On Newshub and economic voice
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- Date published:
1:21 pm, April 14th, 2024 - 16 comments
Categories: capitalism, Economy, Media, michael wood -
Tags: gower, newshub, nigel haworth, redundancy
It is good to hear that Michael Wood, now E Tū and on the side of television workers, is seeking to ensure that labour law is properly applied to the current proposals for Newshub’s closure. It is a case of “walking the talk” by an ex-Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety, soon, I hope, to be back in Parliament. It’s probably doing him few favours to say that I’ve always considered Michael to cleave to the politics on which Labour should be focused.
However, back to the Newshub closure and redundancies. The work by Paddy Gower, Michael Morrah and others in their search for a worker-derived alternative plan for Newshub is striking. This initiative, it seems, is not at present viable, yet it is to be praised.
Age allows me to recall a previous era of workers’ responses to closures, alternative economic strategies for sectors and country, and, to speak the unspeakable, prefigurative forms of socialism. These debates were front and centre in the later ‘70s and early ‘80s in the UK and elsewhere, as the neo-liberal world view came to pass. They were in time united in the idea of an Alternative Economic Strategy (AES), taken up later in New Zealand to an extent, which combined national and industry planning with a broader politics of transition and political mobilisation. A key component of the AES was a response to plant-level restructuring that demanded a strong and active worker voice in all key decisions, including those that led to closure proposals.
The idea of worker plans for companies and plants drew on a number of intellectual strands, but particularly the Labour Process debate, from which they took as an axiom the view that management’s right to arbitrary decision making was an ideological assumption at odds with the way work and responsibility were configured in production and workplace. Such decision-making took place in a “contested terrain” in which the forces of labour and capital confronted each other. Trades unions were but the major battalions of labour in this confrontation. The “contest” took place at multiple levels – individual, informal group, section, plant and industry levels. The idea of “workers’ voice” became popular.
Underpinning this challenge to managerial prerogatives was a fundamental question about liberal democracy. The right to contest managerial power in the workplace assumed a right to challenge the economic decision-making of Capital. This was always the missing element in liberal democracy.
Limited political voice was hard-won, in the form of the vote; economic voice was never ceded by Capital; collective bargaining, one form of economic democracy, had to be fought for over generations, and at such cost. And it is always a first-line issue when the Right is in power, in a way that suffrage is not. Arguably, the cost to Capital of political democracy may be borne more easily than that arising from economic democracy. Economic democracy speaks to the creation and distribution of wealth eloquently and, for Capital, unacceptably.
This brings me back to Newshub. I doubt if Paddy Gower and Mike Morrah et al. were thinking of worker plans, AESs and the like when they proposed an alternative package. But they were acting in concert with that tradition as expertise and knowledge within the workforce was brought to bear critically on management plans, and alternatives were canvassed. Braverman would have recognised it instantly!
Why is this important? The answer is simple. It speaks to the need for Labour to consider actively, not only tax changes and switches, but also economic democracy. If we are to reverse local shifts in wealth inequality that reflect global shifts, this can only be achieved by a combination of tax shifts, and a parallel, and in many ways, more challenging, focus on power in production and distribution.
It is more challenging for it speaks to property rights at the heart of market and neo-liberal thinking, an area into which the contemporary Left is fearful to tread. The form of that focus – in particular, what beyond collective bargaining is required – is another discussion. I am certain, however, that improved collective bargaining is a necessary, but not sufficient, condition for successful economic democracy.
Nigel Haworth is a New Zealand economics academic and politician. He was president of the Association of University Staff from 2005 to 2008. He was President of the New Zealand Labour Party from 2015 – 2019.
