I had a thought. Why did the police go visit Mr Curry at his office and talk to him for thirty minutes and only to get Cook's address, which, as was discussed in the Authority, was something they might have been able…

I'm willing to forgive everything to the NZ newspaper business if they start running every day this picture (originally from this article). Then at least they will be like the proverbial clock that is right once a day.

So what penalty can the BSA actually give? M Laws (okay Micael…

Though not a banker with a flash credit card, I was on the wrong end of one her put downs once; I confess I both deserved and enjoyed it.

Lucky bastard.

Fair enough. From my perspective it was publishing something from a journalist I respect, to rebut some wild claims from a journalist whose work has actually hurt innocent people.

I understand that now but I didn't get that from reading the post itself, only from your comments afterwards. Which is…

Remember when she was maitre d’ at whatever Hummingbird was called in the mid-90s?

She was magnificent then; specialising in hilariously cutting put-downs aimed at young bankers out on the Credit Card.

Though not a banker with a flash credit card, I was on the wrong end of one her…

No one made you all read it

I care not either way about the original blog, but as Giovanni pointed out, we read it because you posted it, and PA is that place we feel we can trust like that.

Whereas I think the writing of Kerre Woodham is designed to do just the opposite. She probably has lots of outrageous and offensive opinions that she keeps to herself

.

Remember when she was maitre d’ at whatever Hummingbird was called in the mid-90s?

She was magnificent then; specialising in…

I'm sure that personally she's very nice.

Whereas I think the writing of Kerre Woodham is designed to do just the opposite. She probably has lots of outrageous and offensive opinions that she keeps to herself.

She's nice, really. I know she's struggled in the past when she's had to fill in for some of the stranger…

John Roughan doesn't do politics, but a column that spins like an out of control merry-go-round between insightful and dumb as a bag of rubber hammers.

That's a perfect description of his column.

I've got to wonder whether Laws believes even half the shit that comes out of his mouth, but it gets a reaction — all that matters.

Whereas I think the writing of Kerre Woodham is designed to do just the opposite. She probably has lots of outrageous and offensive opinions…

That article leaves me speechless. It shouldn't, but it does.

It really shouldn't — when The Poundster was sitting in for you on Media 7, the one useful part of the otherwise painful interview with John Tamihere was his admission that he just says shit to get a reaction. I've…

That article leaves me speechless. It shouldn't, but it does.

I think it's that the attack is so blatantly unjustified – someone suddenly going off their nut over the kind of tragically routine comments that the Fire Service makes every week about house fires.

That article leaves me speechless. It shouldn't, but it does.

Too bad they misspelt his name. The dearth of sub-editors strikes again.

John Roughan doesn't do politics, but a column that spins like an out of control merry-go-round between insightful and dumb as a bag of rubber hammers.

Yeah I realised today it's John Armstrong I meant. Too many Johns!

Though Roughan's one of those commentators I occasionally find myself agreeing with…

I'm willing to forgive everything to the NZ newspaper business if they start running every day this picture (originally from this article). Then at least they will be like the proverbial clock that is right once a day.

That article leaves me speechless. It shouldn't, but it does.

Hey, you said weekly. Which I'll conclude includes dailies... and I should add John Roughan and Colin Espiner for politics in their dailies.

John Roughan doesn't do politics, but a column that spins like an out of control merry-go-round between insightful and dumb as a bag of rubber hammers .…

While there might be structural influences on the content, basically it's people who make it.

Yeah, I know. I don't blame journalists so much as the owners and the editors. And where there are bad journalists, that's largely the fault of the latter too, for employing them.

It kind of helped when someone pointed out that Kiwiblog readers are convinced that the the Herald is a left-wing rag ...

Kind of helps to spot the reassuring glow of a burning cross out there on the edge of the neighbourhood. Puts things in perspective.

We trust you, and would hate for you to have been used or manipulated to present an unbalanced view...
Perhaps you need to publish verbatim Cook's version of events and any corroboration of information passed up the chain...

Fair enough. From my perspective it was publishing something from a journalist…

It kind of helped when someone pointed out that Kiwiblog readers are convinced that the the…

Anybody else just plain irritated with that Auckland newspaper twice mispelling "formerly" today? Probably not (sigh: informally joins the ranks of curmudgeons...)

If it helps, you were not the only one who sighed about that ...

I thought it was well known that many of the readers of this blog hold the major dailies, radio and television networks in very low regard.

For the (broken) record, I am quite partial to National Radio.

And all of them frequently confused with each oither...

Anybody else just plain irritated with that Auckland newspaper twice mispelling "formerly" today? Probably not (sigh: informally joins the ranks of curmudgeons...)

Yes, you weren't the only one, but I was surprised by the response.

