Fairfax and NZME and merger talks on
As previously discussed here, bad for the media, bad for democracy.
Media
journalism
APN Fairfax NZ merger?
A healthy democracy requires a healthy media, and in NZ both are getting sicker.
John Key chickens out of #panamapapers interview
This morning John Key refused to be interviewed on Radio New Zealand after learning that they intended to ask him questions about the Panama Papers. And some elements of the media are for some strange reason trying to say there is nothing to see because he personally has not been implicated.
Technology and democracy
Preliminary evidence shows how social media giants like Facebook and Google could influence elections. Should we be worried?
Memo from Crosby Textor: Murray McCully and the Hagaman donation
The Standard has obtained a copy of a Crosby Textor memo concerning risks posed by Murray McCully’s handling of issues surrounding the awarding of the contract for the Niue resort.
The failed estate: Tick Tick Tick
Jim Parker criticises the actions of a Channel Nine film crew whose involvement in an international attempted kidnapping of two children raises ethical and legal issues.
Opinion pieces on Labour
Two opinion pieces on Labour this weekend offer a full spectrum from insight to inanity.
Towards a new economic order
George Monbiot in the Guardian gives a precise and accurate description of neoliberalism and asks the question why has the left not come up with a modern alternative?
WTF ONE News?
I know we whine on a lot here about the appalling state of the media in NZ, but does it get any worse than this? Seriously ONE “News” – what the fuck?
Why are we paying Key’s legal expenses for him?
Key backed down on using taxpayer money for his payout to Ambrose – but he is still using it to cover his legal expenses in the case. Why?
Key settles Ambrose defamation case – with public money
Key has made a payout in the Bradley Ambrose defamation case over the “teapot tapes”.
Dom Post – Key, Kitteridge and Finlayson can’t be trusted
The weekend Dominion Post editorial doesn’t pull any punches.
Crowdfunding for Bradley Ambrose’s defamation case against John Key
Teapot tape cameraman Bradley Ambrose plans to take a defamation case against John Key. A crowdfunding campaign has been set up to help him raise the $38,000 required.
Shock Horror media bias exists in New Zealand
Claire Robinson has analysed press use of photos during the 2014 general election campaign and has concluded that the major newspapers exhibited substantial bias in favour of Prime Minister John Key.
TPPA snippets and media coverage
Snippets from recent pieces on the TPP, including The Spinoff’s José Barbosa an his take on the media coverage of the Auckland protest.
The Whitehead Report does not exonerate Murray McCully
The Whitehead report into the circumstances surrounding the failed waiver of diplomatic immunity for the Malaysian attache charged with sexual assault charges has been released and blames the incident on an inadvertently worded email. But questions remain about why Murray McCully only took active steps after media broke the story and the effects his reorganisation of MFAT has had on its ability to do its job.
What to do about poverty (and a suggestion to the media)
An excellent piece on poverty by Lizzie Marvelly in The Herald this morning poses a question to which we already know the answer. (Plus some bonus rambling on the media.)
Why are we working so hard?
A recent New Matilda article discusses why at a time of increasing productivity the need to work has increased and not decreased.
The media in 2015
Some random musings on what happened in New Zealand’s media this year.
Treachery and silly season political snippets
There’s still a few MPs “on duty”. Their function is to maintain the semblance of active government and to roll out a bunch of announcements they hope will escape full scrutiny.
Summer break
Standardista authors are on summer break! There will be an Open Mike each day, but little or no other posting (unless an author feels particularly inspired). Here’s some summer reading suggestions – by all means add your own…
What was National’s role in the police raid on Nicky Hager?
Justice Clifford’s decision that the police raid of Nicky Hager’s home was illegal raises serious questions about what political pressure was applied on the police.
Carter’s last fan
How fitting that Audrey Young is Speaker David Carter’s very last fan in the world.
Duncan Garner and the great Christmas beatup
In which Duncan Garner goes trolling with a great Christmas beatup, and gets taken to task for it.
Stuff report on child abuse
Not exactly light or cheerful Saturday morning reading – but we should all read it anyway. Stuff’s (Katie Kenny & Blair Ensor) excellent special investigation on child abuse in NZ.
Something Smells, Honest John
Seems Ms Adams is the latest prepared to jump under a bus to save the beloved Honest John. Self interest is strong in this one.
Death throes of journalism at TV3
Spinoff has the story.
Last day to support Scoop
It is the last day of Scoop’s fundraising campaign at PledgeMe, and they are less than $1,000 from their goal. Why not help them over the line?…
Scoop’s second Hager document release
Scoop has released a second collection of documents from the Hager v Attorney General case. Among them is comment by a former Police Commissioner expressing surprise at the amount of resources put into the case and the involvement of a senior member of the Police Executive.
New Zealanders who may have committed horrendous crimes, such as murder and sex offences – I’ve still been standing up for them and getting them a better deal.
You won’t believe this Herald hack’s hilarious homophobia!
Really Fran?
Making the Opposition the Enemy –
It takes fortitude to admit you are wrong. That’s right, not weakness but, strength, courage, resilience, grit, determination, endurance, guts, and staying power. When you won’t admit you are wrong you end up having to justify wrong decisions. That takes time and energy (and money) away from what actually needs to be done for the greater good. John Key won’t admit he is wrong. Because of this he has to keep going down several paths of “wrongness”, and because he is Prime MInister, he is taking us all with him. Some people think he does admit he made mistakes. But when you examine the few instances closer (if you can find them), it looks like something else.
The cost of cancer
When people are turning in these numbers to crowd-funding for treatment something is seriously, seriously wrong.
TV3’s woes and a media bouquet
Excellent piece on TV3’s woes at Spinoff this morning. It’s a grim picture for news over all, and we are much the poorer for it. (Bonus bouquet to Kirsty Johnston at The Herald for her current series on education.)
Dirty Politics was in the public interest
Today’s anonymous editorial in The Herald makes for interesting reading, with the right conclusion in the end – Hager’s Dirty Politics served a genuine public interest, and should be legally protected as such.
Q&A with Scoop’s Alastair Thompson
Scoop’s Alastair Thompson will be joining us live around 10am. Do you have questions on the future of the media, public service journalism, or plans for the Scoop Foundation? Ask them here!