Posts by Rob Stowell
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As 'Save TVNZ7' morphs into 'we want public broadcasting!' the role on NZ on Air should come under scrutiny. It looks more and more like a subsidy for commercial broadcasters- they decide what gets funded, and then they sell ads around it, and allow us to watch it...
Is there enough NZ on Air money to fund public service television?
TVNZ7 was relatively cheap for what we got, because it shared news-gathering and facilities with TVNZ.
I'm nervous about RNZ taking over the TV news-gathering role. It's the only decent public broadcasting news we've got- I still think it's very good- and TV could easily wreck that.
I'd like to see public service TV start with a small NZ news and current affairs team; a good commissioning office, with robust accountability and a decent budget; and lots of the best news, current affairs and documentary programming from around the world.
Probably at least $60m a year. -
Hard News: If wishing made it so ..., in reply to Steve Barnes,
bring back NZ Rail tea. The pies were rather good too
Just please- don't bring back the coffee :)
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Hard News: Strange days for journalism, in reply to Hebe,
Tough times for print.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jun/26/news-corp-split-rupert-murdoch-paper-tiger
Anyone keen to start an online news-service? :) -
Capture: Two Tales of a City, in reply to Joe Wylie,
I’d bet the university’s tin-can prefabs aren’t that good :) But I’d relocate one for a dwelling if the price was right.
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Capture: Two Tales of a City, in reply to Lilith __,
the Uni’s done quite well with the prefab “village” they’ve made on the sports-field, to give office-space to those departments whose buildings are currently unusable. It’s tidy and neat and fit for purpose.
And importantly: it’s deliberately short-term (which probably means medium-term 4-6 years :( ) and the buildings can be moved and re-purposed (without David’s nightmare, one hopes.)
Tilt-slab, not so much :( The re-build is shaping up for some disappointments, I fear. -
Hard News: Strange days for journalism, in reply to mnpound,
The news is being driven today by last night’s ABC Four Corners programme, which you can see here.
That'd be here. Hopefully :)
Looks great. Just waiting for the kids to go to bed...
Looking around the four corners site: jeez, public broadcasting! Freely available on the net, and they ask for story suggestions.
If we learn how to mispronounce 'fish' can we have some please? -
Hard News: Strange days for journalism, in reply to Stephen S,
I for one support the idea of paywalls to generate income and return journalism to a user-pays service.
If I thought it'd work, I'd agree. Just not convinced it will.
What about a subscription model that offered a little extra juice to subscribers- eg perhaps only subscribers could comment? Or a 'members' lounge' area of the site- perhaps with extra footage/transcripts of interviews (for news junkies)?
I'd like to see journalist-owned ventures. And/or trust-run media.
But none of these preclude the need for more and stronger public journalism. RNZ is carrying a lot of weight at the moment.Funding broadcast journalism is another story and probably warrants a half-day discussion rather than a blog reply.
Too true :)
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Hard News: Strange days for journalism, in reply to Stephen S,
the rise of PR originated stories can be blamed on what I said – a lack of bodies and a lack of resource.
Then there’s the very real added problem of producers/editors toeing the populist lineTotally agree. Both are huge problems. Add in the loss of institutional knowledge and specialist 'rounds' and bean-counting mangers....
Advertising was always the devil's deal in terms of supporting journalism. Worked sometimes- for a while...
So how do we fund journalism in the 21st century? Assuming we don't want it to be the plaything of the mega-wealthy, state funding seems one necessity.
What other models are out there? -
Hard News: Strange days for journalism, in reply to Stephen S,
As recently seen on facebook :)
Stories aren’t covered, not because the journos aren’t smart enough or interested enough, but because there’s no money, no resource, no cameraman or whatever to get it done. Answer? Revert to accessible story, whether it ticks the news value boxes or not.
With that situation comes the reliance on stories that have been set-up by PR people. Talent comes to you, information handed to you…Yes! The ratio of PR originated stories has very sharply risen in the last decade- and probably still rising. Without it entering the ‘national discourse’ because, ahem, the media (apart from the meta-media, like Media 7) hardly want to trumpet this tawdry state of affairs.
Where did I read recently that there were 5 PR people for every 3 journalists- and they had 3x the money behind them? (Probably not NZ figures, but I’d bet it’s a bad ratio here). -
Not de-railing, I hope, to link to Tumeke's post about Igloo.
Like many here I'm deeply unhappy about the way we've handed much of our broadcasting over to Sky. Watching TVNZ climb into bed with them is just sad.
In mining terms, igloo is aimed at picking over the tailings- getting those of us who don't want to pay for tv on board.
But jeepers- the igloo 'privacy' policy Tumeke links to is remarkable.
Eg:IGLOO Privacy Policy.
1. PRIVACY STATEMENT
1.1 Your privacy: IGLOO Limited ("IGLOO") is committed to ensuring the privacy of your information, and will hold all personal information collected in association with IGLOO in accordance with the requirements of the Privacy Act 1993.
1.2 Information: This Privacy Policy applies to:
(a) personal information submitted by you on this website and otherwise in the course of using any IGLOO services, whether by way of this website, any IGLOO set top box or otherwise (the "IGLOO services"); and
(b) any information automatically retrieved during visits to this website.
1.3 Your consent: By accessing and browsing this website and/or using the IGLOO services, you consent to the collection, use, disclosure, storage and processing of your information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.
1.4 Changes to Privacy Policy: We may modify, alter or otherwise update this Privacy Policy from time to time, with or without notice to you. Such amendments will be effective immediately upon the posting of the amended Privacy Policy on this website. You agree to check this Privacy Policy and to be bound by the Privacy Policy that is in effect at the time you access this website.So- even accessing the website on which their privacy policy resides, gives them 'your consent' to collect and use information about you.
How do they want to use it?3.3 Use of information: Your personal information will only be used to:
(a) provide the IGLOO services to you;
(b) verify that you are entitled to register as an IGLOO subscriber;
(c) communicate with you and/or your household in relation to this website, the IGLOO services, and/or your IGLOO subscription;
(d) keep you informed of and promote current or planned products and/or services of IGLOO and our selected business partners; and
(e) conduct market research and generate and provide statistical analysis and rating information.
3.4 Disclosure of information: Unless you have authorised us to do so, IGLOO will not rent or sell your personal information and will not disclose it to any third party except:
(a) where disclosure is connected to the purposes for which the information was collected as listed in clause 3.3;
(b) to our service providers, communications and network operators and selected business partners ("Authorised Partners");
(c) to relevant authorities, parties and/or applicable intellectual property rights holders (or their representatives) if we consider that you are in breach of IGLOO's rights; or
(d) where required, or permitted, by law.So they won't be handing your info out on the street corner. Probably. Unless they feel like it, or change their policy, or...