I thought it was well known that many of the readers of this blog hold the major dailies, radio and television networks in very low regard. New Zealand's media now seems to consist mainly of sex, violence,…

You're kidding me, right? Information isn't entertainment. A nation needs good neswpapers capable of sustaining a robust political and cultural conversation. In New Zealand there are none. You don't think it's a problem?

The 4th Estate has become the 5th Column.

Frank Mott defined yellow journalism as having 5 distinguishing features:…

Not according to this report:

The offspring and I just watched that, and she said: "Not sure what to think of that; a bit too much self-mockery."

I watched and read as much as I could in my…

No one made you all read it.

Russell, now that's just plain silly...

We trust you, and would hate for you to have been used or manipulated to present an unbalanced view...
Perhaps you need to publish verbatim Cook's version of events and any…

That's the problem, takes too much work and staff have all been slashed... the commercial newspaper model, revenue's too low for the shareholders.

I expect that's a significant part of it. Advertising surely generates the majority of revenue and circulation is best served by sensationalism.

Don't trust that guy.

Good luck with that. His sources are impeccable.

Journalists are truly regarded up there with car delaers, it seems.

Ahh you'd love the irony-fest we're having in Australia. Briefly, The PM is in all sorts of bother over having accepted a rusty clapped out ute as a "mobile electorate office".

Claims are flying around of forged emails,…

Donna Chisholm and Simon Wilson in Metro. I'm far keener on all of them than any old columnist.

Hey, you said weekly. Which I'll conclude includes dailies... and I should add John Roughan and Colin Espiner for politics in their dailies.

most of the articles contained very little that wasn't…

Ralston (who *could* be a really good commentator, if it was ever asked of him

He certainly could. He's capable of very fine writing — he just doesn't do nearly often enough.

Also for the list: Philip Matthews, not least because he wrote the only really good newspaper story about…

and grind down and spit out a Denis Welch.

In other media gossip, The Listener is now looking for another deputy editor ...

That'll be four in five years, I think.

Not according to this report:

Don't trust that guy.

I can't speak for Australia, but there's fine work in the NZ print media every week. You can't just dismiss the whole field.

I think you sort of can. The odd good journalist and the odd good report are one thing, but at the end of the day, are we…

So you have the likes of education correspondent Gael Woods, who really know what they're talking about.

Agreed, I dealt with Gael a number of times over many years and she's nothing short of expert.

(radio less so)

Well, one radio station in particular. The most visionary editorial decision in the past couple of decades at Radio NZ has been to put real weight behind the rounds system. So you have the likes of education correspondent Gael Woods, who really know what they're talking about.

But it's not so much that, I can't speak for others but I thought that there was something about the tone that was a bit off, not the least in the presumption that we should care.

Righto, I accept you were all irked, even if still not quite getting why.…

Okay, the generalisations are annoying me now too. I can't speak for Australia, but there's fine work in the NZ print media every week. You can't just dismiss the whole field.

I'll accept that my comment was too broad a generalisation, but the balance in print media tipped along while…

Anyone else?

I think Chris Barton deserves mad props for consistently producing very good features about unfashionable subjects like disability for the Weekend Herald. And Phil Kitchin's stories have been known to permanently change the country. Donna Chisholm and Simon Wilson in Metro. I'm far keener on all of them…

wouldn't you feel like having your say about that?

I, for one would but I also note that the likes of the Herold are pretty quick to edit to the point of misrepresentation of what one may say (especially as I have read in letters to the Editor and had…

Apart from the parts about the reporter being set up in the apartment, being instructed by his editor, and any actual spying being done, yes, it was just how Cook described it

According to Fisher, yes. I have no elements to judge whether he's telling the truth, the whole truth,…

Broadcast is a little trickier, but I hear that media show on TVNZ 7 has its moments ;-)

Not according to this report:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DRAsRjqFJ4

there's fine work in the NZ print media every week

I agree but not perhaps as wholeheartedly as Russell... I dig Braunias's column in the back of the SST's Sunday (and not much else in the paper, but enjoy getting annoyed at the columnists)...…

Cook told the hearing he had got his licence to work as a private investigator in April, and had been doing some unpaid work for Mr Comeskey.

Gawd.

In truth, I now rely on podcasts and various international services. Perhaps it is simply a function of the market for news/media that dailys cater to the lowest denominator and journalists have few options...

Okay, the generalisations are annoying me now too. I can't speak for Australia, but there's fine…

I am imagining this. Is there a door mouse uniform? A little hat?

Something like this?

Anyway it's a pretty simple formula: if you don't like something, don't watch/listen to/read it anymore.

Having done that, sometime ago, how do I now get what I'd like? Disengaging doesn't mean news gets better, just my annoyance abates.

