Posts by Felix Marwick
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I was mulling over whether not to add my 2 cents worth to this thread given some of the comments directed at my profession.
But what the hell, maybe I might be able to add something of value.
One of the major issues facing journalism over the past 15 years is down-sizing. It started with commercial radio in the mid-90's and has slowly graduated to other media (outsourcing sub's at the Herald, and recent cuts at TVNZ being most recent examples). One of the newsrooms I recently worked in had around a dozen journalists in 1990. Now it has just 4, and one of those is the chief reporter/sub. As commercial imperatives have increased the cutting reporter positions has been become a way of keeping the bottom line healthy.
On top of that pay rates (which have never been flash) haven't really moved all that significantly. Entry rates are also not that flash. As an example a starting rate for a rural radio reporter in a sole charge position can be as low as $24k p/a. Journalism, comparative to PR, really doesn't register in the salary stakes unless you've been around for a while. I know if I went to the darkside I could earn 20-40 thousand more a year than I do now.
So is it any surprise many journalists make the jump after 5-6 years in the job? Not really.
Personally I've not really been tempted yet because I do what I do because I love it - not for what it pays. Journalism is the only job I've ever had where I actively look forward to going to work and I've never felt the need to take a mental health day. Everyday is literally a new adventure as you can never really tell what might happen. And it's that unpredictability I love.
Take today's comedy gem that was the Destiny Church/ Gordon Copeland political announcement - a perfect example.
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Butter is the Devil's semen.
[This message is brought to you by the Margarine Marketing Board]
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I think my luckiest whiskey score came when I was working in a bar in Pitlochry in the Scottish Highlands about 10 years ago.
There was a regular called Callum who came in most nights after work. He was a pleasant chap, middle-aged, and always good for a yarn. Anyway one night I finally got round to asking him what he did for a living. Turns out he was a senior distiller for Bells which was based just down the road.
He became a very handy man to know (though my liver may beg to differ)
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Opps, my bad.
Call it an Omen overtone moment.
Now you can have Satanistic connections for your Google hits as well.
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Felix:
Damien you are sooo going to get lynched (again?) the next time you show up at 3.2
Yeah, but tell me it's not true. Tell me you can't name at least three right now who fit into that category... If you can't, I'll agree, pack my bags and leave Wellington immediately.
Actually, if you can't name 3,145 such political reporters immediately, same thing goes... ;)
Damien
I stand corrected but I vaguely recall you espousing that Wellington relationship theory at the National Party mid-winter do. How was it received ? My memory was that it was somewhat controversial to some.As for naming three - well you know the gallery is a bastion of the abstemious lifestyle :-)
The 1980's, now that's a different story. or so I've been told.
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Having said that, I couldn't think off too many political reporters down here who would read that and not think it was referring to them, with a smug smile on their face. They're a breed unto themselves.
Damien you are sooo going to get lynched (again?) the next time you show up at 3.2
;-)
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Bastard - complete and utter.
This goes to a foreman I had back in the days I worked in the Kiwifruit as a seasonal job to earn some cash to get me through varsity (or blow on booze).
Dave had the worst qualities you can ever find in someone whose task is to manage people. He was bloody-minded, dictatorial, impatient, intolerant, and had no sense of humour whatsoever. Talking on the job (thinning kiwifruit) was a no-no, and so too was listening to music ("it distracts from the task at hand"), even swearing was right out of the question. Our days were to be spent in silence trudging up and down rows of kiwifruit vines getting rid of the fruit that wasn't going to make the grade come harvest time. A monotonous job had become purgatorial.
To make matters complicated Dave's background didn't help matters. He was ex-navy (hence the authoritarianism), but also born again Christian.
Take it from me this is not a pleasant combination.
Matters came to a head after a week. Faced with dark mutterings, veiled hints of sabotage, random strains of death metal popping up in random corners of the orchard, and finally outright rebellion the boss had no option but to find a place for Dave away from the rest of us.
Good thing he did too - as a devious plan involving several large unripe kiwifruit and a speculum had been nearing fruition (if you'll excuse the pun)
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I'd LOVE to know how he got "the word" out there...
Winston first referred to it in a speech he gave in mid-June (I believe it was to Greypower). On the next sitting week he gave further comment to the media and was definitely selling it as a compromise acceptable to all sides. His comments were comprehensively reported by ZB, RNZ, the Herald, the Dom'Post and others at the time.
The question was then put to Clark at her weekly post Cabinet press conference as to whether the Peters SOP would be acceptable to the Australians. Her reply was that it was her understanding that it was.
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FWIW Winston put out his compromise option on the Bill about six weeks ago and did promote it to all and sundry as the perfect compromise.
However it turns out he did not show a written version of his SOP to any political party. I did a ring around the week before King put the Government's Bill on hold and was told by every single one of them that they'd not seen it. This includes the Government.
It was seen for the first time this afternoon by National, and the Greens only saw it because Sue Kedgley happened to come into our office as we were reading it.
As far as SOP's go it's not a very substantial one. It's just a smidge over half a page long and had the distinct air of being banged together in one almighty rush.
Read into that what you will.
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I listened to today's exchange live on the radio. What's intriguing is that B-P volunteered the "new" information. It wasn't another slip of the tongue.
Actually he was told to say it by the PM. She became aware of the comment last night and directed him to be more open in the house today ... hence the comment.
Ironically it looks like losing him his job