Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: A cog in the Mediaworks machine

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  • Russell Brown, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    Is that the same as payola?

    Not really. Paid "ad libs" have always been a thing in commercial radio. They can be very awkward during times of tragic news events:

    "The death toll continues to climb – and have you thought about a visit to Gary's Super Value Cars in Pakuranga? They really are the best."

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Alfie, in reply to Russell Brown,

    A very interesting Stop Press story on Scout.

    Most interesting, especially when it comes to the stats.

    He says the site performed phenomenally well on its first day, with, as of 5pm yesterday, 85,000 page views, over 30,000 unique browsers and an average site duration of two minutes 15 seconds. The most read story was the 25 most influential Kiwis under 25 list, which received 16,500 page views, the overall split was 57 percent female, 43 percent male and 50 percent of the audience came from mobile.

    While most of those figures are derived from servers stats, I find TV3's breakdown by gender fascinating.

    Presuming that the majority of visitors on day one will not be registered users, how is user gender recorded? I reckon it's those nasty little Facebook cookies which most people will have on their devices. Even when you're not logged into Facebook, certain sites are allowed to share that information. If that is the case, then Glucina and Co don't just know your gender, they know who you are.

    Just saying.

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    Gossip, Rumer and Fact...
    Baden Powell's gang are nothing compared to what will happen when Bruce Willis finds out they've named their 'Scout' site after one of his kids!!

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • David Hood, in reply to Alfie,

    Facebook cookies

    Cookies are so a few years ago, now people have worked out a whole bunch of other ways as well, and internet advertising companies essentially have an archive of all your online behaviour even with blocking cookies.

    In fact, it is getting to the point where if you don't want Facebook to send you targeted ads, you have to enable a cookie that indicates who you are in order for them not to target ads to you based on everything else known about you.

    Dunedin • Since May 2007 • 1445 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to David Hood,

    In fact, it is getting to the point where if you don't want Facebook to send you targeted ads, you have to enable a cookie that indicates who you are in order for them not to target ads to you based on everything else known about you.

    While I have no idea if FB's targeted ads are still happening, this browser plugin seems to have been doing a pretty good job of keeping my FB experience ad-free.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Alfie, in reply to David Hood,

    In fact, it is getting to the point where if you don't want Facebook to send you targeted ads, you have to enable a cookie that indicates who you are in order for them not to target ads to you based on everything else known about you.

    Alternatively, just refuse to have a Facebook account. Like me. ;-)

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to David Hood,

    Facebook … cookies

    Do they have FaceBookies ?
    where ya get yer own personal ‘odds-on-becoming-famous’ counter, that updates in real time of course…

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Greville Whittle,

    It's funny that Scout already features in a Stuff Trivia Quiz and they got the website wrong; stating it is scope.co.nz not scout.co.nz.

    I don't know if that's a dig at Scout or just bad proofing. probably the latter as Stuff has been horrendous lately.

    Hamiltron • Since Oct 2008 • 50 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Well, they’re being upfront about it. I can see why no one wanted it anywhere near the newsroom.

    In any case, the real issue facing NZ is thus: if there's anything worse than state propaganda from state media, it's state propaganda from private media. The documentary maker Jeremy Scahill agrees.

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

  • Ross Mason,

    Media Works Spokeswoman says:

    On Wednesday, a Mediaworks spokeswoman said there were a number of other New Zealand organisations using "Scout" or a derivative of that word "in similar circumstances".

    "We consider our use of 'Scout' in our product name to be legal and there should be no confusion with the brand of Scouts Association of NZ."

    Mediawords: "Make it so Mr Spock!".

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report Reply

  • Greville Whittle,

    Scout.co.nz has lashed out at the nation’s young guardians of natural resources, the same day ScoutsNZ announced they are seeking legal advice on whether the website has misappropriated its name.

    From the Stuff article it looks like Rachel Glucina is not above using her platform to attack people who don’t like her. No surprises there.

    For a PR professional these are very dumb moves. I don’t know if she’s working on the “no such thing as bad publicity” angle or actually thinks her attack will cause the Scouts NZ to back off. Mediaworks should be wondering if this particular cog might break and cause problems in the machine.

