Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Campbell Live: A Disturbance in the Force

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  • Hilary Stace,

    This family is angry about the end of Campbelllive. We were angry when TV7 finished too. I don't know about other NZers but I would guess that there are many other angry people out there too. So where will that collective anger go?

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    I want to see news about how happy we all are

    And you know what, Mike, Campbell Live did plenty of warm-fuzzy human interest fluff. Some people might even say too much. But actual honest to dog journalism is about how unhappy people can be. If it had been up to Hosking, would Christchurch still be a media blackout zone?

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    The Ruminator has a great, wonderful, heartfelt post from Ali Ikram:

    Only last week the news was delivered that the show would not go on. Originally, the intention was for everything to tick along for another six-to-eight weeks while a replacement was readied. But it soon became evident that wasn’t going to work. The simple reason being these people, who I am privileged to call my colleagues, are totally incapable of making anything in a half-hearted fashion.

    And:

    There are two types of television. There’s the one that panders to the perceived prejudices of the audience. This is easy to make, instantly creating headlines and galvanizing an audience that will switch on just to hear its view of the world parroted back. The weakness of operating this way will only be obvious to those it leaves out in the cold. The much tougher path is to challenge viewers to question their assumptions and to challenge the powerful, after all isn’t that what the job of journalism is supposed to be about? So thank you, John, for early in your career committing to showing the country in all of its shades of grey, but still with great verve and optimism for the future.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    Really good television is about the full range of emotions. Campbell Live delivered that, night after night. Joy, wonder, fear, shock, surprise, anger, sadness, pathos, love. Often all in the same story.

    That’s why it has our hearts.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • Robert Fox,

    Campbell Live's coverage of post quake Christchurch has ventured beyond anywhere TVNZ and to its shame the Press are proactively willing to tread. Where Campbell live led other media grudgingly had to follow.Thousands of people in Christchurch have been treated appallingly by the the government through EQC, and the Insurance companies and its only through Campbell Live's advocacy that the rest of NZ have been able to get an idea of how their fellow citizens have been treated. While I am eternally grateful for this I am also fearful of what might happen here now with the potential dimming of the National TV lights in Christchurch.

    Since Nov 2006 • 114 posts Report Reply

  • Ianmac,

    I feel so helpless about the stuff that seems so wrong in NZ these days. What can I do about it? Not much but to see Campbell Live in action is to offer a glimmer of hope. Someone cares. Someone is doing something positive.
    But now the screen is blank. Gone. Bugger!

    Bleneim • Since Aug 2008 • 135 posts Report Reply

  • Ianmac,

    A great effort from the New Hope. Who is he? Will he be back?

    Bleneim • Since Aug 2008 • 135 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Ianmac,

    I feel so helpless about the stuff that seems so wrong in NZ these days. What can I do about it?

    I'm supporting Action Station to help galvanise community action beyond our disappointing party political system.

    There are many community groups and volunteers who do wonderful, practical things to improve the world. But it seems politics and media is a lost cause for the time being.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Ianmac,

    A great effort from the New Hope. Who is he? Will he be back?

    It seems so. He’s here on Twitter and here on Facebook.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Cecelia,

    Is he called White Man Behind a Desk???? Very good.

    John Campbell and his team have excelled themselves this week. TV 3 does not deserve them.

    Hibiscus Coast • Since Apr 2008 • 559 posts Report Reply

  • Mike O'Connell,

    Don't be too despndent, there's always The Civilian: MediaWorks confirms reruns of Road Cops is its new current affairs show. Love this... 'Road Cops is a "natural evolution" of Campbell Live... [Mark] Jennings said that the stars of Road Cops had spent “much more time” in local and poor communities than even John Campbell, and that the social advocacy focus of the show would “definitely still be there,” with police promoting such values and messages as “don’t nick stuff,” and “don’t talk back, alright?”'

    A random thought, with White Man Behind A Desk, always thought there's space for a Jon Stewart Daily Show take on things. He and Ben Uffindell / The Civilian are more or less in the same space, could harness their energies?

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 385 posts Report Reply

  • Tim Michie,

    We all remembered Campbell Live was there.

    And it was there when people needed a voice, Christchurch as mentioned, Cave Creek, poverty etc. My impression of this advocacy is it stayed on the issue and the programme didn't make it all about itself - quite a temptation in the current media environment.

    Hosking.

    And Campbell himself. I suppose some might find him overly ebullient but overall I feel enthusiasm is infectious and I didn't false.

    I want to see news about how happy we all are

    ? Perhaps there are reason for unhappiness Mike? And happy isn't the word I'd reach for to describe his mood in his editorials.

