Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Doing battle alone

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  • Steve Withers,

    Dismissing facts as opinions is one of the existential problems with the modern conservative movement. I have come to see it as an extension of the same mechanism that makes religious faith possible: You just believe something and that's that. Evidence doesn't matter. Facts aren't relevant. They merely endanger belief and must be rejected. The problem they face is that ultimately reality asserts itself and they are bewildered. "Who knew?"

    Auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 312 posts Report Reply

  • Graeme Edgeler,

    It being Friday:

    You may have noticed this animated google logo in honour of Martha Graham, here with the official music:

    The animator behind it has also done other stuff, including this, which is also pretty darn good:

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    he appeared on Media7 last night responding to the claims against him. And he acquitted himself well on Morning Report today.

    Also, Media 7 repeated today at 1:05pm on 7.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • johnno,

    The life of an independent journalist is not always a happy one. The costs involved of getting in to Afghanistan, hiring translators/drivers, paying for medical and life insurance are enough to weed out all but the most committed (or insane). All the while you're unsure whether you are going to find an outlet that will pay enough for you to recoup your expenses, let alone make enough to research the next story. My understanding was that execs at TV3 were very reluctant to pay the previously-agreed price for the latest 60 Minutes story - and it took the lobbying of Mike McRoberts to convince said bosses that it was an important story, and that they had an obligation to Stephenson. Thank god they saw the light.

    wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 111 posts Report Reply

  • Jimmy D, in reply to Steve Withers,

    Well, Steve, that's your opinion of course and I assert my right to dismiss it. I can wheel on dozens of other commenters with conflicting opinions that are equally valid. I bet you believe in Global Warming too ;-)

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 16 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Jimmy D,

    Well, Steve, that's your opinion of course and I assert my right to dismiss it. I can wheel on dozens of other commenters with conflicting opinions that are equally valid. I bet you believe in Global Warming too ;-)

    Don Brash says he has a mate who reckons that whole climate change thing is bunk.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to johnno,

    My understanding was that execs at TV3 were very reluctant to pay the previously-agreed price for the latest 60 Minutes story - and it took the lobbying of Mike McRoberts to convince said bosses that it was an important story, and that they had an obligation to Stephenson. Thank god they saw the light.

    Yes, I think Mike McRoberts deserves real credit for holding the line there.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    And James Hansen finally gets a mention in the MSM. Not once, but twice.

    Regarding Mike McRoberts, it's heartening to see that real journalism isn't quite dead yet.

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

  • uroskin,

    Since it's Friday: via Throng:

    A warning has been handed down to Maori Television after a hunter dropped an uncensored c-bomb on an episode of Hunting Aotearoa. [...] The Broadcasting Standards Authority has ruled that the language breached standards of good taste and decency, especially considering the words were the only ones to be spoken in English among a Te Reo background.

    Isn't Hone Maori for c-bomb? Or, tying in with the previous thread, should there be a macron in a c-bomb too?

    Waiheke Island • Since Feb 2007 • 178 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    The Battle of the Biscuits continues...

    My understanding was that execs at TV3 were very reluctant to pay the previously-agreed price for the latest 60 Minutes story...

    ...were they just being mindful that they didn't want to piss off their mate Mr Joyce, and his buddies, who enabled the generous (multi-million) funding support for Mediaworks - maybe?

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    From the summary of today's Amnesty International report on New Zealand's human rights performance:

    In August, Defence Minister Wayne Mapp confirmed there was a risk the NZSAS had been involved in the transfer of detainees to torture in Afghanistan and that he had launched an investigation. Nine months later, and despite mounting fresh evidence and allegations, the Government has not released the findings of its investigation despite promising to do so and has refused to agree to an independent investigation.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Russell Brown,

    When in Rome…
    From Hot-Topic’s Brash in pocket

    “We know that there was a medieval warm period that was much warmer than the globe is now, and we know the Roman period was quite a lot warmer than it is now.”

    that explains that whole Roman men-in-skirts thang, then… and Don would’ve loved all the dagger work involved when choosing “ides”
    - oh gosh, look it’s a Black Friday!