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- Greens join King’s Counsel in calling for Treaty Principles Bill to be abandoned
The Prime Minister must answer the call from a group of senior lawyers of the King’s Counsel to abandon the divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...1 week ago
- Chris Hipkins’ apology statement to state and faith-based care survivors
...1 week ago
- Release: Labour formally apologises to state and faith-based care survivors
Labour joins with the Government in unreservedly apologising for the abuse, neglect and trauma including torture in state and faith-based care and for ignoring the voices of survivors for too long. ...1 week ago
- Green Party stands in support of survivors of abuse in care
Today, the Green Party stands alongside the survivors of abuse in state care and faith-based care as the Government issues an historic apology. ...1 week ago
- Green Party calls for conscience vote on Treaty Principles Bill
The Green Party has written to the Speaker of the House requesting he enable a personal vote on the Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt move to exclude journalist risks chilling effect
The Green Party is alarmed by the Government’s move to exclude a journalist from covering this week’s apology for the survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care. ...2 weeks ago
- Without action, an apology will be empty air
For tomorrow’s apology to survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care to hold any water, the Government must not pursue the same policies that drove the abuse in the first place. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Concerns remain over tobacco interference
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- Release: Poroporoaki: Ta Robert (Bom) Gillies
Kua hinga te manawa kairākau o Te Rua Tekau Ma Waru Tiwhatiwha te po! Kakarauru i te po! Ka rapuhia kei hea koe kua riro! Haere e te Ika a Whiro ki o tini hoa kua ngaro atu ki te Pō ...2 weeks ago
- Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principles Bill
The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principle...
The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- NZ must pursue independent foreign policy
The Green Party says the need is greater than ever for Aotearoa New Zealand to pursue an independent foreign policy. ...2 weeks ago
- Appointments strengthen Predator Free 2050
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Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey today opened Kahurangi, an innovative and much-needed facility for Canterbury’s Child, Adolescent, and Family Mental Health Services. “The new state of the art outpatient facility opened today will be a gamechanger for the way mental health is delivered for young people in Canterbury,” says Mr ...2 hours ago
- Driver safety screens to be installed on Auckland buses
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed news from the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) that bus driver protection screens will be installed across Auckland’s bus fleet by 2026.“The Government is committed to improving the safety of working environments for bus drivers, and Budget 2024 allocated $15 million of Crown funding over ...2 hours ago
- Government action provides Southland farmers more time to meet plan requirements
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The Oranga Tamariki (Responding to Serious Youth Offending) Bill had its first reading at Parliament today. The Bill reaffirms the Government’s commitment to crack down on serious youth offending, Minister for Children Karen Chhour says. “In recent years we have seen an unacceptable spike in youth offending. “This Bill makes ...19 hours ago
- Critical milestones for earthquake buildings review
Fairer, more sensible rules about managing earthquake risks are a step closer with the passing of legislation and the appointment of an independent chair to provide expert advice, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The Government is committed to reinvigorating our cities and regions to support economic growth, ...20 hours ago
- State of the art radiology machine for Auckland
People in Northland and Auckland will benefit from a new machine for cancer treatment installed at the Regional Cancer and Blood Service at Auckland City Hospital. The MV5 linear accelerator, or LINAC machine, officially opened today targets cancer tumours with pinpoint accuracy. Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says this new, ...20 hours ago
- Foreign Minister to visit Europe
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Europe for high-level talks with France, Germany and the United Kingdom next week. "Since taking office almost a year ago, the Coalition Government has emphasised the importance we place on New Zealand's traditional and likeminded diplomatic and ...21 hours ago
- First arrests made under gang patch ban
Police have made their first arrests under the new gang patch legislation, with two gang members arrested, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. “Just before 11 this morning, Police in Wairoa apprehended a gang member for wearing a patch to the supermarket. He has been arrested and will now face enforcement ...22 hours ago
- Better support for victims of sexual violence
The Government is proposing two major changes to name suppression laws that will put the views of victims of sexual violence first, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “We are committed to restoring law and order and these two proposed changes will help ensure the victims of crime are put at ...23 hours ago
- Government moving forward with Regional Deals
Cabinet has agreed to invite all regions to submit proposals for Regional Deals between central and local government that drive economic growth and deliver the infrastructure our country needs, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop say. Inviting all regions to propose a Regional Deal that boosts ...23 hours ago
