Hard News: Jones: The contender leaves
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bmk,
Just to follow up. I don't think the media are biased like a lot of people do. I think Labour's press is poor because a. they are doing poorly b. they have poor media comms. Rather than bleating about the media being biased they should hire some new staff, come up with a better media strategy and then implement it. Remember how Labour controlled the media narrative from '98 - '99?
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Sacha, in reply to
Seriously, how is it their fault that Morning Report would choose that particular clique?
Political media management includes maintaining ongoing relationships with media producers so they have a better balanced background view to bring to stories.
A traditionally-fair channel like Morning Report selecting only one side of an argument doesn't happen in a vacuum. That's a bigger disaster than one mouthy MP taking his talents elsewhere.
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Ian Dalziel, in reply to
Morning Report would choose that particular clique
Not helped by Espiner's near constant attempts at point scoring and putting His view forward, often over the top of those trying to answer his self serving questions - he's another one that needs to get out of his own way, and let things flow...
people might respect his opinions more then. -
BenWilson, in reply to
Are you saying that Morning Report is biased against Labour because of Labour's comms strategy? What could they be doing that would influence the choice of talking heads of an independent news outlet? I'm not saying you're wrong here, just that I'm genuinely interested in how you think they could have done this better? Slipping inside tidbits to sympathetic "independent" left wing commentators, so they get the gigs? Or what?
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Greg Presland writes at The Standard on the framing of this.
In what feels like a finely choreographed dance the MSM has adopted the right’s framing of the issue and pronounced the decision as some sort of crisis for the Labour Party. The loss of 15 MPs including its sixth ranked MP Tony Ryall for National is evidence of renewal. The loss of fifth ranked Shane Jones is a sign of a crisis for Labour. Go figure.
The right’s framing of issues is so powerful because supposed left wing commentators buy into them. When they go for comment on the Labour Party they use washed up right wingers such as Michael Bassett to pour poorly described bile on the party. Or they use people supposedly of the left who also accept the right’s framing.
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Sacha, in reply to
It's a dance. Parties have to work to set the tone and feed the discourse or toes get trodden on.
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So what moves should Labour have busted on this dance floor?
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Sacha, in reply to
Many moves, including the one you and bmk suggested above. It's a dance marathon, though. They've been outside having a smoke for way too long.
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Furthermore, consider that it's likely that Labour was completely blindsided here, whereas National, as the instigators of talks with Jones about his future, may have actually had a strategy. Seriously, how does one prepare for a sucker punch?
*ETA Mixing metaphors here, I think that they probably tried to get into the dance again, but just got kinghit by the bouncer.
*ETA2 The bouncer probably already warned Cunliffe he needed to get rid of that shit shirt.
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Sacha, in reply to
how does one prepare for a sucker punch?
Like any competent political party or movement does. By constantly working to shape the terrain.
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Bryce Edwards provides a comprehensive list of the coverage (several dozen links).
Comparing the headlines with the same list from yesterday is interesting.
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Craig Ranapia, in reply to
Are you saying that Morning Report is biased against Labour because of Labour’s comms strategy?
I’ve got to say that Murray McCully is one sneaky bastard -- it's the only way sitting Labour MPs Damien O’Connor and Clayton Cosgrove became part of an anti-Labour clique on that tool of the National Party, Morning Report. (I don't know if Hekia Parata and Judith Collins would agree with that frame, but that's a whole other argument for another thread.)
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Russell Brown, in reply to
Those interviews sounded like a fuckfest of Fox News liberals.
Disgustingly biased coverage. What producer worth their salt would give airtime only to tired right-wing fools like that bunch? Labour’s ongoing inability to manage media and framing is really hurting them.
I don’t think it’s really possible to “manage media and framing” to that extent, but I would hope they’re working on ways to try and shift the narrative.
Morning Report was just silly today. It was a string of men burbling received wisdom and not being challenged on any of it. The Herald’s editorial is full of the same truisms and concludes by declaring that the party has “lost one of the few who could reach into the male, blue-collar enclaves Labour used to command.” (During those nine years in government under the leadership of a feminist PolSci lecturer, presumably.)
Yesterday, John Armstrong actually described Jones as “someone who talks political sense in a no-frills way”. I mean, seriously? Jones’ mode of speech is “no frills’? In what parallel reality?
At no point have any of these hot-air machines presented any actual evidence that the much sought-after blue-collar male loves Shane Jones like they keep telling us. It’s not really anywhere to be found in anything as mundane as a poll.
And meanwhile, Claire Trevett interviews Jones and writes a story that gives the lie to nearly all of this blithe, half-arsed punditry. By his own account, the key factor in Jones departure was that he wouldn’t be willing to serve in a Labour-Green coalition.
In which case, he was right to go. Because there is no other kind of centre-left government in prospect now, or possibly ever again.
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RNZ/TVNZ pretty much follow the agenda of the foreign multinationals (Fairfax/APN/Clear Channel/Mediaworks) in giving credence to people on the far right-wing / social conservative fringe of Labour.
It can't but help their relations with the National shareholding ministers to do this (and if the left ever get back in, the managers know to expect a scrupulously hands-off approach, so it's win-win for them).
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Russell Brown, in reply to
Greg Presland writes at The Standard on the framing of this.
I thought that was pretty bloody silly too.
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Pete George, in reply to
Unfortunately for Cunliffe and Labour I hear this impression of him quite a bit, and my wife's reaction to seeing a clip of him from the Henry show was similar, on his dress and his 'smarminess'.
