Public Address | Cafe | Hard News: Bad Judgement

Sacha

Sat, 22 Feb 2014 08:01:33 +1300

To Gerry, 'politics' is anyone having the gall to disagree with him. Oaf.

Ian Dalziel

Sat, 22 Feb 2014 07:23:52 +1300

Trouble up at mill, Guv...
I wonder where Chris Finlayson's 'jargon jihad' and 'obfuscation obliterating' is at?
Why has no one risen to the defence of the rapidly eroding meaning and concept of the word, 'politics'.
Brownlee accuses Lianne Dalziel of 'politics':
''Just three weeks ago, the mayor publicly called…

Craig Ranapia

Thu, 20 Feb 2014 10:53:42 +1300

Thanks for the reply – and I think you (and others) have nailed something really interesting: In general, there's a presumption that most people have fundamentally sound judgement and the ability to seek (and follow) advice around the margins. And so you should, otherwise it would be terribly hard to…

NBH

Thu, 20 Feb 2014 10:39:32 +1300

For reference, the SSC has a handy list of the organisations to whom the State Sector Code of Conduct applies: http://www.ssc.govt.nz/code-organisations. Note that CRIs and universities are not included in that, so in those cases it's purely down to organisational policy.

Biobbs

Thu, 20 Feb 2014 10:01:32 +1300

Scary thing is, same thing would probably happen today :-(

Biobbs

Thu, 20 Feb 2014 09:50:29 +1300

One of the funny ones that once happened in the EC was when an opposing counsel tried to attack my independence because I was a trustee for a grass-roots environmental restoration group in the area of science I worked in.

Something the lawyer only knew because you’d fully and properly…

Carol Stewart

Thu, 20 Feb 2014 09:30:00 +1300

My grandparents were active members of the Communist Party in…

Carol Stewart

Thu, 20 Feb 2014 09:26:29 +1300

And once we get to Nomination Day, my university will put me on unpaid leave (about 4 to 6 weeks out from the election, depending).

It's great that you don't have to burn any bridges.
There are of course some notable precedents for academics going into politics ..

Craig Ranapia

Thu, 20 Feb 2014 08:39:50 +1300

Something the lawyer only knew because you’d fully and properly…

Geoff Lealand

Thu, 20 Feb 2014 08:33:41 +1300

There may well be a university policy on computer use (eg be cautious and courteous in replying to dumb inquiries from your students) but I don't think I have ever read it. Universities do have extraordinary opportunities for freedom of expression but I just wish it extended to all sectors…

Tristan

Thu, 20 Feb 2014 08:12:22 +1300

Most universities have political clubs for every party and staff are welcome to join 'Princes St Labour' being one of the most famous and they will often use rooms at the university for party meetings.

There would be hell to pay if this didn't happen, freedom of political expression and…

Biobbs

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 23:29:04 +1300

Well, thanks again for your sage advice. Guess we'll leave those hoardings down for the time being, or just flash them at sympathetic passers-by.

Hi Carol – I worked for a CRI for 12 years, including at middle management level, and we had very few restrictions to what you were…

Deborah

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 22:40:08 +1300

I might be wrong, but I thik what we’re talking about here wouldn’t really raise an eyebrow in an academic environment.

Using university space might, but probably not e-mail.

Even so, I'm fairly careful about keeping my party political work separate from my paid work, and I pretty much use…

Kumara Republic

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 20:28:40 +1300

Relies on the opposition not doing the same.

A big factor is that Helen Clark's Chief of Staff Heather "H2" Simpson left very big shoes to fill – and no one's come close to replacing her.

Russell Brown

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 19:44:23 +1300

Would you like to share the University of Waikato’s policy around staff use of university e-mail accounts and computers? I’m sure much of it is blindingly obvious (do your porn on your own broadband, for example), and highly dependent on the basic good sense and professionalism of staff. YMMV on…

Sacha

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 18:30:06 +1300

Some people don't ever have a personal email address. Their email address is always their work email, wherever that is. The concept of having a personal email address might be a totally new idea. But this is the sort of thing that an employer needs to sort out, like an…

Sacha

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 18:17:45 +1300

genteel corruption

plenty of that, yes

Sacha

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 18:16:16 +1300

university

a protected case in state-funded organisations. Not that I'm agreeing 90% commercial broadcaster TVNZ fits in that category any longer..