- MSA pilot participant update
One of the ten young men selected to participate in the Military-Style Academy Pilot has allegedly reoffended. Children’s Minister Karen Chhour is disappointed but says it would be naïve to think that none of these young men would reoffend. “I’m saddened that this young person has not taken this opportunity ...24 hours ago
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Delivered at Auckland Trade and Economic Policy School Good morning and thank you Deputy Vice Chancellor Lithander for your warm welcome and for inviting me to open Auckland Trade and Economic Policy School today. A Special thanks to the University of Auckland, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and ...1 day ago
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Associate Education Minister David Seymour says that school attendance is continuing to rise. In Term 3 of 2024 51.3 per cent of students attended school regularly, an increase of 5.3 percentage points from 46 per cent in Term 3 of 2023. “This Government has prioritised student attendance and it is ...1 day ago
- Improving the lives of young New Zealanders
Ensuring New Zealand is the best place in the world for children and young people is the vision at the heart of the Government’s new Child and Youth Strategy, Child Poverty Reduction Minister Louise Upston says. “Childhood represents a huge opportunity to set people on a positive path towards living ...1 day ago
- Government continues work to reinstate livestock exports by sea
The Government is reinstating the trade of livestock exports by sea while ensuring the highest standards of animal welfare, says Associate Minister of Agriculture Andrew Hoggard.“The Government will introduce legislation changes to reinstate the trade, enhance oversight, and strengthen requirements for exporters to identify risks and manage the welfare of ...2 days ago
- Speech to the National Quality Forum 2024
Tēnā koutou katoa – it is a pleasure to be here today. I would like to begin by acknowledging the important leadership role you all play in ensuring a quality health system New Zealanders can trust. There is enormous clinical expertise in this room covering a wide range of disciplines. ...2 days ago
- New Zealand’s COP29 National Statement
Tēnā koutou katoa. Mr President, Excellencies, Delegates. New Zealand, and all nations represented here today, are already dealing with the impacts of climate change. Our households, businesses, and economies are bearing the costs of its effects. The choices we make now will shape the severity of these impacts for generations ...2 days ago
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- New Zealand supporting loss and damage fund
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced New Zealand will contribute NZ$10 million to the new Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage while at the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. “New Zealand is joining the global effort to address the significant challenge of responding to ...2 days ago
- Gang crackdown begins at stroke of midnight
The free ride for gangs is over when the clock strikes midnight tonight, with tough new laws officially coming into effect, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Police Minister Mark Mitchell say. “Gang patches will no longer be able to be worn in public. To earn the right to wear a ...2 days ago
- LGFA increases borrowing capacity to support high growth councils
The Government is welcoming the decision by the Local Government Funding Agency to increase access to financing tools for fast growing councils to support greater investment in critical infrastructure, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown says.“Communities across the country are facing an infrastructure deficit and significant population growth is projected in ...2 days ago
- Temporary Traffic Management costs revealed
The Government has revealed that over the past three years, the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has spent an eyewatering $786 million of taxpayers’ money on road cones and temporary traffic management (TTM), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“When I became Minister, I was surprised to learn that that NZTA did ...2 days ago
- Jurisdiction of Disputes Tribunal to double
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- Protecting New Zealand from foreign interference
Legislation that will specifically criminalise foreign interference and strengthen espionage offences has passed first reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “It is normal and appropriate for states to interact and work to influence one another. This encourages cooperation and can have mutually beneficial outcomes. “However, the reality ...3 days ago
- Significant milestone for Canterbury Road of National Significance
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed news that the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Board has approved funding towards pre-implementation and early works on the State Highway 1 (SH1) Belfast to Pegasus Motorway and Woodend Bypass Road of National Significance (RoNS). “Reaching this significant milestone is a reflection of our Government’s ...3 days ago
- Health survey results to help drive change
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says findings from the annual Health Survey highlight the need to continue driving better health outcomes for New Zealanders. The New Zealand Health Survey is an annual snapshot of key metrics measured from July 2023 – July 2024. Findings released this morning include: In 2023/24, ...3 days ago
- Final push needed to get to Smokefree 2025
A renewed effort to get people to quit smoking will build on what has worked to date and target the groups who most need support, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello said today. “The latest New Zealand Health Survey results show the daily smoking rate at 6.9 per cent and we ...3 days ago