    Hamiltron • Since Oct 2008 • 50 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Greville Whittle,

    For a PR professional these are very dumb moves. I don’t know if she’s working on the “no such thing as bad publicity” angle or actually thinks her attack will cause the Scouts NZ to back off. Mediaworks should be wondering if this particular cog might break and cause problems in the machine

    Mediaworks' senior management is way off the reservation on this. It's fucking nuts.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Russell Brown,

    it’s not a huge stretch to bring that discipline online and “work with brands that want to tell their story” in a way that makes sense to Scout's audience.

    So its like the "Shopping Channel" then.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Greville Whittle,

    From the Stuff article it looks like Rachel Glucina is not above using her platform to attack people who don’t like her. No surprises there.

    The Scouts organisation globally hasn't had a spotless record, but Glucina's response is straight out of the Karl Rove manual - in this case it's "poisoning the well".

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

  • Ian Dalziel,

    It’s a Jungle Book out there…
    Let’s not forget that the Scouts offshoots are based on that most feral of models – the wolf pack…

    Cub Scouts are organized in Packs, which are usually linked to a Scout group, providing a community with all age sections. Adult leaders of Cub packs take the names of The Jungle Book ’s main characters. In many countries the leader of the Pack is called Akela. Cub Scouts have a distinctive two-finger salute according to the Jungle theme, in contrast to the three-finger salute of Boy Scouts
    …These junior troops taught very basic Scouting skills, including basic knotting techniques, basic first aid and tracking..

    I can see where Aimedkrows (Mediaworks) were heading… with their Eskrow-maid site: a cub reporter, a penchant for morality tales, tracking in the concrete jungle, lots of knotting, and a two-fingered response to authority, voila – the anti-Scouts – Dark Media keeps the universe going apparently, buoyed by the silent majority’s Dark Mutter.

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    Let’s not forget that the Scouts offshoots are based on that most feral of models – the wolf pack…

    "Don't be afraid to use your nails, boys..."

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • scarey, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    The young woman on Paul Henry is Perlina Lau, she is woth so much more than being "the social media chick" she used to direct 3 News and stars in Flat 3. She is very switched on and would not be impressed. There are awesome people working for Mediaworks, it must be really hard working there right now.

    auckland • Since Sep 2015 • 1 posts Report Reply

  • Vivid, in reply to scarey,

    Greetings Perlina, welcome, welcome.

    Wairarapa • Since May 2015 • 43 posts Report Reply

  • Berinthia Binnie,

    The young woman on Paul Henry is Perlina Lau, she is woth so much more than being "the social media chick"

    From the bits 'n' pieces 'n' edges I have heard (radio) she manages to keep her dignity amongst the shenanagins. However there is not an inevitability to working in these environments-professionals can conscientiously eject.

    Since Sep 2015 • 23 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    Poor Cameron, the media slug passed by the heir apparent, news glaucoma.

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

  • Berinthia Binnie,

    Forgive me Russell for I have sinned……it has been two days since my last confession…..eerm..the…mumble…..sooty and sweep thing….cough….I said the Sooty and Sweep thing.
    I….stumbled again….I….I nibbled on the clickbait…..I don’t know what I was thinking…..it was something about the Masterkey opening doors to ivy lined corridors or some-such….seems it was just a load of cobbled together old cobblers…..forgive me…

    Since Sep 2015 • 23 posts Report Reply

  • linger, in reply to Berinthia Binnie,

    Nothing disturbing about 1970s TV show presenters at all…

    Harry Corbett: And remember, girls and boys: I’ve got my hand up his bum.
    Sooty: [nods slowly]
    Sweep: [squeak!]

    … Who’s the puppet master in the current version?

    Tokyo • Since Apr 2007 • 1944 posts Report Reply

  • David Hood,

    So Scout, in order to make it clear that there is no connection with Scouts, are publishing pieces about Scouts on Scout?

    Dunedin • Since May 2007 • 1445 posts Report Reply

  • Berinthia Binnie, in reply to David Hood,

    the only sensible reaction to that news

    Ging Gang Goolee, Goolee,
    Goolee, Goolee Watcha
    Ging Gang Goo Ging Gang Goo
    Ging Gang Goolee, Goolee,
    Goolee, Goolee Watcha
    Ging Gang Goo Ging Gang Goo

    Hayla, Hayla Shayla, Hayla Shayla Hayla Ho-o-o!
    Hayla, Hayla Shayla Hayla Shayla Hayla Ho-o-o!
    Shalawally shalawally shalawally shalawally!
    Oompah, Oompah, Oompah, Oompah!

    Since Sep 2015 • 23 posts Report Reply

  • Katita,

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 67 posts Report Reply

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