Hard News by Russell Brown

Read Post

Hard News: The humanity

188 Responses

First ←Older Page 1 3 4 5 6 7 8 Newer→ Last

  • Bodmin, in reply to Paul Campbell,

    Don't hold your breath though. Yes the timing is rather strange to say the least.

    Auckland • Since May 2014 • 10 posts Report Reply

  • tussock, in reply to Rob Stowell,

    This is a form of bias that should be called: specifically bias against the weak and for the strong.

    Not really. Journalists have to hold their audience. That audience is at least twice as much in favour of National as Labour, probably more. By the turnout they know every Nat voter is happy and all the Labour voters who stayed home are not. Attacking things Labour might do to shift their voter's habits right now makes good sense if you care about holding your audience. Which they do.

    It's also deeply informative to the Labour voters, who may well be looking for some signs of faith, or change, or consistency, or whatever Labour's polling tells them, really. There's no such thing as bad publicity, except if you tell people how much less rat there is in the new pie recipe. Less rats is bad, as it accepts there are some rats as a point of fact.

    Just because you're Labour voters and don't want to hear that most people don't like Labour right now, that doesn't make it stop being effective commercial reporting.



    P.S. There's some shit from people here about Cunliffe being disloyal, that's just National's bullshit again. Just a heads up that things being in the press about Labour doesn't make them true. Dirty Politics, eh.

    The party, the unions, the membership, at least some of the caucus are behind Cunliffe. He's really the only popular thing they've got. Fuck everyone else, if the older MPs can't get on with him, turf them. I'd imagine they've got some useful stories to tell about what plays well in all the National Party electorates they won though, and do in fact believe in the Labour party and want them to do well.

    Unless Murray (present) has cut them a big cheque as well.

    Since Nov 2006 • 611 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Stowell, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    only be happy if Paddy Gower was chasing Judith Collins around Parliament with a burning pitchfork.

    Not 'only' but I gotta say it'd be worth turning on the TV for :)

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Alfie,

    NSFW

    Or Roger Melly - the man on the tele.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Katharine Moody, in reply to Tinakori,

    Did you not see Tova O’Brien with Winston Peters and Rebecca Wright with Laila Harre on Saturday night?

    That point about the guys being worse than the gals was Russell's not mine. I did see these reporters and thought the did themselves no favours, for sure.

    Wellington • Since Sep 2014 • 798 posts Report Reply

  • Trevor Nicholls, in reply to Katharine Moody,

    Interesting to see the different approaches: Harre studious indifference, Winston bantering for all he was worth. Winston made for better TV I think :)

    Wellington, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 325 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Trevor Nicholls,

    Sorry about that.

    No worries. While at the moment I'm conscious that I'm stressed and quite grumpy I hope I don't cross that line. But if I do please call me on it.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    some people hereabouts would only be happy if Paddy Gower was chasing Judith Collins around Parliament with a burning pitchfork.

    Not I. I'd rather our reporters stopped chasing people around trying to badger them into saying the perfect soundbite.

    It seems to me, he says naively, that sometimes just the simple refusal to answer is enough - especially if the reporter and editor is able to highlight the fact that the person failing to answer has been evasive.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Katharine Moody,

    Jane Bowron wrote this excellent article

    I guess our definitions of excellence will have to differ because I thought this parting shot from Bowron was so full of irony someone should get mining rights...

    The real loser on the night was democracy with only 77 per cent of the electorate bothering to turn up to exercise their franchise. With only half the world granted the great privilege of franchise, those who didn't vote should be herded into a container ship and pushed over the side somewhere in the Ross Sea, preferably in the middle of winter.

    When Jane manages to climb down from that high horse, perhaps she might want to ask herself if she's a big part of the problem.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Stephen R,

    Success can be measured in different ways

    Yup. But if that is your measure then you are an entertainer and not a journalist. It seems to me that some people want the prestige of one and the rewards of the other.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to tussock,

    Journalists have to hold their audience. That audience is at least twice as much in favour of National as Labour, probably more.

    There is a huge smell of circular logic there.

    And again - half of those who voted favoured National - that is not half of TVNZ audience note is it half of the population, it is not even half of those eligible to vote.

    Numeracy.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • CJM,

    Great caustic piece by Ian Martin (the Thick of It writer) on his hate/love of the Labour party in Britain.
    http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/sep/23/ian-martin-labour-conference-thick-of-it

    The first clear chance for years to differentiate themselves, to renounce austerity and commit to a genuine Labour manifesto, sod the Mail, renationalise, reunionise, tax the rich, protect the poor, FIGHT FOR THE WORKING CLASS WHICH IS TECHNICALLY THEIR FUCKING PURPOSE and all they can offer is the Vegetarian Option.

    Auckland • Since Aug 2014 • 107 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to tussock,

    Not really. Journalists have to hold their audience. That audience is at least twice as much in favour of National as Labour, probably more.