- New diplomatic appointments
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- Next steps for Regulatory Standards Bill
Regulation Minister David Seymour has today announced the next steps in the Government’s plan improve the quality of regulation by opening consultation on a proposed Regulatory Standards Bill. “New Zealand's low wages can be blamed on low productivity, and low productivity can be blamed on poor regulation,” says Mr Seymour. ...3 days ago
- Red Tape Tipline goes live
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- Youth Parliament 2025 announced
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- Police stats show promising change
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- Better coordination of anti-scam efforts
With the launch of Fraud Awareness Week, the Government is committing to new coordination efforts across industry and government to combat online scams, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Online financial scams are a growing problem for New Zealand. New data released today shows that Kiwis lost nearly ...4 days ago
- Minister to consider 7AA select committee report
Minister for Children Karen Chhour will consider the recommendations made by the Social Services and Community Committee in its report back to Parliament on the Oranga Tamariki (Repeal of Section 7AA) Amendment Bill. “I want to thank the people who made submissions and those who appeared before the committee in ...4 days ago
- Defence Minister to attend ASEAN meeting
Defence Minister Judith Collins will this week attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus in Vientiane, Laos. “We need to take every opportunity to engage with our international partners, given the increasingly unstable geo-political situation,” Ms Collins says. “New Zealand has a long-standing commitment to this ...4 days ago
- Launching the White Ribbon Ride
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- Construction to begin on next stage of Papakura to Drury
Construction on the next stage of the SH1 Papakura to Drury project will begin early next month, with the contract for works awarded to Fulton Hogan, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. "SH1 Papakura to Drury is a key project that will drive economic growth and productivity, reduce congestion, and enable people ...6 days ago
- NZ signs trade deal with Costa Rica, Iceland and Switzerland
Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has signed a pioneering trade agreement that prioritises New Zealand’s sustainable exports at a ceremony during APEC in Peru today. “The Agreement on Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS), between Costa Rica, Iceland, and Switzerland was concluded in July of this year and opens up significant ...6 days ago
- Government and iwi work together on aquaculture
Five new Aquaculture Settlement Areas will help ensure Ngāi Tahu shares in the opportunities aquaculture offers for Southland’s economy, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. “The Aquaculture Settlement Areas (ASAs) I’m announcing today set aside space so the Crown and Ngāi Tahu can assess their potential for aquaculture development. ...7 days ago
- Justice Committee Makes Further Decisions About Submissions Process For The Principles Of The Treaty...
The committee plans to hold hearings in the week starting Monday, 27 January and the weeks starting 10, 17 and 24 February 2025. ...35 minutes ago - Watch live: Christopher Luxon faces questions during power station visit
It comes as Labour accuses National of not listening to evidence about boot camps. ...45 minutes ago - Survivors of abuse in care know how redress should work – will the government finally listen?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Winter, Associate Professor in Political Theory, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images When Prime Minister Christopher Luxon stood in Parliament last week to apologise to survivors of abuse in care, his words were among many fine speeches by ...59 minutes ago - Review: The Day of the Jackal is a riveting and ridiculous ride
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Prime Minister Christopher Luxon did not meet the Treaty Principles Bill hikoi crowd, sees “nothing” of merit in the Act-proposed law but the Parliament his Government dominates will spend six months debating a “divisive” measure.That’s because he has accepted there needs to be “aeration” of people’s views on the Treaty, ...7 hours ago
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Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp');Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions.The post Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 22 November appeared first on Newsroom. ...7 hours ago
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Bill Shorten has declared himself “a proud moderate” in a valedictory speech declaring parliament has the responsibility to ensure the extremes of left and right do not set the terms of political debate. Shorten, ...17 hours ago
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My initial thoughts on the media sea-changes ..
Is for a group of the (like-minded) exiled talent get together…and start something along the lines of the guardian..
Some version of a not-for-profit/worker-owned/co-op online media beast…
That would be a heroic rising from the ashes…and the chance to make a global-leader in online global/local news..
And of course having a model like that will open doors/access to like minded media entities..and some form of subscription/donation..if the product is as promised.. would be viable..
(I would pay for something like that..)
All the ingredients…in the way of skills/talent..are there..in abundance..
(Then there are all those soon to graduate media students..)
So…why not now…?
The laid off staff can boost the on-line video-podcast world of existing on-line media organisations and Stuff/NZME (on-line).
