The Dom Post’s op-ed pages

Written By: - Date published: 10:47 am, December 15th, 2009 - 34 comments
Categories: Media - Tags:

Reading the Dom Post’s editorial pages over my morning coffee today, I had one of those moments when you suddenly remember how insufferably, shamelessly right-wing our print media can be.

Top left is an editorial attacking the teacher unions and confirming the newspaper’s support for the National Party’s education policies.

The feature op-ed is the regular opinion column from Richard Long, chief of staff to former National Party leader Don Brash (no disclaimer).

Across the page from him is another regular opinion column from former National Party cabinet minister Simon Upton (again no disclaimer).

Below Upton is a syndicated article from climate sceptic Bjørn Lomborg, writing about how the Copenhagen summit is a waste of time and we should just rely on technology to save us.

Next to that is a piece lifted from The Times aimed at building public sympathy for an Israeli military strike on Iran.

Even the feature letter is an insane rant attacking Barack Obama and Al Gore.

The Herald cops a lot of flack for its right-wing partisanship, and rightly so, but I’d argue the Dom Post is even worse. The only time we regularly see a left-wing voice in that paper is old left dinosaur Chris Trotter’s (now fortnightly) column. What I’d give for a Tapu Misa or a Brian Rudman.

Perhaps the biggest giveaway is the fact the paper feels the need to label Trotter’s column “From the Left”. It would be simply unthinkable for the Dom Post to label Richard Long, or Simon Upton, or their own editorial as “From the Right”. For the Dom Post, ‘from the right’ is the default editorial position.

That’s why I’m not too worried about the death of newspapers. There’s a reason they’re so biased to the right, and it’s because the barrier to entry is owning a newsroom, a marketing department and a printing press. It can only be a good thing when these barriers finally collapse and we’re no longer reliant on the class interests of newspaper owners to filter our democratic debate.

34 comments on “The Dom Post’s op-ed pages ”

  1. sk 1

    Eddie, your comments prompted me to read the Richard Long and Simon Upton op-ed’s. Both a good reads. Perhaps Richard Long’s cut a bit too close to the bone, given the reaction in ‘The Standard’ to Phil Goff’s poorly titled and crafted speech (but with an appropriate target, as Long acknowledges) was over-the-top, and contributed to an adverse news cycle .. . just thinking

    • Eddie 1.1

      It’s less about the content of Long and Upton’s pieces today as it is about the structural bias towards the right. Regardless of the line they’re taking on the day they’re coming from a right-wing world view and offering right-wing solutions to our problems. As is the editorial, as are the syndicated columns in today’s paper.

      As for Goff’s speech, “The Standard” doesn’t have a view on it. I do, and I don’t resile from my comments. If Goff wants to dogwhistle to racists then adverse media coverage might be the price he has to pay.

      • Boris Clarkov 1.1.1

        From the extremities of the far-Left that the anti-Kiwi Hate Party, Labour, occupies, “Balanced” is interpreted as “structural bias towards the right.”

    • Bright Red 1.2

      you think the one post (http://www.thestandard.org.nz/goffs-speech/) that the standard wrote on the speech, that was pretty moderate and went up over a day after the speech was given titled the news cycle, which had already taken place by the time the post was put up and which the post itself commented on?

  2. A Nonny Moose 2

    When I dispensed of some media outlets in my life recently, I got accused of “relying on getting my media from biased internet panderers with no filter on their politics”, and that I would do better to rely on traditional modes of delivery – like TV and newspapers – which have no bias what so ever.

    Uh huh.

  3. fizzleplug 3

    Terrible that the views of the majority should be printed in a widely distributed forum.

    • Sam 3.1

      No, these are the views of very few, very biased, right-wing political commentators. I don’t see how you could possibly measure that claim at all.