    Auckward • Since Nov 2006 • 614 posts Report Reply

  • Tim Michie,

    space for a Jon Stewart Daily Show take on things.

    Ahem Brown Eye.

    Auckward • Since Nov 2006 • 614 posts Report Reply

  • Myles Thomas,

    Around 6.45 tonight Aucklanders are gathering outside TV3 for a Campbell-Light Vigil. A final sendoff. What better way to mourn the passing of nightly current-affairs in NZ.

    Auckland • Since Apr 2011 • 130 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Russell Brown,

    A great effort from the New Hope. Who is he? Will he be back?

    It seems so. He’s here on Twitter and here on Facebook.

    I'm not sure why but his style reminded me strongly of a certain child of a well known blogger and media commentator.

    He also made me feel pathetic for crying yet again over the loss of Campbell as did Ali Ikram's piece.

    I'm not sure how long hearing "Ka kite ano" will make me a bit weepy but I suspect it will be a while.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen,

    If Mr Hosking wants people to be happy he could start by retiring and then perhaps move on to another country ... I hear the 'stans are always looking for lickspittles.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Brislen,

    Afflict the comfortable, comfort the afflicted. That's what I want from my journalism, from my news gatherers.

    Challenge those in positions of authority to keep them honest, act as a Fourth Estate and play a part in raising the consciousness of the nation.

    I remember not understanding words on TV and going to look them up. TV wasn't dumbed down to my level, I had to upskill.

    I learned things (and I don't just mean from documentaries - I learned things from drama and comedy too) and I don't know that I or my kids have done that for many years.

    Kia kaha to the team at Campbell Live and to Fairfax and to the journalists in general. Hang in there.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 200 posts Report Reply

  • Mike O'Connell, in reply to Tim Michie,

    Oh gosh, quite forgot, it's Friday and my brain is elsewhere!

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 385 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen,

    I've been reading more than few comments about how quality journalism is not Mediaworks' problem. It isn't their fault that CampbellLive was the only surviving TV journalism and they were merely making the correct commercial decision.

    Which sounds fine until you realise two things:
    The first is that while CampbellLive has had its ups and downs in the ratings it has always been one of the better rating programs on TV3. Arguing that it's only a commercial decision ignores that commercially its actually a pretty terrible call. If it was my money I'd be pretty pissed off with the managers who made the call.

    And second those managers at TV3 are pretty confident that they haven't pissed off a huge part of their audience. Frankly I think that confidence is misplaced. There are a lot of households that are going to turn away from TV3 simply because of this decision and they may never come back. People can be really perverse - they may really like "Dancing with the D-List" but may choose not to watch just for the pleasure of giving the finger to Christie and Weldon.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe, in reply to Robert Fox,

    Campbell Live's coverage of post quake Christchurch has ventured beyond anywhere TVNZ and to its shame the Press are proactively willing to tread. Where Campbell live led other media grudgingly had to follow.Thousands of people in Christchurch have been treated appallingly by the the government through EQC, and the Insurance companies and its only through Campbell Live's advocacy that the rest of NZ have been able to get an idea of how their fellow citizens have been treated. While I am eternally grateful for this I am also fearful of what might happen here now with the potential dimming of the National TV lights in Christchurch.

    +1

    Campbell Live has been a lifesaver since last year's floods.

    (I now go to the NZ Herald to read more than surface analysis of big Chch stories. Sad eh.)

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • Helga,

    It takes a government to establish a new public service TV channel and if it's not already Labour policy I'll be surprised. Campbell Live redux on TV7 redux?

    New Zealand • Since May 2012 • 18 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    Doubtless to the chagrin of many of his colleagues, Mike Hosking’s inane editorialising peaked this week in this incredible 48-second Mike’s View entitled I want to see news about how happy we all are. He dismissively rattles off a list of things he doesn’t want to hear about

    The Korean Central News Agency called, and they want Mike Hosking back. Self-reliance is paramount and we are here to help!

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Robert Fox, in reply to Hebe,

    Yup - I keep harping on about this but The Press has been no better than average on the Insurance and EQC issues. The news reporting and features have been there but there is only a resigned editorial ambivalence towards the plight of their readers who are still suffering. If only The Press would hold the government to the same standards it expects from the Council

    Since Nov 2006 • 114 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Robert Fox,

    Yup – I keep harping on about this but The Press has been no better than average on the Insurance and EQC issues. The news reporting and features have been there but there is only a resigned editorial ambivalence towards the plight of their readers who are still suffering. If only The Press would hold the government to the same standards it expects from the Council

    Maybe Generalissimo Brownlee has cowed them into submission?

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Robert Fox, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    Since Nov 2006 • 114 posts Report Reply

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