Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: For want of some purpose

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  • Tom Semmens,

    The webcaster model has flaws, that being that one pretty much needs to exclude people without computers or broadband

    This government has basically adandoned bothering even to pretend it provides a decent face-to-face service for its citizens anymore. Bill English himself is on the record as considering the move to putting all interactions online or via under-staffed call centres an "efficiency gain" (for whom and by what measure one has to ask).

    Given that, I am amazed no one in Labour (well, not so amazed when I consider the not very intelligent Clare Curren is Labour's spokesperson) or the Greens has raised the issue of whether or not a free broadband connection is now a basic requirement and right for all New Zealanders. After all, the government is about to spend hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayers money on a fibre network. Shouldn't we use that opportunity to get all citizens online?

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • izogi, in reply to Islander,

    I've just ditched Sky ..... I may get Freeview - but it is uncertain the service is available in the wopwops.

    You should be able to get it from anywhere in New Zealand using a left-over Sky satellite dish, but you'll need a Freeview-compatible set-top box to translate the signal. (Just make sire it's a satellite box and not a terrestrial UHF box if that's what you're planning to do.)

    Unless anything's changed, the built-in decoders that are inside most new TVs today require the ground-transmitted UHF signals, which are also required for a Full HD transmission (if you care about that sort of thing).

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 1142 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Stowell, in reply to Tom Semmens,

    Bill English himself is on the record as considering the move to putting all interactions online or via under-staffed call centres an “efficiency gain”

    Apposite article in Werewolf- "Efficiency is not your friend"

    When they say ‘efficiency’ that’s when you should reach for your revolver
    By Gordon Campbell
    Before it got seduced and started hanging out with the wrong crowd, ‘efficiency” used to be an innocent little word….
    At its worst, though…’efficiency” has a ruthless quality, and is easily irritated by human frailty. These days, when people use the word “efficient” it can reliably be taken as a sign that ends have become means, and that what started out as a quest for the wise use of resources has now totally jumped the shark.

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Ben Austin,

    It seems that a large part of the problem is that the people* in control, and those who will be consulted (newspaper journalists, owners of spectrum, advertising companies, party funders etc) are either not really that convinced of the need for public broadcasting in times of a budget deficit, or have ulterior motives.

    Certainly not "fiscal restraint", if the taxpayer funding of The GC and NZ's Got Talent are anything to go by.

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

  • Danielle, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    And to be not entirely facetious, who watches the endless hours of domestic and imported cooking and property unreality porn clogging prime televisual real estate? Who busts a collective gasket if they’re not getting fed mega-doses of Corrie Street?

    You're describing me! Dear lord.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    Certainly not “fiscal restraint”, if the taxpayer funding of The GC and NZ’s Got Talent are anything to go by.

    But that's how the system works. The key factor is the willingness of a broadcaster to screen the programme.

    Those people who insist NZ On Air (budget freeze notwithstanding) can simply do the job of a public service broadcaster and also complain about The GC drive me nuts.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Islander, in reply to izogi,

    Thanks izogi!

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

  • Rich of Observationz, in reply to Tom Semmens,

    whether or not a free broadband connection is now a basic requirement and right for all New Zealanders

    Well, possibly with many people not being able to afford food, shelter or education they're keen to get those sorted before addressing the horror of seeing a loading icon in Youtube.

    (and no, free broadband doesn't equal education. You need these people called 'teachers' do do that face-to-face.)

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    This should probably have been attached to an earlier thread (so apologies, though topic still relevant) but Giovanni's blog on the Metro article on Auckland schools and league tables etc is attracting an interesting discussion including comments from Metro editor.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • TracyMac,

    possibly with many people not being able to afford food, shelter or education they're keen to get those sorted before addressing the horror of seeing a loading icon in Youtube.

    I couldn't agree more.We have way more problems in terms of getting adequately fed, sheltered, and healthy kids into school than, frankly, what I still consider to be middle-class welfare. (I'm middle class myself, and yes, I find NZ's internet offerings to be embarrassing, but still)

    The dangerous part is where more and more education and access to various services - try finding jobs these days without using the internet - assume that you do have both equipment and access and knowledge. There's a mighty gap developing.

    Canberra, West Island • Since Nov 2006 • 701 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Jose has posted the Media7 Greatest Hits reel. See: there is a place for humour in this show!

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    Giovanni’s blog on the Metro article on Auckland schools and league tables etc is attracting an interesting discussion including comments from Metro editor.

    Agree with him or not, I think Simon has given a good, measured account of himself there. I'm glad it hasn't turned nasty.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Agree with him or not, I think Simon has given a good, measured account of himself there. I’m glad it hasn’t turned nasty.

    And I posted on that thread about the real issue - the unwritten class war that is the education system. Hell, I even suggested to the Metro people about it as possible article material.

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

  • Sacha, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    face-to-face

    that will evolve new forms

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to TracyMac,

    There's a mighty gap developing

    verily

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to TracyMac,

    There’s a mighty gap developing.

    And if it gets too wide, well... do the math.