      • fizzleplug 3.1.1

        Look at the tendency of government in this country’s history. New Zealand has always had a right-leaning population. (and yes, I’m aware that sometimes National got in when they got less votes due to FPP. Doesn’t change anything though)

        • Daveo 3.1.1.1

          and yes, I’m aware that sometimes National got in when they got less votes due to FPP. Doesn’t change anything though)

          Um, yes it does. But even if we accepted your nonsense proposition, you’d still find it hard to argue that the Dom’s overwhelming bias towards the right in any way reflects the range of New Zealanders’ political opinions, much less the opinions of the heavily Labour-voting population of Wellington.

          • fizzleplug 3.1.1.1.1

            It doesn’t need to reflect the range though. Why should it? It reflects what people want to read, which is why it prints it.

            Less people than you think like Labour in Wellington. It was a cult of personality thing – love Helen, don’t like Labour. Keep voting for them cause still better than English/Brash.

            • Sam 3.1.1.1.1.1

              Well clearly reason and facts simply cannot overcome hearsay and anecdotal evidence! You win!

            • Sam 3.1.1.1.1.2

              Well, clearly hearsay and anecdotal speculation caries far more weight than evidence and facts! You win this one!

              • fizzleplug

                I’m dying to hear the facts backing up your claim that the majority of New Zealand has a left-leaning stance.

                Go on.

                I can wait.

              • Eddie

                I’m dying to hear the facts backing up your claim that the majority of New Zealand has a left-leaning stance.

                That’s not the argument in the post. Did you even understand the point I was trying to make?

            • Daveo 3.1.1.1.1.3

              The Dom Post is a monopoly, people have no other choice if they want to purchase a newspaper.

              Also can’t say I share your self-serving analysis of why people in Wellington vote Labour.

              • fizzleplug

                It’s the only local newspaper, but by no means the only paper available in town.

              • Daveo

                It’s the only daily newspaper that covers local issues.

                That’s a feature of our news media landscape and it’s to do with our size, it’s also why our newspapers pretend to be objective rather than openly nailing their preferred party’s colour to the mast.

                It’s… oh fuck it, nevermind. You’re too thick for me to be bothered debating with you.

              • fizzleplug

                Bye now.

                Yes Eddie, I understood. But I digressed very quickly (my attention wanders).

              • ben

                The Dom Post is a monopoly, people have no other choice if they want to purchase a newspaper.

                Of course it’s not a monopoly, unless you think the relevant market is traditional newspaper. People can get their news online or tv or radio. And if people want made up sh*t they can always read a post on global warming by Marty.

          • Pascal's bookie 3.1.1.2.1

            He’s a rightie I think,
            which means that while he may not want to change the world,
            he is looking for a new English.

    • Draco T Bastard 3.2

      RWNJs, such as yourself, aren’t the majority.

  4. ben 4

    Eddie, remember, you are the outlier here as a left wing activist. Nearly all politics in NZ is to your right. With that in mind isn’t your complaint about right wing bias simply a matter of perspective?

    I haven’t seen a NZ-specific study but academic studies generally show relatively left wing bias in media.

    • Eddie 4.1

      I’m not asking for left-wing bias here, I’m just asking for some balance. Surely even you can see the Dom is tilted heavily in favour of the right.

      Studies I’ve seen tend to show that journalists lean toward the liberal left, but editors are deeply right-wing and conservative. Guess who makes the editorial decisions and chooses the op-ed writers (here’s a hint, it’s not the liberal-left trainee journalist on $24k).

  5. Sam 5

    I agree. I often find myself thinking I’d be more inclined to actually pay for a newspaper if it wasn’t so horrifically biased and full of useless drivel, both in terms of worthless so-called professional political opinion and the fluffy feel-good pieces. Or indeed simply pieces that aren’t a wholesale reproduction from a news agency.

    If only the left have the buying power of the right! 😛

  6. While Richard Long is an inerrant source of drivel, Simon Upton is occasionally worth reading. I was hoping that he might respond to Bob Brockie’s visceral attack (yesterday) on his ministerial legacy in science, but it doesn’t seem to have happened. I don’t think that the Dom’s opinion pages are all that unbalanced as a rule – they just happen to have these commentators on Tuesdays. Which is good – because the rest of the week slightly more reasonable people turn up (aside from Chris Trotter).