Sacha

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 18:15:02 +1300

The way Key and National have been able to dominate and control the news cycle so far

Relies on the opposition not doing the same.

Craig Ranapia

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 18:00:21 +1300

This really is a distraction and very small cheese. So, if I use my university email address to forward on messages from Labour or the Greens, I am breaking some vow?

Would you like to share the University of Waikato’s policy around staff use of university e-mail accounts and computers?…

Simon Sjorn

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 17:54:13 +1300

I agree the story is small cheese. It has seemed to Me that for some time many of the prominent political 'presenters' or 'analysts' (Garner, Gower, Hosking, Espiner) all operate, more or less, with an obvious slant. These guys have the most significant power in shaping the political landscape I…

Carol Stewart

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 17:29:44 +1300

Well, thanks again for your sage advice. Guess we'll leave those hoardings down for the time being, or just flash them at sympathetic passers-by.

nzlemming

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 17:17:15 +1300

I’m not sure if that’s because TVNZ is owned by the government, or because it’s a media organisation

Probably a bit of both. I know people at RadioNZ who are very well aware of the ownership issue.

nzlemming

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 17:15:42 +1300

I’m one of those Spectator readers

Ah, well, there's your first problem, right there ;-)

nzlemming

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 17:13:00 +1300

I can’t see CRIs in that list of organisations covered by the state servants code of conduct – can that be right?

Yep. CRI’s are corporate entities (essentially companies) with their own legislation.
Cabinet appoints a Board for each CRI. Each Board — intended to comprise business, “professional” and science…

Ethan Tucker

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 16:16:57 +1300

de-cartelise

Early WOTY contender?

matthew

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 16:11:21 +1300

My thoughts exactly.

Robyn Gallagher

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 16:02:59 +1300

(if you think “digital producer” sounds like a cool, influential job, you may be disappointed).

Lolz! This is what I did at TVNZ. And yeah, it's not an influential job, but it was pretty cool (at least my particular role was). It's basically running the website/s for various TV shows,…

Geoff Lealand

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 15:52:29 +1300

This really is a distraction and very small cheese. So, if I use my university email address to forward on messages from Labour or the Greens, I am breaking some vow?
There are more than enough National toadies and shills for vested interests (eg Mike Hoskings) working for TVNZ and…

Kumara Republic

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 15:52:16 +1300

But overall, I’m still uncomfortable with the pretense of objective truth. I prefer the European approach in which everybody knows the editorial and political leanings of each newspaper before they pick it up. Seems a bit more honest. Still, objectivity is something I hope and believe most journalists actively strive…

Dylan Reeve

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 15:47:37 +1300

I still find the idea that TVNZ (or it's staff) are taxpayer funded to be incredibly infuriating. It's simply untrue. Although in this case it's marginally more accurate than when usually levelled (because the Maori and Pacific department programming is largely funded by NZ On Air and Te Mangai Paho)…

Chris Waugh

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 15:42:27 +1300

What he’s more (and atypically) discreet about is whether he flat out broke an undertaking to then-leader William Hague that he’d resign if elected to Parliament.

I didn't realise his transition to politics was that messy. I agree there should be a nice, clean distinction between the two roles.

Dylan Reeve

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 15:41:29 +1300

Shows how TVNZ ceased feeling like a public sector organisation many years ago. Not part of the culture.

I'd say there was a definite awareness within TVNZ that actions of staff, both on and off the job, may be scrutinized more closely because of who they work for. I'm not…

Robyn Gallagher

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 15:39:47 +1300

When I was at TVNZ in Auckland, we used the Ruru meeting room to hold an after hours meeting in which the guys of the department were ranked in order of hotness. But I would not have organised a political meeting.

It surprises me a bit that the TVNZ staffers…

Sacha

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 15:25:30 +1300

because their jobs are taxpayer-funded

A convenient distinction for those whose politics involve promoting the private sector.

Craig Ranapia

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 15:20:31 +1300

It’s Rusbridger. (If I’m allowed to correct a prefect’s spelling under the rules)

Thank you, Rich, but I do prefer it without the lingering passive-aggressive chaser.

