Requiem for a doofus

Written By: - Date published: 9:30 am, June 18th, 2013 - 34 comments
Categories: newspapers, social media lolz - Tags:

judith w truthWell, Slater’s reverse midas touch has struck again. It’s remarkable that Slater should be able to take a 125-year old publication and kill it in 6 months, especially when Judith Collins says he’s better than the mainstream media. Or, perhaps, he had been so successful in turning Truth into the new media dreadnought that its jobs was done. Ah well, lets remember how it began:

————————————————–

October 2012

Dear Readers I have an announcement.

Internet shock jock goes mainstream

“Wellington, you’re on notice – be afraid.”

New Zealand’s number 1 news and opinion blogger Cameron Slater has today been appointed Editor of the Truth.

Truth is New Zealand’s last remaining Kiwi-owned national newspaper which this year turns 125 years old.

Slater has been brought on board to fundamentally change the way newspapers deliver to their audiences. Newspapers worldwide are in decline, due, Slater says, to a tired old business model that no longer works.

“We’re not going to spend $4 million on a paint job and then deliver the same tired old paid-for shit.

“Most of the media in this country is weak, and it’s paid for. The integrity in news went ages ago.”

Slater is adamant that the backbone of New Zealand – the people who work – are not getting a fair shake from government or the system. He aims to change that.

“Each and every one of us has got an investment in NZ Inc, and the majority of the people in charge of the place are taking the piss out of our investment.

“We’re going to keep the buggers honest. There’s no better disinfectant than sunlight.

“To use a tired phrase – if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear, so Wellington, you’re on notice – if you’re having a lend, we’re coming for you!”

Changes will be rolled out over a period of months and will include both print and a 24 hour news website to support the paper. Slater aims to alter the approach to news presentation significantly.

“We took the pulse of the nation, and it had nearly bloody died.

“No bastard wants to read old news – they can get that online. We’ll be more of a views-paper that promises to deliver REAL news, REAL opinion.

“The people are numb from the eyes down with the diet of PR’d crap they get now. I will not do it to them anymore – it’s not right.

“I assure you – the little paper that could still can!”

There will be further announcements regarding contributors and editorial direction.

Slater’s first issue will hit newsstands on Thursday 8 November 2012.

——————————————————

No

34 comments on “Requiem for a doofus ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. infused 1
    18 June 2013 at 9:36 am

    Who gives a shit? I’m surprised you give him air.

    • freedom 1.1
      18 June 2013 at 9:48 am

      but air is one of the best treatments for allowing infected sores to scab before picking off the dead skin 🙂

  2. King Kong 2
    18 June 2013 at 9:45 am

    If you spend your life deliberately making enemies and pretending you are Bertie big bollocks, then it is not a surprise that people come out to dance on your grave when you come a cropper.

  3. Winston Smith 3
    18 June 2013 at 9:55 am

    The more publicity you give him the better 🙂

    • Pasupial 3.1
      18 June 2013 at 10:02 am

      @ O’Brien

      I’m sure you’re saying that out of pure concern for the greater good of the Kiwi Left, and not as an attempt to stifle debate at all.

  4. Pasupial 4
    18 June 2013 at 9:56 am

    I put on; “Lux Aeterna” by Clint Mansell, while reading this – it seemed appropriate.

    Does anyone know what; “..if you’re having a lend, we’re coming for you!”, actually means? The only lending I could see was; Slater taking an 125 year old paper’s name as cover for his failed political machinations.

    • RJL 4.1
      18 June 2013 at 10:15 am

      Does anyone know what; “..if you’re having a lend, we’re coming for you!”, actually means?

      Google is your friend (and NSA stooge).

      http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=having%20a%20lend

    • pollywog 4.2
      18 June 2013 at 10:18 am

      I think lend is whale code for wank. It’s like a group celebratory thing.

    • Arfamo 4.3
      18 June 2013 at 11:20 am

      Ozzers tell me over the ditch it’s the same meaning as are you pulling my leg? (or other parts of the anatomy some like to substitute).

    • the pigman 4.4
      18 June 2013 at 12:33 pm

      I put on; “Lux Aeterna” by Clint Mansell, while reading this – it seemed appropriate.

      Can I get a chaser of Mansell’s “Meltdown” to follow?

      Great film, much better than the preachy book. Saw Kronos Quartet perform Lux Aeterna and a bunch of Philip Glass at the town hall in godknowswhen.. 2005 maybe?

