Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Everybody has one

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  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to william blake,

    There is only one thing worse than being talked about
    and that is not being talked about.

    Oscar Wild.

    'A poet can survive everything but a misprint.
    Oscar Wilde

    ;- )

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    It is sad that we will never see stories about Pike River, Health and Safety legislation or Christchurch earthquake issues on the light-weight Story. Instead we get endorsements of that rape-culture-endorsing Edge radio station.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • chris, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    It is sad that we will never see stories about Pike River, Health and Safety legislation or Christchurch earthquake issues on the light-weight Story

    Or possibly that we will, if one of those issues again scales the heights of peak talkback. We may or may not hear from an actual victim, we’ll be shocked by compilation of news headline soundbites, they’ll speak to a commissioner and the last interview will be of the relevant minister who may even admit that the system is broken and be given ample opportunity to outline their vision and proposed solutions. Back in the studio Duncan may sound skeptical to these proposals but he’ll come round in the matter of a couple of sentences as he restates them aloud in his own voice, deciding that these changes are “huge”. The 7 minute segment will conclude with an update that the specific case in question will now be investigated so we can all walk off into the sunset holding hands and singing Kumbaya.

    Mawkland • Since Jan 2010 • 1302 posts Report Reply

  • llew40,

    I'm aware (as others are on here no doubt) of good journalists who are - through pressures of commercial imperatives - writing much more clickbait than they used to. The traditional business model of media, under siege from digitisation, globalization, citizen journalism, bloggers, pr, social media, dying ad revenue, declining public funding, fragmenting audience interest etc etc, inevitably responds in a number of ways. One of which is to chase new ad revenue via driving click through and talkback style comments threads. Another is to cross-sell across platforms via media 'personalities'. Another is the entrepreneurial indie enterprise like PA or The Hive. I guess if you are a journo or work in media it depends on where you work. BTW, did anyone else notice the relentless cross-channel vibe from NZME towards Mediaworks? For a while there the Herald ran a negative story about the Bachelor or other MW properties every single day for about 21 days straight.

    Since Nov 2012 • 140 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Not gonna happen. Apart from anything else, being big and cross-platform might be the only way to survive and prosper in the new media environment. It’s not a good time to be an indie.

    Yep, while the Internet has proven to be a disruptive force to old media, it hasn’t caused it to collapse but rather caused it to consolidate. Even then, NZ needs a Royal Commission to look into the whole affair. Bonus points if Tony Fitzgerald, Ray Finkelstein, and Brian Leveson can be on it.

    And the only thing Mike Hosking is missing right now is a giant telescreen.

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

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    And the only thing Mike Hosking is missing right now is a giant telescreen.

    True, though I suspect his enduring qualities are more Lord Haw-Haw than Big Brother.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Not surprisingly, the Nats sacked the nanny!

    And I assure you, this column is not an outlier.

    Is 'fiddling while Rome burns' the polar opposite of 'nanny statism'?

    If 'nanny statism' was the knockout blow for the Clark Govt, then 'fiddling while Rome burns' could be the same for the Key Govt.

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

  • andin,

    But he lacks empathy, self-awareness and insight.

    Not much of a human being then.

    And I thought some people have two
    Shit spewing from both ends ... kinda Hangover Pt7
    Oh! Your not talking about arseholes

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to chris,

    The 7 minute segment

    3

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Attachment

    Spot the difference - via Twitr.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • chris, in reply to Sacha,

    Mawkland • Since Jan 2010 • 1302 posts Report Reply

  • Tim Croft, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Yes, I have often thought this about people in such roles. Is there actually time to experience the world and understand it if you're constantly hurrying from one studio to the next? Or do you just end up becoming a 'braindead megaphone' because how can someone being drained of that much opinion possibly be always sincere about what they say, if a few hours later they have to churn out more opinion?

    Tuscaloosa • Since May 2008 • 23 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to chris,

    its-confirmed-matter-is-merely-vacuum-fluctuations/

    I still reckon Hosking is a self absorbed cuff snapping patronising waste of carbon ...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Tim Croft,

    because how can someone being drained of that much opinion possibly be always sincere about what they say, if a few hours later they have to churn out more opinion?