  7. Below Upton is a syndicated article from climate sceptic Bjørn Lomborg, writing about how the Copenhagen summit is a waste of time and we should just rely on technology to save us.

    No, there’s an article from Lomborg pointing out that govts will not keep whatever promises they make about cutting carbon emissions, just as they haven’t kept their Kyoto promises, so perhaps we should adopt a more realistic approach with some chance of actual improvements arising from it. If you’re saying this view is right-wing, we’re left to assume that “right-wing” is synonymous with “sensible,” which I doubt was your intention.

    No dispute with the rest of your assessment though.

  8. gomango 8

    I wouldn’t describe Lomberg as a climate change skeptic. In fact he believes global warming is a significant issue and is on the record as saying so. What he is skeptical about is the ridiculous governmental response, believing there are far more effective ways to address the issue than the ineffective, vested interest heavy debacle that is underway in Copenhagen.

  9. Rex Widerstrom 9

    What I’d give for a Tapu Misa or a Brian Rudman.

    For the love of God, no.

    First, that’s like saying the Socialist Worker is too left wing and pining for a column by Micael Lhaws to fix it.

    Okay, no I take that back. They’re not that bad. But what I mean is, we need less of people from whom we’ve already heard, ad infinitum, on virtually every topic on which it’s possible to form an opinion.

    Go on, play this little game. Name a topic, then try to work out what Rudman or Misa would say about it. Bet you’ll get it right a good 85% of the time (and of the remaining 15%, 10% of it will be because there’s some topics neither will ever bother with). As you would with Lhaws, Garth George, etc etc.

    Second, you’re asking for one bunch of people who interview their word processors to be replaced by another, who interview them from a different angle.

    I want to read opinion… of any colouration… that challenges me to think and at least goes to the trouble to throw in a new fact or two, or presents known facts and draws a conclusion I might not have though of.

    Rudman and Misa? No thanks. For intelligent NZ left wing opinion backed by research I’d rather read Marty G, lprent and yes, even Eddie.

Links to post

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • EV road user charges bill passes
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April.  “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Bill targets illegal, unregulated fishing in international waters
    New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Reserve Bank appointments
    Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates.  Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Stronger protections for apartment owners
    Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Travel focused on traditional partners and Middle East
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend.    “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says.   Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Keep safe on our roads this Easter
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Cost of living support for over 1.4 million Kiwis
    About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Tenancy reviews for social housing restart
    Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary plan halted
    The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Cutting all that dam red tape
    Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track.  “Dam safety regulations ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Drought support extended to parts of North Island
    The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Passage of major tax bill welcomed
    The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Lifting economy through science, tertiary sectors
    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government announces Budget priorities
    The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.  The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government to consider accommodation solution
    The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government approves extension to Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care
    Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says.                                         “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • $18m boost for Kiwis travelling to health treatment
    The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says.   “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM’s Prizes for Space to showcase sector’s talent
    The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Concerns conveyed to China over cyber activity
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government.     “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry
    Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function.  The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Brynderwyns open for Easter
    State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech to the Infrastructure Funding & Financing Conference
    Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Parliamentary network breached by the PRC
    New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to provide support for Solomon Islands election
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ-EU FTA gains Royal Assent for 1 May entry to force
    The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union.    “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • COVID-19 inquiry attracts 11,000 submissions
    Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says.  “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Families to receive up to $75 a week help with ECE fees
    Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Unlocking a sustainable, low-emissions future
    A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Chief of Army thanked for his service
    Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders
    25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government commits nearly $3 million for period products in schools
    Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech – Making it easier to build.
    Good morning, it’s great to be here.   First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning.  I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Pacific youth to shine from boost to Polyfest
    Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • 2024 Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships announced
    ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Breast Cancer Foundation – Insights Conference
    Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Kiwi research soars to International Space Station
    New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to the New Zealand Planning Institute
    Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Support for Northland emergency response centre
    The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed.  “Northland has faced a number ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Celebrating 20 years of Whakaata Māori
    New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Some commercial fishery catch limits increased
    Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-29T14:38:06+00:00