  5. Me 5
    18 June 2013 at 10:22 am

    Regardless..there are people who have lost their jobs, and it least Slater gave it a crack, so fair play to…

    Oh who am I kidding…good riddence to bad shit

  6. Rich 6
    18 June 2013 at 11:08 am

    I wonder if he’ll be out begging on the streets? Nice weather for it.

  7. Penny Bright 7
    18 June 2013 at 11:26 am

    ‘Truth gig is over’ – Slater
    Chris Keall | Monday June 17, 2013 | 37 comments

    http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/cameron-slater-named-truth-editor-promises-overhaul-ck-131562

    MY COMMENT – YET TO BE PUBLISHED…..

    FYI Cameron Slater 🙂

    You had the ‘Truth’ at your disposal, and could have helped to get some ACTION happening on key issues – but did you?

    If NBR readers would like to look at some TRUTHful investigative activism, that will hopefully throw a spanner in the works of the Daft Lunatic Urinary Plan (so-called because it is peeing off so many people) – check this out!

    http://www.occupyaucklandvsaucklandcouncilappeal.org.nz/

    Do YOU want to support this Petition?
    Petition 2011/64

    “Requesting that Parliament declines to proceed with the Housing Accords and Special Housing Areas Bill until the lawfulness of the reliance of Auckland Council on the New Zealand Department of Statistics’ “high” population growth projections, instead of their “medium” population growth projections for the Auckland Spatial Plan, has been properly and independently investigated, taking into consideration that both Auckland Transport and Watercare Services Ltd, have relied upon “medium” population growth projections for their infrastructural asset management plans. ”

    This is how you do it:

    Email/ mail a letter to the Chair of the Social Services Select Committee, in support of this petition:

    (EMAIL TO THE CLERK OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES SELECT COMMITTEE : tracey.rayner@parliament.govt.nz

    MAIL TO THE CLERK OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES SELECT COMMITTEE : Tracey Rayner

    Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6061
    ______________________________________________________________________________

    On this website you can read for yourselves 21 pages of Supplementary Evidence provided to the Social Services Select Committee, at their request, which supports this Petition.

    It is, in my opinion, ‘political dynamite’.

    See Cameron?

    ‘Activists get things done’ 🙂

    All the best with your next endeavour.

    Kind regards,

    Penny Bright
    ‘Anti-corruption / anti-privatisation’ campaigner
    2013 Auckland Mayoral candidate

  8. kiwicommie 8
    18 June 2013 at 12:18 pm

    Never heard of ‘Truth’, and have never read it, nor has anyone I know read it. Probably the fact it was barely known, and it has done nothing worthy of note recently might have something to do with its demise. Either that or he took control with the aim of just taking it for a ride, and shutting it down.

    • felix 8.1
      18 June 2013 at 12:42 pm

      Odd that you’ve never heard of it, it’s one of the longest running newspapers in NZ.

      Have you never noticed the SHOCK DRUGS HOOKERS headlines on the yellow A3 sheets outside, well, just about every corner dairy in the country since, umm, you were born?

      On your last point I don’t believe for a moment that Cameron intended to ride it into the ground. I think he wanted to ride it to the mountain-top and rule the world.

      • kiwicommie 8.1.1
        18 June 2013 at 2:42 pm

        Have you never noticed the SHOCK DRUGS HOOKERS headlines on the yellow A3 sheets outside, well, just about every corner dairy in the country since, umm, you were born?

        Never been to a dairy with one inside or outside in Wellington, and nor has everyone I have met ever heard of it. Then I always had better things to do than read smut or tabloids about people.

    • King Kong 8.2
      18 June 2013 at 1:37 pm

      As Felix points out, if you have never heard of the Truth it probably tells us that you are about 12 years old.
      However there may be another explanation. If your comments about how bad NZ is and the constant moaning about the “gummint” are any thing to go by, you are probably less Kiwi commie and more pommie commie

      • felix 8.2.1
        18 June 2013 at 1:59 pm

        Heh

      • kiwicommie 8.2.2
        18 June 2013 at 2:51 pm

        If most of New Zealand is 12 years old, then sure. But the Statistics department would disagree with you. Thanks for the racist ‘pom’ bashing by the way, I have never called people from the UK ‘poms’ because it is an offensive, and derogatory term. Before calling people ’12 year olds’, examine your own issues. Everyone has a right to be in New Zealand, even if you don’t think so.

        • insider 8.2.2.1
          18 June 2013 at 3:18 pm

          It’s no more bleeding racist than calling a filthy snail eater a frog, a bullying Bosch a kraut, or a sake drinker a nip.