As for Boris Johnson? He was the first to admit that the tiresome scut-work of editing a weekly magazine was firmly delegated to full-time…

Chris Waugh

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 14:56:58 +1300

Up to a point

And that's pretty much the point I want it up to, though I wouldn't want to restrict a journalist's ability to change career, as, as Rich points out, at least Boris Johnson has done.

Rich of Observationz

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 14:51:40 +1300

It's Rusbridger. (If I'm allowed to correct a prefect's spelling under the rules)

Also, Boris Johnson moved seamlessly from the Daily Telegraph to the Spectator to parliament and then the London mayoralty,, overlapping as he went. He still writes a column in the Telegraph.

Craig Ranapia

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 14:44:32 +1300

Up to a point, Chris. Yes, you’d have to be a complete idiot not to realize that…

Rich of Observationz

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 14:44:17 +1300

I'm sorry Mr Head Prefect Craig:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gx4jn77VKlQ

Craig Ranapia

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 14:33:37 +1300

I think people who don’t want another three years of Key government should concentrate on the real issues.

And it’s really bad form to moderate or tone police a forum where you don’t have actual moderator privileges.

No, you’ll have to take an unpaid leave of absence for the period…

Chris Waugh

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 14:27:44 +1300

Duh. Yes.

Thanks. I liked this bit of honesty:

"My usual response [to accusations of bias] is that it is hard enough putting a paper out every day, and that I'm not smart enough to run an agenda, too."

But overall, I'm still uncomfortable with the pretense of objective truth.…

Carol Stewart

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 14:00:49 +1300

Thank you very much for that very helpful reply, nzl.

We both work for a CRI, though I'm a subcontractor rather than employee. I can't see CRIs in that list of organisations covered by the state servants code of conduct – can that be right?

Russell Brown

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 14:00:40 +1300

if [we] are unconnected with policy development or are not in a managerial role, we will usually be free to be politically active

Which is the case for nearly everyone, and quite right. You can’t gag a huge percentage of the workforce like that.

Quite. David Farrar seems to be…

Russell Brown

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 13:56:20 +1300

A very interesting 2005 story from the Herald

Got a link for that?

Duh. Yes.

James Littlewood*

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 13:51:25 +1300

Tau was truly lame. First "It's not a mistake Geoff. That's not a _mistake_!" And then, a minute later, asked what should come of the TVNZ inquiry: "Well, there's not much you can do. Say sorry, he did wrong, move on."

Stark-staring mad.

Rich of Observationz

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 13:46:45 +1300

if [we] are unconnected with policy development or are not in a managerial role, we will usually be free to be politically active

Which is the case for nearly everyone, and quite right. You can't gag a huge percentage of the workforce like that.

Sacha

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 13:42:46 +1300

Shows how TVNZ ceased feeling like a public sector organisation many years ago. Not part of the culture.

nzlemming

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 13:36:36 +1300

I just remembered the other rule of thumb – if you have to ask whether it's okay, then it's probably not.

nzlemming

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 13:24:53 +1300

The Code of Conduct for State Servants says:
We must:
* maintain the political neutrality required to enable us to work with current and future governments
* carry out the functions of our organisation, unaffected by our personal beliefs
* support our organisation to provide robust and unbiased advice
*…

thegirlstefan

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 13:20:50 +1300

hi Russell

off-topic, but I'd be interested to know your thoughts on the presenter/programming changes at Radio NZ

Josie McNaught

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 13:15:07 +1300

Paul Henry? He's small fry. What about Mike Hosking hosting the launch of the PM's last election campaign, openly driving around in a free car and promoting it any way he can (what if it was a car whose production was connected to nasty child labour practices, or part of…

Chris Waugh

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 13:12:09 +1300

A very interesting 2005 story from the Herald

Got a link for that?

Russell Brown

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 12:56:38 +1300

A very interesting 2005 story from the Herald, on the topic of journalists and political affiliations. Includes my 20-years-ago membership of the Auckland Central branch of Labour.

Also notes two journalists who came back: Helen Bain (ministerial press sec) and Deborah Coddington (MP).

Carol Stewart

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 12:52:33 +1300

Hoping you knowledgeable folks can enlighten me here – is it OK to display party billboards on your property at home if you work for a government agency? Partner says no, I say yes.