But there could also be a a digital Stuff – worker non profit collective. A Newshub type site – subscriber – with on demand video news/current affairs/documentary (opening market with TVNZ cutbacks). Other revenue from supply of news to local Sky and offshore outlets. There are a range of international (digital info/documentary) companies that collate from a range of content providers. Other revenue off can come off You Tube ads. Staff can receive support to be "freelance" successful on patreon.
I think a pillar of such a not for profit/workers co-op entity must be free access for all….no paywalls ..
I don't need to make the case for that..do I..?
I think access to media should be guaranteed as a democratic/human right…
I think it is fucked up that only those who can afford to pay get to read..what could be important information for those blocked..
Fuck that ..!
Fuck you NZ Herald..!
Tear down the paywalls..!
Personally I think that what is fucked up is when you say something like that without having (apparently) any idea or even having thought about what a solution would look like.
When you read this, please remember that I usually run a decade or two in advance of my age generation. Basically I think most news and broadcast media is going to resize and shift. It won't die. But it sure as hell will keep changing.
Usual first problem – who pays for it. Because advertising certainly won't. Which is why the free-to-air media died. There are more lucrative advertising channels.
Second problem – no-one in the important demographics are watching/listening. They're doing other things like working. TV and radio are so damn slow, and few apart from the retired, no-one really has have time to watch/listen much, they are permanently sated with news, and they watch entertainment on their leisure hours.
I don't watch news and even current affairs in media because it is so damn slow. I can read what I want from 6+ online newspapers in the time it takes a TV news to run and I don't have to sit through dribbling human interest stories or minor crimes or sport. I could watch and episode or two of a story-line in the time it takes to watch news.
Most working people who have phones seem to get their news from their contacts sharing links or scan reading a news feed now. Just like I did a couple of decades ago.
Third problem – taxation or licence fees or the like. The public information / emergency argument doesn't apply. I get alerts from the cell-phone or from the one channel dedicated to it – RNZ NatRad. Why should I pay a licence fee to pay for TV or radio channels that I never use.
My TV is only tuned to ad-free subscriber channels on the internet. I pay for ad-free RNZ via taxes as another internet channel for more detailed emergency info. I don't mind paying for some local content – busy enjoying The Cleaner on subscriber Neon at present. It doesn't have intrusive ads….
A kind of useless and historically ignorant set of statements. The NZH has always been behind a paywall, I remember wandering around as a kid with the job of picking up subscriptions for them and for the Auckland Star. Stuff just removed the paper paywall by switching to mostly electronic. The Herald added a paywall to its electronic as it was cannibalising their paper paywall.
I don't read the NZ Herald because its content vs price is like getting watered down Tullmore Dew. No substance. Way way too much useless fluff. Most of which I have already read from other sources from offshore or that I simply don't need to read. Why in the hell would I care?
I pay less to pay for a annual subscription to the electronic Washington Post which has a much lower fluff content. I also donate to Stuff because the local useless fluff level is lower and I don't have to jump through hoops to read it.
I'd only pay for the NZ Herald if they provide a account to buy by articles that I actually read.
You mean like here? Hell – that isn't 'free'. It has no profit. It is mostly just costs..
It is limited by the spare time that authors have to donate to write and moderate. The time that commenters donate to argue about the issues of the day. The time I have to technically maintain it, the gear and resources that I use to run it – mostly old hardware and things I use for my paid work.
What extra monetary costs we have are half donated by the people who actually donate (thanks you few generous people). I pay the rest and write it off to professional costs for a few lines in my CV. Working on the site and its toolkit is useful for understanding at a deep level exactly how to operate on the oily rag at a deep technical level. Mostly how to operate without me spending too much 'spare' time.
Mostly the site needs money for a couple of plugins for services in security (wordfence and a few others), performance (W3Cache, Bunny.net) and a couple of paid presentation utilities that I am slowly replacing.
There are also some excess costs of legal issues brought by the legally illiterate or their lawyers who do their clients wishes. I just work to help to bankrupt the illiterate fools if they start wasting my time. I figure it is a good way to train bullshitting idiots.
Some of this fiscal setup may change if I do decide to 'retire' and live off super, savings, and my open source interests some time after June.