  9. McFlock 9
    18 June 2013 at 12:38 pm

    love the headline 🙂

  10. Mary 10
    18 June 2013 at 1:42 pm

    That comment from Collins about Slater being better than mainstream media is a classic. So she thinks that about Truth as well? That’s one for the back pocket.

    • AsleepWhileWalking 10.1
      18 June 2013 at 2:21 pm

      Yea, “mainstream” media is a page 3 titty girl + repeated cries of GANGS! DRUGS! Gotta love Collins – so retro.

      She fails to pull off the intelligent look I assume she was going for while being photographed with a copy of Truth! …because…well…it’s the truth.

      • Mary 10.1.1
        18 June 2013 at 3:38 pm

        I was thinking that Collins thinks that “page 3 titty girl + repeated cries of GANGS! DRUGS!” is better than mainstream media!

  11. bad12 11
    18 June 2013 at 1:55 pm

    You have to hand it to those that write the words attributed to Blubber Boy tho, what a classic, ”the people are numb from the eyes down with the diet of PR’ed crap they have got now,

    Sounds like He was giving a critique of the historical collective work of Hooten,Farrer et al, poor old Blubber Boy must be numb from the eyes UP to have thought that He could be capable of anything but cut’n’paste and that people would be stupid enough to pay money to look at His absolute bulls**t…

  12. Tiger Mountain 12
    18 June 2013 at 2:35 pm

    Good riddance to the dirty filthy Truth. A colour pom style tabloid lately kept going by brothel ads basically. Last half decent editor was Hedley Mortlock ex cricket reporter with a physical resemblance to actor Bill Nighy.

    In it’s ‘heyday’ it was full of negative parochial slander and divorce court hearings and a page three ‘girl’. Tory through and through and appealing to sections of blue collar “Rob’s Mob”. Probably the internet killed it really rather than Slater.

    • Malcolm 12.1
      21 June 2013 at 3:56 pm

      Interesting history, the Truth. In its early days its sympathies lay with the radical syndicalist labour movement. It started in June 1905. The 125 year claim seems to be based on another paper having the same name back in 1887.

      You should check out some of the old copies on Papers Past:

      http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=CL1.NZTR&essay=1&e=——-10–1—-0–

      “The NZ Truth was for many years one of the country’s most colourful, controversial and popular newspapers. The Truth was launched, in Wellington, by the Australian newspaper publisher John Norton in June 1905.

      Norton owned a stable of Truth newspapers in Australia, starting with the Sydney Truth in 1896. The Sydney Truth’s mix of radical politics and muck-raking proved very popular and Norton established similar papers in the other states before crossing the Tasman. In New Zealand he stuck with the same formula and achieved the same results. By 1930 the Truth was selling 100,000s of copies each week.

      The Truth stood out from the other New Zealand newspapers because it was overtly political and reported the unseemly aspects of life in immoderate prose. Under Robert Hogg, editor from 1913 to 1922, the paper was strongly socialist. It supported the revolutionary Industrial Workers of the World during the 1913 general strike, opposed conscription during the World War One and published letters from pacifist Archibald Baxter.

      The Truth’s politics moved right-wards in the 1920s after John Norton’s son Ezra assumed control. Hogg was dismissed and the paper took a more conservative and populist line from which it never deviated, attacking liberal causes with alacrity. However the commitment to investigative journalism and exposing political corruption remained. The paper was responsible for some major scoops in the next few decades. The Truth grew in popularity although not respectability, circulation reaching about 240,000 copies a week in the 1960s.

      Ezra Norton sold the Truth to a consortium of local businessmen in 1951. In 1978 Independent Newspapers acquired the paper and in 1982 they moved it to Auckland. Here the paper went into a sharp decline. Tabloid journalism was now the norm and the paper lost the vitality that being at the centre of politics had given it. Weekly sales were down to 12,500 when the paper was sold in 2007.

      Note: no issues are known to exist of the first year of the NZ Truth.”

  13. tracey 13
    18 June 2013 at 2:38 pm

    What was the job description and what were his qualifications to be an editor?

    • insider 13.1
      18 June 2013 at 3:13 pm

      Whaleoil views was the only qualification

    • Arfamo 13.2
      18 June 2013 at 3:17 pm

      His qualifications are fully stated in the OP. Their relevance & fitness for purpose are fully evident in the result.

  14. Rogue Trooper 14
    18 June 2013 at 4:43 pm

    now, who was that fellah from Greek mythology who flew too close to The Sun…I carus not.

  15. instauration 15
    18 June 2013 at 10:46 pm

    I’m sure General Paul will find another mouthpiece to honour the Truth of Cam.

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