Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: A cog in the Mediaworks machine

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  • Alfie,

    It looks like 3D is definitely for the chop.

    It is understood staff were told they had one week to come up with an alternative current affairs show.

    A whole week. That's generous of Weldon and Christie.

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report Reply

  • simon g,

    Duncan Grieve saves me half an hour of slow typing by commenting for me. Sums it all up, really.

    When Mark Weldon said TV3 had a "killer line-up" he might have been all too prescient - unintentionally.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1333 posts Report Reply

  • Alfie,

    Teina Pora has posted a short video message to Mark Weldon, asking him to reconsider the axing of 3D -- the programme which finally freed him from prison.

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Alfie,

    It seems the new-found austerity at MediaWonks isn’t being applied across the board. MediaWorks has bought “hundreds of bottles” of wine over the past year from… wait for it… Mark Weldon’s Terra Sancta winery. I guess that sort of expenditure is approved when the boss gets to clip the ticket.

    This is actually outrageous. The Mediaworks cost squeeze would dictate $10 wines from the supermarket. Buying bulk distressed inventory from the CEO at twice that price is ... well, you know what it is.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Russell Brown,

    This is actually outrageous.

    Of course it is but par for the course Russell. Are you surprised? The art of the con is lining many self interested pockets, which frankly disgusts me but I'm not surprised. Leopards and spots, dogs and tricks.....

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Alfie,

    Just eight weeks after MediaWorks launched the Glucina-reborn vehicle Scout, as many staff have abandoned the failed project.

    Mediaworks staff are understood to have been briefed to expect an announcement on the site's future direction later this week.

    Mediaworks have yet to respond to calls for comment.

    The Standard points to Scout's mere 1700 Facebook likes and 325 Twitter followers as proof of Glucina's failure to engage an audience.

    Yesss!

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz, in reply to Alfie,

    She should talk to Slater about how to improve your social media numbers. I'm sure mummy and daddy would buy her some likes and followers.

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

  • Alfie,

    The 3D staff aren't taking the demise of their show lying down. Duncan Greive has the lowdown.

    The Spinoff can reveal that 3D‘s journalists have called on lawyers, forensic accountants and employment experts to help build a case that proper processes weren’t followed, and are in a dialogue with the channel’s Human Resources department.

    “If Weldon thinks he can take on a room full of investigative journalists and they’re just going to roll over, he’s very much mistaken,” says a source privy to the situation.

    At first glance it appears that the journalists have a good case.

    The challenge centres on three elements. It’s alleged:

    * That MediaWorks did not consult in good faith.
    * That MediaWorks provided 3D with misleading and inaccurate reasons for closure.
    * That the seven days the programme was given for consultation were not nearly adequate.

    I wonder how closely the suits at Oaktree Capital Management are watching their investment in MediaWorks dissolve before their eyes?

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report Reply

  • Alfie,

    And lo, only one lonely scout remains.

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report Reply

  • izogi, in reply to Alfie,

    And lo, only one lonely scout remains.

    Meh. This is merely a case of MediaWorks refusing to deny a baseless accusation, and that doesn't prove anything.

    Also, it's very impolite to spread gossip.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 1142 posts Report Reply

  • Alfie, in reply to izogi,

    Also, it’s very impolite to spread gossip.

    Touché!

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Stowell,

    I can't even gloat. It feels like a savage and unrestrained vandalism destroying tv3 from within. Every move a clanger. Good people thrown about like dolls. Wicked people taking all the power and money and leaving behind wrecked lives. :(

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report Reply

  • Alfie, in reply to Rob Stowell,

    Gloating may not be appropriate, but surely a little gentle meditation on karma would be in order.

    It feels like a savage and unrestrained vandalism destroying tv3 from within.

    “The TV business is uglier than most things. It is normally perceived as some kind of cruel and shallow money trench through the heart of the journalism industry, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free and good men die like dogs, for no good reason.”

    Hunter S. Thompson ~ Generation of Swine (1988)

    Weldon and Christie presumably see that quote as an aspirational statement, rather than a criticism.

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Rob Stowell,

    a savage and unrestrained vandalism destroying tv3 from within

    corporate vandalism. and we know the perpetraitors will get away with it.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to izogi,

    Meh. This is merely a case of MediaWorks refusing to deny a baseless accusation, and that doesn’t prove anything.

    Also, it’s very impolite to spread gossip.

    I'm told the story was inaccurate to the extent that there was still one other staffer besides Glucina in the office.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Stowell,

    The stuff story has substantially changed. Semems mediaworks finally scraped together a comment.

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report Reply

  • Sam F,

    Interesting piece from The Spinoff that pieces all the chaos together. (Spotted via a tweet from Danyl McLauchlan)

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1611 posts Report Reply

  • Alfie, in reply to Sam F,

    That's an excellent analysis of the trainwreck that is Scout. Given the recent austerity measures at TV3, it's hard to believe that they splashed out five grand to buy photos of Hosking cleaning his car. Just think how many cases of Weldon's wine that would have provided for those all important board meetings.

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    What interested me is they have a $9k monthly Getty Images budget. You could hire and expense one or two photographers for that and take pictures of actual news events, rather than generic photos of "a police car" or "an aeroplane".

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

  • simon g,

    Mediaworks has a response to its critics: "Please give us ten million dollars".

    While local programme-making certainly deserves and needs support (even silly soaps), you'd hope NZ on Air would ask for a refund of the 3D cash first.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1333 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to simon g,

    Attachment

    On the beach…

    Mediaworks has a response to its critics: “Please give us ten million dollars”.

    =

    TV3 bosses hope Trinity Point will be a must-visit destination for their viewers.

    Now if we wanna go all meta on their asses the Trinity Site was also where the first atom bomb was exploded - a terra sancta if you will – and Weldon and Christie do have a whiff of the unstable transuranics about them…
    rapidly decaying to lead!
    Now thats entropy not alchemy!

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    lumleyish

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Sacha,

    Oakey computer?

    lumleyish

    Yes, Sapphire and Steel are assigned!
    (I just watched their first 'asssignment' again - still holds up and they sure can do sinister on a nan0-budget)

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Alfie,

    Somebody has been emailing MediaWorks and TVNZ staff urging them to boycott Mark Weldon's Terra Sancta wines.

    The email said: "Do not support Mark Weldon because he doesn't support journalism."

    While the writer's sentiments are in the right place, unfortunately the email includes Weldon's full contact details, which is not so cool.

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report Reply

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