    I think the problem is the quality of our "Leaders", a good leader should have journalists in awe, a journalist should feel "Honoured" to be granted audience with a real Leader, hence the term "The Honourable". So, for a good journalist to be able to hold their audience, you have to have a politician that is deserving of the term . Whether that honour is deserved or demanded is a different matter but I think you must agree, "there's a shortage of them around here", as the wide mouthed frog said through pursed lips. (because it was the wide mouthed frogs that the... whatever it was that eats wide mouthed frogs and so turkeys and thanksgiving and... oh never mind)

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Seriatim, in reply to CJM,

    The first clear chance for years to differentiate themselves, to renounce austerity and commit to a genuine Labour manifesto, sod the Mail, renationalise, reunionise, tax the rich, protect the poor, FIGHT FOR THE WORKING CLASS WHICH IS TECHNICALLY THEIR FUCKING PURPOSE and all they can offer is the Vegetarian Option.

    V funny; and brings me to a query - have any of our esteemed journos bothered to speculate about what else was discussed during that intense 7 hours, apart from "the leadership" they're so obsessed with? How might Labour be re-positioning? What policies abandoning/adopting?

    Wellington • Since Dec 2010 • 57 posts Report Reply

  • Jack Harrison,

    Television and Radio and Media sell ads to business's. The more readership the higher the price of ads. Chaos headlines equals BIG SCREAMING HEADLINES that are so fucking shocking that they need to be checked out just on a level of civil and political diligence. Make you read, more $ for ads. Happy owners.

    wellington • Since Aug 2014 • 296 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Tova just created an entire story about noone talking in Labour. Bollocks to her and the horse she rode in on. Pike River Mine news didn't even notice all the promises JK made. Just the new unaccountable "not speaking" Solid Energy CEO. Whoopty doo. Another waste of my time I wont get back.

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

  • Katharine Moody,

    Russell, I've had a great idea. You should start a live countdown clock on your front page titled: Where in the world is Jason Ede?

    Wellington • Since Sep 2014 • 798 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    A whole friggin' year ! Another disgusting effort by this Government. I want to say (as Labour did) you deserve better Family of the Miners. Start a petition online and you will be amazed at your support. After Fonterra taking a DIVE the day after Team Key won the confidence of the Country. How encouraging. Not!

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

  • Jack Harrison,

    To be in office or to run for 2014 office you need to have a big ego. It’s a prerequisite. And have a thick skin because you will slandered. Labour ,meeting 24 hours after a poor result will be a massive smash of egos. That’s expected. Passion is expected. Get the fucking cameras out of their faces you assholes. They lost. That’s the story. Let them re-group.

    Politics is a big deal and the players know it. It’s like stalking a professional footballer the day after a bad world cup final loss. They’d punch in you in the face.

    wellington • Since Aug 2014 • 296 posts Report Reply

  • Jack Harrison, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    Sofie, the tragedy makes me sick , when you consider the economic drivers and safety compromises that sent those boys and men to their workpace deaths.

    I still think you can't go in there unless science let's you.

    wellington • Since Aug 2014 • 296 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Jack Harrison,

    Politics is a big deal and the players know it. It’s like stalking a professional footballer the day after a bad world cup final loss. They’d punch in you in the face.

    And , Team Key.... wha? No story for them eh? Quietly, slowly planning the next lie.

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

  • Steve Barnes,

    Meanwhile, back in Medialand...
    APN to rebrand as NZME.

    "GrabOne is still GrabOne, NewstalkZB is still NewstalkZB and the New Zealand Herald is still the New Zealand Herald."

    So nothing in it for those that wish to be well informed then.
    But wait... there's more....

    Hastings said that the "me" in NZME. reflected the focus of putting people at the centre of the company's brands.

    Great, but which people? inhabitants of Planet Key™?

    The rebranding comes as an initial public offering (IPO) and sharemarket float is being considered as one of several options by NZME.'s Australian parent, APN News & Media.

    So that's a yes then.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • william blake,

    "Hastings said that the “me” in NZME. reflected the focus of putting people at the centre of the company’s brands."

    I thought there was no "I" in team...

    ...but five eyes in #teamkey.

    Since Mar 2010 • 380 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Jack Harrison,

    I still think you can’t go in there unless science let’s you.

    It's been done, there is a way. Now that's Science. Go to. the report says yes.

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

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Jack Harrison, hi

    WE must use any situation like this to figure out what not to do again. Pike is an opportunity to understand what went wrong. It's fit to get in. International advice says it's good enough. Our own friggin' report says good to go. Let's try eh?Excuses like I heard tonight," Equipment is getting old" hell the Rena should be funding this by now.

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

First ←Older Page 1 3 4 5 6 7 8 Newer→ Last

Post your response…

Please sign in using your Public Address credentials…

Login

You may also create an account or retrieve your password.