure full of “famousness” right out the window.

      You got your wish Paddy Boy – you really are part of the story ! Remember though bro’…….no one gives a faaarrk how angry you are about that. Please, please don’t tell us.

  4. irascible 4
    30 June 2013 at 6:40 pm

    Was tempted to offer the answer to Gower’s “do you think I made it up?” with “Yes. After all you’ve been known to interview yourself and conjure stories to suit your opinion so often I must believe you do make it up.”
    Saw Gower in action at the November Labour conference and thought that Gower must’ve been smoking something or else channeling from Planet Key.

  5. Anne 5
    30 June 2013 at 7:15 pm

    @ irascible
    Saw Gower in action at the November Labour conference…

    Did you spot him and TV1’s Jessica Mutch outside the men’s toilet door – cameras rolling – waiting for someone to reappear? I presumed it was Cunliffe they were waiting for, but Phil Goff burst through the door instead so they interviewed him.

    What I witnessed at that conference was an hysterical TV media frenzy like nothing I’ve seen before and I hope I never see it again.

  6. Mary 6
    30 June 2013 at 8:59 pm

    Gower may come across often as a desperate bully looking to make stories out of nothing but that’s a completely different issue to whether there’s any truth to his claim that Shearer’s on notice. He obviously is, and Shearer showed his naivety by suggesting to Gower that he name the MP and that if he couldn’t then there’s no substance to the claim. Gower came across as a clown, and apart from the “who was it” response Shearer probably did the best he could, but Gower’s disposition is a separate matter to the fact Shearer’s the wrong man for the job and that the party is finally beginning to act.

  7. Steve 7
    30 June 2013 at 10:02 pm

    Why is this news or worthy of comment? I think Patrick is doing well given his age and experience.

    • North 7.1
      30 June 2013 at 11:35 pm

      It’s newsworthy Steve friend because Mr Bean’s Wahanui Cuzzy tries to come across as Edwards or Exel at their best. Sadly the former and his mate Ralston are well past theirs but that’s not relevant to this discussion.

      So…….if your Dunning Kruger Effect sense of yourself has you to understand that you’re some oracle with tabs on everything and you’re Part Of The Story no less, while in fact you’re a dick given to cheap suits, shockingly badly knotted ties, and dribbling, ya gonna fall on your arse ! And in this world where “appearance is everything” ignorance of the half-windsor is impeachable frankly.

      You gotta admit, the guy’s been pretty much out there in his ways. Telling us “I’m angry….” etc. Well he’s gonna get his tombstones rearranged. Good job ! And when that happens it is newsworthy. By his own definitions, surely ? Since he’s Part Of The Story.

      It’s also known as “karma”.

      • Steve 7.1.1
        1 July 2013 at 9:07 am

        Please have another go when you’ve sobered up – didn’t understand a word of that litany.

        • fender 7.1.1.1
          1 July 2013 at 11:57 am

          Sorry Mr Joyce, see if Key can translate it for you.

          Baby Shrek appears to be a corrupt reporter obviously.

  8. Murray Olsen 8
    30 June 2013 at 10:11 pm

    The best answer to Gower’s stupid question would have been “Yes, just like the lies you made up about my loyal colleague David Cunliffe, who I have just decided to promote to spokesperson for Finance. Until you grow up and stop interviewing your own twitter account, please address all further questions to Trevor Mallard. You two deserve each other.”

    • McFlock 8.1
      30 June 2013 at 10:20 pm

      Potential defamation and publicly belittling a senior MP in your own party?
      Nice to dream, but a stupid answer in real life.

  9. David H 9
    30 June 2013 at 10:58 pm

    I reckon that Tova O’Brien would make a way better political editor than Ratboy.

  10. BLiP 10
    1 July 2013 at 11:37 am

    ‘

    Has Paddy reached the Peter Principle cross-over? In the lead-up to his Leadership of the TV3 Political Wing Desk, Paddy’s done some sterling journalism . . . you know, real stuff that requires investigation, corroboration, analysis, and written in the little words most New Zealander’s can understand. I think he must have pissed of John Armstrong when Paddy worked alongside him at the New Zealand Fox News Herald because Paddy had far better stories and much more ink. Then off to telly and he, again, popped up with great stories by asking politicians inconvenient questions. Now, as “Leader”, he’s kinda got himself subsumed into the process and thinks he’s a player. A jester, perhaps, but its all a bit dissappointing, really. In the old days, the Press Gallery would have been hounding the government rather than putting the boot into the opposition. Paddy’s involvement, neah, even instigation, of this bizarre activity seems to indicate he’s taken his eye off the ball, been distracted.

    Anyone seen any news reporting from TV3 on the MediaWorks tax swindle?

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