NRT: Nats censoring the media

Written By: - Date published: 11:02 am, February 9th, 2012 - 9 comments
Categories: Media, same old national - Tags:

I/S at NoRightTurn writes –

Fresh from his attempt to censor programmes likely to embarrass the government during the election, National’s hack on the NZ on Air board, Stephen McElrea, is now actually selecting the topics of political documentaries to receive NZ on Air funding:

Seeking expressions of interest from producers last year, New Zealand on Air said it wanted the programmes to “explore aspects of the challenges faced in New Zealand’s four main areas of public spending – health, education, welfare and law and order.”From 62 responses, four projects were selected by a committee comprising McElrea, Hoey, TV3’s Sue Woodfield and Glenn Usmar from New Zealand on Air. One, presumably the programme about law and order, has been kept secret because it has not yet been “green lit”. The health system is to be examined in a programme about one hospital, in Queenstown. The “inside story of New Zealand education” will be revealed by televising a year in a high school. New Zealand on Air chief executive, Jabe Wrightson, insists the programme will not be about charter schools. Nevertheless, part of the programme’s synopsis has been censored, apparently on grounds of commercial sensitivity.

Potentially the most controversial of all, the programme about social welfare will be about whanau ora – “a behind the scenes look at the roll out of this new initiative that seeks to deliver positive social outcomes for Maori.”

Its amazing how the topics chosen all just happen to align with the government’s political agenda. But obviously, that’s just a coincidence, and nothing to do with McElrea’s involvement. And if you believe that, I have some shiny state assets to sell you…

9 comments on “NRT: Nats censoring the media ”

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  1. Steve Withers 1
    9 February 2012 at 11:40 am

    The move by miners in Australia to buy a 15% stake in Fairfax (the largest single shareholding) shows the corporates and their political clients see control of the media as being critical to advancing their agenda.

    We can’t be surprised the National Party, as the local branch of the global Multi-National 1% Party, is doing what it can to help shut down messages that don’t serve their goals.

    The “free press” we enjoy is the one guaranteed to foreign billionaires.

  2. tc 2
    9 February 2012 at 11:54 am

    They’ve already got it pretty much under control with granny and TVNZ following the party line, hosking on close up being a spectacular example last week.

    RNZ neutered by griffin and a compliant mediaworks with the unspoken threat of paying interest or heavan forbid being made to pay under the law what they should have…..yeah right.

    Then there’s the starvation to closure of Stratos, no more beatson/Bomber, freeview looking more like a wasteland yet still that’s not enough for the nats……the greed isn’t just monetary, the thirst for control and power remains unsatisfied it appears.

  3. Mouse Trawler 3
    9 February 2012 at 12:33 pm

    I think you will find that education, health and social welfare are pretty much every political party’s agenda.

  4. Inventory2 4
    9 February 2012 at 1:58 pm

    Never would have happened under the previous government, would it? Oh hang on; the Hollow Men play and TV version…funny that 😉

  5. Irascible 5
    9 February 2012 at 3:06 pm

    The actions are in keeping with the KeY philosophy of being relaxed about violations of legislation and naked manipulation of the media whenever a dinnamic shituashun arises.
    This is an example of naked manipulation of the position and authority to misdirect information and the culprit should therefore resignor be forced to resign in the interests of democracy.

  6. Peter 6
    9 February 2012 at 9:08 pm

    The answer – NZ edition of the Huffington Post

  7. Pascal's bookie 7
    10 February 2012 at 6:12 am

    John Drinnan in today’s granny:

    A documentary maker who approached the Herald noted NZ on Air asked specifically for documentary proposals relating to areas of Government spending.

    The idea for the programming strand on public issues came in part from NZ on Air, said the documentary maker, who insisted on anonymity because he feared questioning the system would to limit his access to NZ on Air funding in the future.

    “TV3 were keen to secure some of the Platinum Fund money earmarked for documentary and NZOA suggested a strand like this might work for them,” the documentary maker said.

    Programme makers were approached with a brief: “The story comprises four individual 1×90-minute documentaries that provide a special insight and understanding into the workings of key institutions charged with delivering New Zealand social outcomes. NZ on Air and TV3 are looking for observational documentaries with an appropriate level of access that will explore aspects of the challenges faced in New Zealand’s four main areas of public spending: Health, education, welfare and law and order.”

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