Hard News by Russell Brown

Good show last night, Russ.

Guyon “push for answers too soon” ??? FFS. And the idea of gladiatorial entertainment is exactly what’s wrong with journalism today. This is intimately related to the postmodern notion so common in modern media that truth is relative. And then we get “as an interviewer you’re looking for a reaction”. No. As an interviewer you are looking to find the truth. You guys have forgotten that it’s about finding and reporting truth. Don’t make the postmodernist Gower the Clown error where he says he’s too busy to find the truth so just provides entertainment and tries to be tough on “both sides”. I’ve spoken to “journalists” in the last week who still believe in the “two sides” crap. And let’s please not forget it’s not about you, it’s about teamwork. You can’t “dig deep enough” all by yourself. http://pantograph-punch.com/asking-the-right-questions-patrick-gower
And why not the old “You’re refusing to answer, so let’s stop it there.”

“We’re talking a lot about journalism lately – and we’re doing it because journalism is facing something approaching an existential crisis.”

RadioNZ is a great example of independent, but publicly-funded journalism. An independent fourth estate is essential for democracy, and so extending the RadioNZ model may provide a more secure home for the rigorous journalistic analysis that we so desperately lack in a world largely inhabited by least cost, press release parroting advertising outlets (present company exempted from that criticism :) ).

You guys have forgotten that it’s about finding and reporting truth.

Couldn't agree more.

can't remember who I was talking to on the night about this, but I get a little pissed off by all this 'investigative journalism' talk.
it isn't witchcraft or even particularly clever, it used to be called working your round. you know, getting out from time to time without deadline pressure and talking to people about what as happening then going back to your desk and maybe writing something. it wasn't even reliant on banging out endless OIAs.
you'd be amazed what you learn from actually meeting the people who do stuff, but who the hell has time for that now when you're being hassled to write up some bullshit on international breast sizes or some long deleted Lorde tweet?
Unfortunately, I don't think we've even reached rock bottom yet...argh, I think my lawn needs mowing.

other than that, top night Russell, I had a blast catching up with people over a pint or two. proper journalism that is.

hmm, maybe I'm wrong. headline on Stuff today: Lorde Loves 'Sex' a Lot.

did anyone just feel a bump?

a 'story' based on a 2-month old facebook post.
#scrapingbarrel

On a more positive note – I managed to watch the full clip over the weekend and to make it easier it is now possible to watch each section as they have been split out into separate clips.

The whole event looks remarkable and production values are high. It is better than anything I have seen on Teev but then again I don’t watch any ’regular” TV so that is a poor example.

I wrote up a few thoughts on my blog What does the future of Journalism look like?

It goes without saying but thank you, thank you, thank you - Russell and everyone else who made this last event happen. I think it is world class. Also I see the book "Don't Dream its Over" essays on Journalism futures is now out so that is on my wish list.

Fleet Street's finest: Lunchtime O'Booze...

I used to work next door to Fortress Wapping in the pre-internet days, and it was quite common to be buttonholed in the pub by cub reporters seeking comment on the issues from the day from a typical local. They usually mangled the story and names quite unrecognisably in the process of getting back to their desk and typing it in.

On a more positive note – I managed to watch the full clip over the weekend and to make it easier it is now possible to watch each section as they have been split out into separate clips.

Indeed. They're all here, folks.

Guyon “push for answers too soon” ??? FFS. And the idea of gladiatorial entertainment is exactly what’s wrong with journalism today.

Sorry, I meant to respond to this earlier. You're (possibly) wilfully misinterpreting what Guyon said. It was a really thoughtful point about taking the audience with you in structuring an interview. Maybe take a step back and think about what he's saying, rather than just reacting.

Thanks Russell Wrong of you to assume I was "just reacting" and no I wasn't willfully misrepresenting. Perhaps you would like to address the substance of what I am saying about much of modern journalism. ie The all too common view that there is no truth which leads to celebrity "journalists" who think they are entertainers. These errors are certainly prevalent in too many RNZ journalists I have spoken to. Please note I am not necessarily including Guyon here.

PS Your website still has no mechanism as far as I can see that sends me an email if someone adds to the discussion. It's a pain checking back manually every now and then.

It’s a pain checking back manually every now and then.

the http://publicaddress.net/system/ ‘portal’
gives you a fairly painless quick reference on the ongoing status of all recent threads – in time order.
and http://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/
extends it to all threads

and you could just leave that window open and refresh as needed, microseconds of effort...

I tend to think of it as poking my head in the local to see who’s there and what’s what… otherwise it would be Twitter!
...which is almost all gross characters (4 short!)

:- )

Perhaps you would like to address the substance of what I am saying about much of modern journalism. ie The all too common view that there is no truth which leads to celebrity “journalists” who think they are entertainers.

I didn't mean to sound too snippy, but I really didn't think that was relevant to what Guyon said and that your criticism was misplaced. Live interviewing is hard and I thought what he said was quite insightful.

All good. I got on my high horse. Would be nice to hear your views on the issue nonetheless.