    John Key does it too and relishes it. He has an opinion on everything and has decided he knows best. It's rather handy Hosking agrees with him. Talking heads tend to blather on with ease because "EGO" because vanity, because arrogance. Then subservient people around you constantly confirms you are right then money paid convinces yourself.
    I think the crossovers between radio, TV , Newspaper is a dangerous precedent. Even Jono and Ben admitted last night they spend up to 18 hours a day together. Thank Christ they are only trying to be funny.

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

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    I still reckon Hosking is a self absorbed cuff snapping patronising waste of carbon ...

    Ohh you're too nice. :)

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

  • Russell Brown,

    Just FYI, I talked to Michelle Dickinson yesterday and confirmed that while Callaghan pays her for writing the column, it's not directly paying the Herald.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Stowell, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    John Key does it too and relishes it. He has an opinion on everything and has decided he knows best. It’s rather handy Hosking agrees with him.

    What makes both stand out from almost everyone else in the NZ blathersphere is the degree of confidence they display in ther opinions. We all know confidence is attractive. It breeds confidence. It feels as if they’re a part of what’s moved ‘the political middle’ in NZ, just by dint of sounding certain they are always right and reasonable.
    Bertrand Russell’s

    “The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wise people so full of doubts.”*

    may be true, but we still long for certainty and admire it in others. (My gut feeling is in politics ‘the liberal left’ tends to hold more doubts; the ‘authoritarian right’ more certainty. I think Bernie Sanders and Jeremy Corbyn also benefit from the confidence they have in their ideas (I also think the substance is vitally important, and happen to agree with much of it :)); Donald Trump is all about the triumph of confidence over substance.)
    * I think Yeats said it first and better? :)

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Parks, in reply to David MacGregor,

    Likewise Greenwald’s reporting was lost in the jello wrestling bout between Key and Dotcom.

    To be fair, Greenwald did bring that result on himself, to some degree. His close alignment with Dotcom wasn't the best judgment call of his career.

    Wellington • Since May 2007 • 1165 posts Report Reply

  • andin, in reply to Rob Stowell,

    we still long for certainty and admire it in others.

    Otherwise known as hell on earth, or a fools paradise
    take your pick

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Steve Parks,

    To be fair, Greenwald did bring that result on himself, to some degree. His close alignment with Dotcom wasn't the best judgment call of his career.

    To be fair, put yourself in their shoes and see if you would come up with the same conclusions. Experience can bring people together. Edward Snowden and Assange saw fit to speak too. All of them (Dotcom included) know how this Government works. That they chose to try and tell the NZ public was a public service in my mind. Who else invited them down here? No one else.
    Dotcom has an interest in saving himself from one of the biggest Corporations in the World. That Greenwald saw this and wanted to help , may have been about that and nothing to do with "his career".

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

  • Alfie, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    All of them (Dotcom included) know how this Government works. That they chose to try and tell the NZ public was a public service in my mind.

    +1

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report Reply

  • chris, in reply to Steve Parks,

    Likewise Greenwald’s reporting was lost in the jello wrestling bout between Key and Dotcom

    Inside New Zealand certainly.

    The passiveness of was lost can be taken out of context to ignore the agents of obfuscation that wittingly or unwittingly contributed to minimising the importance of the core issues:

    So we spy on Pacific Nations.

    Here’s my guess, they already knew that.

    Here’s my other guess, we already knew that.

    One more guess…I doubt many give a ‘monkeys’. One of the great lessons of the election campaign was that when it comes to spying and dirty deeds in politics, Nicky Hager and his conspiracy mates made no difference whatsoever.

    Kim Dotcom and his grandiose promises amounted to nothing. The ‘Moment Of Truth’ was the moment of humiliation for them.

    As David said just a few lines previous:

    media establishment colluded either wilfully or by default with the government to fill the air with chaff that bounced the signal around until all that was left was the noise

    Mawkland • Since Jan 2010 • 1302 posts Report Reply

  • RBentley,

    Funny, I have never thought of Hosking as a journalist.

    Hamilton • Since Jul 2008 • 12 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming,

    I doubt the Herald will be keeping Peter Lyons on for long, either...

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • Rosemary McDonald, in reply to nzlemming,

    Waikato, or on the road • Since Apr 2014 • 1346 posts Report Reply

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