In truth, I now rely on podcasts and various international services.…

I couldn't care less about what kind of citizens they are. What you describe as my huffing and puffing (and if you go back to page 1, you'll find I didn't actually express those particular feelings until you asked why none of us seemed particularly amused)

Yes, you weren't the…

a door mouse

I am imagining this. Is there a door mouse uniform? A little hat?

schadenfreude is hardly a dignified position, but when the Emperor not only has no clothes but is hung like a door mouse on steroids,

Ranapiasm at it's best :)

Of course you're free to criticise. Just know that it says as much about you as it does about journalists in general. And Ranapia's right, amusing maybe but no big deal.

Up to a point, Mr Wain — schadenfreude is hardly a dignified position, but when the Emperor not only…

Does it occur to you that the kind of people who get real stories might not be the kind of people you expect them to be?

I couldn't care less about what kind of citizens they are. What you describe as my huffing and puffing (and if you go back…

Ah, Weekend Herald. A slightly less empty rag... god Canvas sucks though.

Nah, he was there ages ago. Back when ecstasy was the moral panic drug du jour.

I am sure I am not alone in regarding Tony's Weekend Herald story "How I went to Australia and had some E and was really happy but was then really sad because I had no friends" as a classic of its kind.

Tony's gone to the HoS? Dear oh dear...…

A nation needs good newspapers capable of sustaining a robust political and cultural conversation. In New Zealand there are none. You don't think it's a problem?

I agree we NEED good news reporting – but we haven't had any decent papers at all for a very, very long time and…

You're kidding me, right? Information isn't entertainment. A nation needs good neswpapers capable of sustaining a robust political and cultural conversation. In New Zealand there are none. You don't think it's a problem?

Does it occur to you that the kind of people who get real stories might not be…

“It is difficult to replace me.”

Haha, oh wow.

Must say I find the vitriol directed at journos in general here pretty funny...

I actually asked Fiona to have a look at the blog and the subsequent comments to see what she made of the considerable rancour it attracted. She was puzzled too.

I suspect readers may be mistaking…

Anyway it's a pretty simple formula: if you don't like something, don't watch/listen to/read it anymore.

You're kidding me, right? Information isn't entertainment. A nation needs good neswpapers capable of sustaining a robust political and cultural conversation. In New Zealand there are none. You don't think it's a problem?

I get the feeling a lot of sentences about this man might start with the words "Without prior warning, Mr Cook..."

Priceless. It almost makes me want to be there.

I now also realise why I didn't get a copy of his original list of claims:

[Cook] denied that he…

Anyway it's a pretty simple formula: if you don't like something, don't watch/listen to/read it anymore.

Of course you're…

In today's hearing, we learn:

"Without prior warning, Mr Cook, through his lawyer’s junior, Andrew Comeskey, asked for his job back.

Ms Monaghan said such a request was unusual…

Christopher Harder was there?

Always good with the rat squad if it's about drugs.He can be as bad as they are.Jus' sayin'

no level of decadence and depravity they wouldn't sink you to get a story of dubious veracity while creatively cluster fucking the opposition. This is just lame. :)

According to the Star-Times Cook's original brief described the telescope jape as "the most incredible example of industrial espionage ever seen in…

Such compelling expression and passionate argument. The spirit of Ranapia blesses this thread. He has taught us all well.

Heh... Yes, well learned you have, my little padiwan learners. Now sod off, nine hundred year old half-arse you be, cranky you get.

But seriously, can I really must much bile…

Some more fodder for your disapproval, you miserable buggers ;-)

Meh... at least the Brits could throw up really hardcore hacks who, despite being perma-pissed (on expenses naturally), had no level of decadence and depravity they wouldn't sink you to get a story of dubious veracity while creatively cluster fucking…

I was wondering what material matters might have been discussed in front of the Authority ... thanks for the report. Will you be there next week?

Yeah, I'll try to go if I can make it over that far. Counsel for Cook said he might send a junior. We'll see…

Of course, none of this ended up being reported because all this is a pissing contest between old mates.

I was wondering what material matters might have been discussed in front of the Authority ... thanks for the report. Will you be there next week?

quite useful if you are looking at dropping a cheeky 6kg

I may need to become infected several times in succession. :)

What a horrible thing, although quite useful if you are looking at dropping a cheeky 6kg.

Quite. Bollard would've wasted those amateurs.

Hey! Who hid this from me?

The spectators are willowy bisexual women, who wear dresses made of gauzy material; and when the arc-lights are behind them you can see right through their clothing, to their skimpy underwear, and their lithe bisexual bodies.

I don't…

Does it matter? They can get as ripped as chooks and attempt all manner of hijinks, all the while protesting their admiaration/contempt/whatever for one another's professional standards, but they'll never be Alan Bollard.