"One button undone is casual, two buttons relaxed, three Hasselhoff".
I've heard he comes across well in private but his public impressions are often poor - especially with women.
"Mps are on a 2 week recess" - from Parliament, not from the rest of their jobs. Leader of the Opposition is more than a full time job.
Cunliffe has to look genuine in any media appearance (and avoid dressing inappropriately) if he wants the even more full time job of PM. 'Smarmy' and 'fake' are growing negatives that will be hard to shake off.
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Sacha, in reply to
Jones’ mode of speech is “no frills’? In what parallel reality?
Even Braunias got that one right.
Oh man, Guyon's just about eaten me out of house and home! It's got so bad that here I am sneaking out to the nearest KFC for a feed. But that's alright. It means I can spend time with the people.
I wind down the window, and say, "Hail to thee, blithe spirit! Greeting O surly bro, whose interests I wish to represent!"
He says, "What?"
I say, "I'll have a 12-pack of Fiery Wings and a Deluxe Quarter Pack."
He says, "Anything else?"
"Yes, there is something else, now you mention it," I tell him. "Something on my mind. Listen. It's like this. When I go round the regions of New Zealand, I struggle to find people at marae, workplaces, hotels, and RSAs, who say, 'Jonesy, the first vote of choice for us is Labour'. Yet their economic circumstances mean they should be Labour. Their dreams for their kids mean they should be Labour. So I ask, why are those people not naturally choosing the red waka?"
The youth says, "What?"
I say, "A BBQ Bacon Zinger, please."
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Craig Ranapia, in reply to
I thought that was pretty bloody silly too.
Oath – and disturbingly reminiscent of those on the other side who blamed National’s historically low share of the popular vote in 2002 on that damn biased liberal media. Of course, the fucking awful campaign, impossible-to-take-seriously-while-sober policies and the endless internal ill-discipline being played out in public (*) had nothing to do with it.
(* Which was really impossible for the "liberal media" to ignore when National's caucus spent more time trying to hobble their own leadership than Helen & Co. If you obligingly providing a ten car pile up, it's a little rich to complain when people slow down to look.)
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Rich of Observationz, in reply to
Climate Change Ambassador
Macey is a career diplomat and would either have held this job in addition to accreditation to a national or international body (in which case it becomes a political appointment) or should have been appointed through the normal process for state servants.
I reckon it would be useful to OAI the details on Jones' new job (announced yet?). Best case, it might be found in the future to be ultra vires and he'll have to pay back all his salary and expenses?
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Yesterday, John Armstrong actually described Jones as “someone who talks political sense in a no-frills way”. I mean, seriously? Jones’ mode of speech is “no frills’? In what parallel reality?
That's typical of many comments and responses. I'm also puzzled by the no frills ordinary bloke claims, I didn't often see that in him.
Jones' oratory rarely impressed me, he looked more suited to a stage contest rather than a soapbox.
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bmk, in reply to
How 'bout a bit of research instead of just expecting them to win the latest fashion parade .
She does her research close to the election. Not everyone is constantly engaged with the daily grind of politics. Closer to the time she pays close attention to policies. But with that type of attitude do you really expect people to want to vote for you? Blaming people for not liking you?
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Greg/micky doesn't want to know about misfires and is convinced Labour is doing a great PR job that is just being misrepresented by the media and the right wing.
He was asked in his post:
In relation to your last paragraph however, I think it is also fair to add the Labour party having a more competent PR strategy to your list of “if onlys”.
Blaming the media and the pundits simply doesn’t wash with ‘the facts’ either. Labour have made genuine blunders for a long time now – there were some real misfires during Helen’s last campaign – some very confused strategy under Goff – Shearer was an extremely poor communicator – and now we have Cunliffe.
His response:
I am actually impressed with the calibre of the people handling the media strategy. What I think the problem is that the party has set itself a herculean task in providing so much detail in policy areas and that it could actually simplify things down and perform better.
An example from the beginning of this year. National comes up with a policy for more pay for some teachers with a $360 mil price tag. There was very little detail, just a promise of more pay for some “expert” teachers and headmasters. The policy is heralded in the press.
Labour comes up with its fresh start package with figures and analysis and backing papers and all sorts of detail. It gets attacked heavily because of slightly sloppy wording in one sentence when the briefing papers makes the situation clear.
I can recall in 2008 Labour released 71 separate pieces of policy the day before the election. 71 …
This is entirely my own opinion but by simplifying the presentation of policy Labour could actually be clearer and more effective and not have to work so hard at producing media.
Just my own 2c tho …
If only the voters will look past all the balls-ups and read the policy Labour should romp in.
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Ian Dalziel, in reply to
I’m also puzzled by the no frills ordinary bloke claims
+1
I don't know any 'ordinary blokes' who went to a posh Harvard business school - Cunliffe might not want to mention that too often either, if that's where he is looking for votes......spooky a Harvard just flew over the house!
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Sacha, in reply to
His response:
I am actually impressed with the calibre of the people handling the media strategy.Unimpressed with that statement myself.
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William Leander, in reply to
What a funny thread. On the one hand we have a woman praising what the next Labour MP, Kelvin Davis, said about trying to end violence against women. On the other hand, we have men (more than one) saying how they wives and other women won't be supporting Labour because of the way the new Labour leader dresses.
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