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Ben Curran, in reply to Steve Withers,

    Though sadly it's also a trait that pops up in some of the more liberal areas of the academic spectrum as well. Though not as often or at least not as publicly as it does in conservative politics. It's an extremists tool that has been being adopted by many politician's who I don't think have fully thought through the consequences. I would have thought there would have been enough lawyers in their ranks to eschew the tactic, when two lawyers battle in court, one is usually more right than the other.

    Since May 2011 • 47 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    But I am wondering when the gallery and the Commonwealth Press Union's media freedom committee -- both of them reliably noisy when the interests of larger media organisations are threatened -- will show some solidarity here.

    I think your own interview might have provided a clue -- perhaps I mis-heard Jon Stephenson but it sure sounded to me like Mr Key and Lieutenant General Rhys Jones are about to receive a nastygram from Sue, Grabbit and Runne.

    ...were they just being mindful that they didn't want to piss off their mate Mr Joyce, and his buddies, who enabled the generous (multi-million) funding support for Mediaworks - maybe?

    FFS, Ian. I don't want to interfere with a good conspiracy theory, but could it be equally possible that Three news and current affairs (and everyone else) is rather twitchy about spending very much money on anything?

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

  • 3410,

    perhaps I mis-heard Jon Stephenson but it sure sounded to me like Mr Key and Lieutenant General Rhys Jones are about to receive a nastygram from Sue, Grabbit and Runne.

    Correct, re Key; Jones already has.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • andin,

    he appeared on Media7 last night responding to the claims against him.

    And again acquitted himself well.

    These words keep ringing in my ears..
    "We reject that proposition...." mmmmmm

    Young in years You say!
    Does that façade and those ideas come with an expiry date?

    Oww worked....

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    Bunker mentality...

    FFS, Ian. I don't want to interfere with a good conspiracy theory....

    Gosh! I stand corrected... your idea is obviously so much better than mine...

    I see it is a lost cause being arch* around here...

    In future I shan't respond to cloth-eared,
    tone deaf scolds.

    *arch (2) adjective:
    deliberately or affectedly playful and teasing

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    Perhaps I’ve had more than enough “arch” from John Drinnan on the subject – because The Herald and its proprietors would never even dream of engaging in anti-competitive behaviour or lobbying central government for advantageous policy concessions or corporate welfare. .

    And yes, every word of that was sarcastic.

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

  • BlairMacca, in reply to Steve Withers,

    "“Facts are meaningless. You can use facts to prove anything that’s even remotely true. Facts, schmacts.” -Homer Simpson

    Wellington • Since Apr 2007 • 208 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    There has been considerable activity on the Kiwi Journalists FB group (initiated by Jim Tucker) in support of Jon but the silence from other groups who claim to support journalists is puzzling.

    Have a good weekend y'all, whilst this unusually warm weather continues.

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report Reply

  • Islander, in reply to Geoff Lealand,

    Where you are Geoff!
    Thunderstorms, heavy rain & an indoor temp of 14 degrees C (that's with the fire lit) here...

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • bmk,

    Been 22 degrees here today. Feels like the start of autumn not winter. I know Whangarei is relatively warm but still everyone I know is saying how it's been the warmest May they can remember. In my ignorant bubble I had assumed that everyone else was also enjoying an unseasonably warm may.

    Since Jun 2010 • 327 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Islander,

    obscured by clouds...
    I think I see the problem...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • bmk, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    Wow sure looks like the South Island and the bottom of the North Island look set to receive a battering. Certainly accounts for the different experiences people are reporting.

    Since Jun 2010 • 327 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to bmk,

    assumed that everyone else was also enjoying an unseasonably warm may

    That's true for some regions according to a TV1 news story tonight.

    Georgina Griffiths from Niwa told ONE News: "We've had temperatures three degrees or more above the main normal for the North Island, West Coast, and Nelson-Marlborough."

    Twelve centres have broken record May temperatures, including Hokitika, which was 26.7 degrees on May 1.

    Meteorologists say it all comes down to northerly winds, bringing humid, subtropical air to New Zealand, which are a key feature of the La Nina weather system.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

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