Dylan Reeve

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 12:42:36 +1300

I know this is a bit of a nitpick, but politically connected folks come and go all the time into the offices and meeting rooms at TVNZ. There's no way TCNZ's management could know that the purpose of any given meeting wasn't kosher without being told so by the participants.…

Euan Mason

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 12:42:12 +1300

I think people who don’t want another three years of Key government….

Yet more spam from you, Rich. Look, I tend to favour left-of-centre policies, but that’s not what we are discussing here.

Euan Mason

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 12:40:22 +1300

An “unbiased reporter” is a fiction (Gower is a case in point), and so there’s nothing wrong with Taurima favouring the Labour Party. When he and his staffers begin using TVNZ resources to conduct party business, as they appear to have done, then there is a problem. He was right…

Rich of Observationz

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 12:39:24 +1300

I think people who don't want another three years of Key government should concentrate on the real issues. People who rather like paying 33% tax and don't mind stepping over beggars, carry on bitching about who awful Labour are.

Andre Alessi

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 12:29:20 +1300

and an AWOL management culture at TVNZ that should never have let things get this far.

I know this is a bit of a nitpick, but politically connected folks come and go all the time into the offices and meeting rooms at TVNZ. There's no way TCNZ's management could know…

Euan Mason

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 12:25:18 +1300

The Greens new plan for cheap long term government loans for solar panels .....

How does this relate to the issue being discussed here? Should we regard your post as spam?

WaterDragon

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 12:19:09 +1300

The Tau Henare performance on Morning Report this morningwas the stuff of farce. I know he was biased because I felt he was. C'mon Tau, get a grip

Keir Leslie

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 12:15:35 +1300

I have to say, when it comes to finding a meeting room for the LEC if the best you can do is "how about at TVNZ's offices" I think maybe you're starting to get to the piss-up in brewery level of organisational difficulty.

Craig Ranapia

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 12:09:20 +1300

So it seems to me people have an issue with Shane because he didn’t wear his bias like a badge.

OK, you tell yourself that. I don’t know how the hell I can make any clearer my issue is with Taurima’s blatant lack of political neutrality (can’t really think of…

Tristan

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 11:49:37 +1300

Paul Henry is an interesting case. On his first show at TV3 he told David Cunliffe he would never vote for him. Cunliffe said he thought he was supposed to be an independent journalist. Henry replied 'what gave you that idea?'

So Henry has declared his bias and not to…

Paul Campbell

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 11:28:41 +1300

Sure, we need a lot more than 30MW to close the gap and get us to 100% renewables, but it's a start. And with Europe feeling the ompact of climate change, it's unlikely that National's fuck-the-planet energy policy will be without cost in terms of exports for much longer.

ahem,…

Craig Ranapia

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 11:10:33 +1300

Well, Al Morrison’s working for the State Services Commission, perhaps he can fly up to Auckland and facilitate a few workshops for TVNZ management and staff on the nuances of public sector political neutrality and basic media ethics?

All I can think of is thank God TVNZ and Radio NZ,…

Andre Alessi

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 11:10:08 +1300

I think that this is one of the few times I can recall where TVNZ's Māori programming has been accused of bias, and it all seems to be after the fact. (Māori Television has ruffled a few more feathers, though.)

Russell Brown

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 11:03:11 +1300

But there’s actually a clear process in place to manage any actual or perceived conflict of interest, and I’m damned if I can see any such thing in place at TVNZ.

I suspect you're right. Again, this comes back to editorial leadership.

Craig Ranapia

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 10:57:46 +1300

Even the most aggressive reporters will never turn on colleagues who cross to the other side to work for politicians or take money for media training in the way they might scorn those who display any political beliefs.

No, but let’s take Radio New Zealand for example. Kathryn Ryan is…

Rich of Observationz

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 10:57:06 +1300

The Greens new plan for cheap long term government loans for solar panels will reduce carbon emissions and help ordinary Kiwis gain energy independence at no taxpayer cost.

Sure, we need a lot more than 30MW to close the gap and get us to 100% renewables, but it's a start.…

Public Address

Wed, 19 Feb 2014 10:57:05 +1300

Discussion from blog post.