But a media "not for profit/workers co-op" still has to make a profit, if only so that they have equity with which to purchase equipment and services, ideally pay people who would otherwise have to volunteer their time, and to ideally to finance some investigative reporting rather than just offering informed opinions that are usually largely derived from their other paid work and earned skills.
Anyone looking at starting a different media model..could do worse than looking at the guardian..and seeing if their (eminently successful/long-lived) financial model could be tweaked to work here…as a multi media beast..
There are also tax breaks/advantages to be had…and if content is of high enough and consistent quality..a la guardian..financial support from charitable entities would not be out of the question.
The NZH paywall is a joke, I could suggest 3 ways around it but that could get me in trouble. 🙈
We need a Spotify for news items , any one can upload their news , (well maybe some standards) then you get read you get paid , and the punter only needs 1 subscription.
That could also work..and I don't think these different ideas/models are in a competition for a winner..
They can co-exist next to each other..
The 'news' world has been dominated for too long by those two behemoths with their mirror-models…
I think it is exciting that a whole new world of online media can now blossom ..
Hell..!..I might even get over-excited..and join in…
Scoop is effectively that. Send them a news release and most of the time it will go up. It does seem to work on more of a donation model – ummm and Pro subscription.
The Spinoff, The Conversation, Evening Report also do quite a lot of that as well. Paid for by mixtures of donations, volunteers, subscriptions, and limited advertising. But all largely without paywalls. Plus of course a large chunk of Stuff.
But it is scattered. Besides you should look at Tidal and other music providers rather than Spotify. Look at this comparison – which is why I pay Tidal. Plus they have had a much better fidelity for a long time.
Thanks for your comments articulating the hurdles to be faced…
We could have had an entity in which broadcast tv and radio were integrated into a new major entity called Aotearoa New Zealand Public Media.
Labour, Greens, and Te Mati Maori were all in support.
It was to have a charter. It was going to be able to raise its own revenue through commercial operations, but RNZ would remain ad free.
It would have editorial independence enshrined in legislation.
What actually occurred was TVNZ opposed the new entity from day one, and used its staff to undermine it, and used its strong lobbying power to enable National to gradually kill it. And of course TVNZ helped cause Chippie to abandon it – it was in his DNA to betray Labour initiative so long as he stayed leader.
This is the alternative future we could have had. Not quite the ABC, but a major step towards it. An entity with the capacity to respond and grow with new media technologies.
Now as a result news and the politics within is diminished and won't be coming back in the tv series The Newsroom.
Our media is remarkably similar to the place that local governments are in now that they are having to pay for water infrastructure, rather than form amalgamated entities with the scale to keep up with new demand.
No doubt the fault is with this National coalition for further shrinking the role that news and hence politics plays in democracy. It is also on Labour for their lack of courage to get the job done when they fully had the opportunity.
How exactly did the National-led coalition "further shrink the role that news and hence politics plays in democracy"?
Massive shrinkage in TVNZ news and reporting capacity announced this week. All news bulletins on TVNZ other than 6pm will stop. 60 jobs lost.
Have you been hiding under a rock?
We don't yet have the number for the budget cuts to RNZ, but guaranteed they will be required to make savings like everyone else.
Wot..!…chippy is still here..?
Doesn't he know we called last drinks some time ago..?
Better turn the lights off and on.. until he gets the message..
..and slings his hook..
..and we could go back to some version of that earlier plan…
I don’t see the point in hand wringing over this..
It’s happened..we ain’t gonna change anyone’s mind..(c.f…warner bros..)
So..the time can be seized..and the opportunities reached for…
I have had the predisposition to not pay for media via the internet.
In the early days it was napster, peer to peer file sharing akin to sharing a cd, a taped version of a LP etc. Fast forward to Pirate Bay and the torrent revolution- games, movies, music.
In saying that, I have just paid a subscription for the first time ever for content that was at least partially free. David Slack's More than a Feilding. I stumped up $ after reading the eulogy he posted for his Mum. It resonated enough and made me realise how important and changing the media landscape is. I don't always agree with Slack but do enjoy his writing.
Oh how the times are a changing. There's a song in that.