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

  • Danielle, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Simon has given a good, measured account of himself there

    It may be measured, but it doesn't really pass the logic test. At all.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Will de Cleene,

    Speaking of classic Media 7 humour, who can forget Simon Pound's How to Do an OIA. Informative yet pants-wettingly funny:

    Raumati • Since Jul 2011 • 107 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Danielle,

    It may be measured, but it doesn’t really pass the logic test. At all.

    Fair enough. But rather than spazzing out about evil bloggers, in the time-honoured MSM style, he turned up and put his case.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Agree with him or not, I think Simon has given a good, measured account of himself there.

    Could it be possible that he learned something from Robyn Langwell’s career suicidal defense of that indefensible N&S cover story?

    It may be measured, but it doesn’t really pass the logic test. At all.

    Which is an argument to be had, but like Russell I’m pretty fucking grateful Simon decided to engage instead of throwing himself a never-ending pity party in the pages of a certain Sunday newspaper about those horrible internet people. It’s actually how the great magazines are supposed to add value to the public square: Be part of the conversation, not start flaming anyone who intrudes on the monologue.

    And I don’t mean to pick on Gio – whos obviously thought a lot and feels very deeply about the issues concerned – but I really didn’t expect a Twitter slap-down for suggesting the latest issue of Metro is worth buying for our host’s contribution. As someone who has bitched a lot about the Auckland lamestream media’s patchy interest in Pasifika folks who aren’t good at sports, cooking meth in their state houses, or beating their children to death, I thought a little credit was due.

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

  • Yamis, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    And I posted on that thread about the real issue - the unwritten class war that is the education system. Hell, I even suggested to the Metro people about it as possible article material.

    apologies for going OT here. Stop reading NOW and scroll down 20cm's to next post. Started as a few lines and then took viagara or something.

    What would be nice if Metro actually did a series of articles which looked at all the aspects that they reckon make a 'good school'.

    "(1) across the board academic achievement (DONE), (2) top academic achievement, (3) values, (4) safety, and (5) breadth and depth of opportunity. "

    Of course some of them are impossible to measure but they are not impossible to discuss.

    Top academic achievement is interesting I guess. It's also hit and miss year on year at schools. Amazingly talented kids tend to do well regardless of how awesome or incompetent their teacher is. There are plenty of mid to low decile schools that can produce the best student in NZ in an individual subject.

    On Values it's not that hard to go to school websites or email them and ask them what their school value statements are and discuss what direction schools are trying to go in these days.

    Safety is problematic but can be dealt with sensibly without scaremongering (my school has it's share of drugs, violence, bullying etc but by and large it's confined to a very small minority, your average kid side steps it with good grace).

    And breadth and depth of opportunity would probably be a fantastic chance to show just how many amazing things that students can do at schools these days. There are stats out there on participation in sports by school region (West Auckland being the lowest in NZ! believe it or not at about 45% from memory).

    Obviously most of the content in those articles would be non personal, or rather non school specific but you can still make yourself useful Mr. Metro. They just have to do the leg work. How many sports do you play in your school? How many teams do you have? How many cultural groups do you have? How many school clubs odo you have?

    This shit is just as important as how a school can take a smart kid and make them smarter, or a kid who's flat lining at year 9 and get them to get Level 1 before they leave at Year 13.

    Since Nov 2006 • 903 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Yamis,

    And was there actually anything in the Metro article about Prof Lubienski's research about decile 'gerrymandering'? I suspect not.

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

  • Yamis,

    The thing is for Simon who says in one of his post replies

    In my view, schools that fail their kids through academic under-achievement find it easier to get away with that when there is no media spotlight on them. And showing relative achievement is one way of turning on that spotlight.
    We’re not toxic to public education. On the contrary: the best way to strengthen public education is to make it better – to bring the standards of the underperforming schools up as high as they can go. In our small way, I’m confident we contribute to that.

    Actually Simon you might be shocked but at our school we have annual staff meetings where all our pass rates at year 11, 12 and 13 are data crunched, compared to the national figures and we look at where we are going well, where we aren't and what possible improvements we can make and within departments this is a never ending issue. It is a CONSTANT ongoing process.

    Magazines with glossy covers and BS 'motives' are about one degree off being completely useless to this 'problem'. In fact they're probably contributing to the difficulty many schools face.

    Next week we lead with "Good Magazines and Bad Ones", what subscription you should buy your dad for Christmas. Stocked full of articles on bee pollen, magnetic underlays, girlie websites and getting hard for the ladies.

    Since Nov 2006 • 903 posts Report Reply

  • Yamis,

    Umm, last few lines a tribute to Radio Sport which does actually run ads for all those things.... all day.

    Kinda depressing that it's my go to station when I can't recall being interested in a single thing it advertises in about a decade. And I'm probably starting to fall into their target age market as well. :(

    Since Nov 2006 • 903 posts Report Reply

  • Yamis,

    6.5 Eathquake felt across the North Island. "Heavily felt in Wellington". Everyone OK????? Didn't feel anything in the Auckland west side.

    Since Nov 2006 • 903 posts Report Reply

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