Quite. Bollard would've wasted those amateurs.

splatters them on the lapel for a change

Such compelling expression and passionate argument. The spirit of Ranapia blesses this thread. He has taught us all well.

Journalists are truly regarded up there with car delaers, it seems.

then is it fair that the rest of the community meets the cost of that risk?"

Yes Smiffy, To each acording to their needs, from each according to their ability.
You know, principles. Remember principles? you know, those things that go with civilised society, those…

"If there's a greater risk associated with it then that's just what goes with it. People are making choices every day as to the risks they choose to take and if they…

* Introduces a policy-only examination order power, where people believed to have information about offending can be made to answer questions.

* Introduction of "examination order" power, where people believed to have material information about offending can be forced…

Currie told the authority he regarded Cook as a friend.

Well we are going to sort the likes of all the pushers out, so no need to worry.

Who are these people?

Does it matter? They can get as ripped as chooks and attempt all manner of hijinks, all the while protesting their admiaration/contempt/whatever for one another's professional standards, but they'll never be Alan Bollard.

Some more fodder for your disapproval, you miserable buggers ;-)

Hmmmm.

My recent first hand experience of helping a friend deal with the fall out of what constitutes journalistic "ethics" from the HoS (it seems it is ethical at the HoS to be a cynical low-life liar that exploits someone…

Currie told the authority he regarded Cook as a friend. "I gave him a huge amount of personal loans for which I've been left out of pocket." Other members of the newsroom had done the same.

Who are these people?

A former assistant editor at the Herald on Sunday has denied rumours he was involved in a multimillion-dollar drug ring from Paremoremo Prison and selling P in the newspaper's toilets.

Employment Relations Authority member Rosemary Monaghan is hearing Stephen Cook's claim…

I wouldn't say it enraged me as such, I'm just a bit baffled that anybody would find it interesting on any level(*), other than for how it speaks to the infuriating insularity of New Zealand journalism. In your line of work, do you ever feel like grabbing one of these…

the David Slack tales are usually more plausible than this.
Que?

I think you and Haywood are competing for branding mindshare in the David space.

Name Fail. Sorry David. Thanks Stephen.
Must remember – name check, fact check and preview.

Que

I think you and Haywood are competing for branding mindshare in the David space.

the David Slack tales are usually more plausible than this.

Que?

I must say, I'm slightly surprised at the rancour greeting this post.

My rancour was qualified... but as Gio's said; the trivial joking around and gamesmanship is annoying mostly 'cause it is not newsworthy ('cept 'cause some other oaf has mentioned it as he tries to resurrect his gaudy career)…

Although, to be fair, I'm the one who's dissecting the parentage of the guy who came up with the word for telescope 400 hundred years ago, so...

Well, that's a fecking sight more interesting than the exercise in arrested development that gave rise to it. But then, if you happen…

I must say, I'm slightly surprised at the rancour greeting this post.

I wouldn't say it enraged me as such, I'm just a bit baffled that anybody would find it interesting on any level(*), other than for how it speaks to the infuriating insularity of New Zealand journalism. In your…

Isn't that half a bum?

It's half a sianus at best.

The stories David mentions in his guest blog were printed on:
Gillon – Feb 2007
Shipton – April 2007
Gerbich – April 2007
Macsyna – May 2008
David Fisher started working at the Herald on Sunday in December 2004, his last Herald on Sunday article (before going to The Listener)…

Okay, okay – Giovanni Demisiani – was originally Greek but he hung out with Italians at the Accademia dei Lincei in Rome

I find the name highly suspicious for a Greek, he must have either been Italian (Zakyntos historically has always had plenty of…

It's a good thing that Fisher was so disgusted at working for a newspaper that published such stories that he quit immediately in protest.

I don't think he was working for the HoS when those stories were published, which would have made quitting a bit difficult.

And if I know that portion to be false, what regard would I hold his other claims? I know the answer to that. With the same regard in which I personally hold Cook's stories about Sharon Shipton, Debbie Gerbich, Kirsty Gillon and Maycsena King.

It's a good thing that Fisher…

This one could be summarised as "yes we did it, but it was not what you think, so no we didn't do it."

The point is, this was depicted by Cook as an act of industrial espionage in which a journalist was given a telescope and instructions from the editor…

yrs
Eagle Eyes
Pedant Patrol
minima cura si maxima vis

A secret surveillance is necessary. However, the operator is not able to enter the target room in order to place a transmitter. The solution to the problem is our military grade Laser Audio Surveillance System . This system…

if it was for looking at stars it's probably Newtonian
so that could turn the story on its head...
...and can you really trust bent light?

or it may all just be more messing…

When do we get the journalists back that report the story rather than try to be the story?

On…

We were on the top floor and could look down onto/across to the building opposite opposite.

The latter was a mix of office and studio spaces

One of them was…