A total beatup on One News last night
April 2nd, 2008 at 8:19 am by David FarrarI don’t think I have seen a bigger beatup than what One News led with last night. It was puerile and almost offensive as they demanded two National MPs bow down and answer questions on their personal views on global warming.
Let us first start with some known political reality. On every single issue that a party decides policy on, there are a range of views within Caucus. Sir Keith Holyoake is on the record as saying that even as PM, he only personally agreed with 80% of what his Government did. This is the nature of collective decision making and compromise.
Does every National MP support the silly ban on party pills? Absolutely not. But they decided as a caucus to support the Government’s legislation. Does every Labour MP support the ban? Again, absolutely not.
It is absolutely routine and everyday that MPs have private views, which are sceptical or different to a party’s policy. It is impossible to imagine otherwise – MPs are not clones.
It is absolutely no surprise that some National MPs are sceptical of the extent of global warming. But as Williamson and Smith said last night, they are committed to the party’s policy to reduce emissions through an emissions trading scheme. That is what matters. If National is elected, they will be judged on their record with policy and actual emissions (and let us face it can hardly have a worse emissions record than Labour has had).
Let us look at a comparison for another party. Labour (like National on Kyoto) have recently done a policy change. For Labour it was on tax cuts. After years of opposing them and even hiking taxes, they have as a party adopted a policy of lowering personal tax rates.
Now is there anyone dumb enough to think that every single Labour MP genuinely believes that lowering personal tax rates is a good thing (as oppossed to a politically desirable thing). Of course not – there isn’t a chance in hell. Good God they have spent years demonising tax cuts.
But Labour as a Caucus, have decided to implement tax cuts, and hence their MPs are committed to voting for them.
So why has One News not furiously chased down Labour MPs and asked them to all state on camera what their *personal* views are on reducing taxes? Not, whether or not they support what their party’s policy is, but whether they personally think tax cuts are more desirable than increased spending?
Related posts:
- News galore on the ETS
- Smith on Labour’s environmental record
- Labour promises years and years of tax cuts
- Hooton on 2008
April 2nd, 2008 at 8:24 am
Even Paul Holmes on newstalk this morning was pointing-out that it was a ridiculous beat-up by Espinor.
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 8:41 am
If TV One asked me about the hip science global warming I would blow a juicy raspberry at the nitwit lickspittles.
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 8:42 am
So why has One News not furiously chased down Labour MPs and asked them to all state on camera what their *personal* views are on reducing taxes?
Because Global Warming is the current religion, and anyone who doubts even the most extreme claims being made about it must be hunted down by the True Believers and forced to retract.
It is becoming like the Salem witch trials.
[DPF: Exactly, it was like how dare you not bow down to the altar. It is perfectly acceptable to be sceptical on the extent of man made contribution to warming, yet support a policy to reduce emissions on precautionary grounds. But no, they were chased down for not worshipping Al Gore]
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 8:45 am
Yes it was a beat up, but why can’t they just say it’s a load of bullshit and get it over with. “Yes Maurice I agree with you, but the focus groups say we have to stick with this line for now, so this our ofiicial policy.” As the great Leighton Smith would say, Spare Me.
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 8:46 am
“Mr Williamson, are you a Catholic? Are you prepared to accept the trinity of God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit? Will you accept the Holy Roman Catholic Church as his sole voice? Will you accept Catholic Communion as the only acceptable way to communicate with with God, and will you renounce all other faiths as the work of the devil? If not, you better prepare for HELL!”
You know, I thought as a society we had moved beyond heresy. Clearly when it comes to the new faith of climate change, we aren’t prepared to accept tolerance of viewpoints as we are prepared to accept diversity and tolerance of viewpoints in Christianity, or even in other religions.
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 8:53 am
I look forward to Colin chasing Cullen through the corridors demanding his personal view on tax cuts rather than give him his talking points to have a go at the Opposition.
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 8:56 am
Global Warming is the latest fad that Helengrad has tied their electioneering to. And we know how the champagne socialists at state TV love to be on the PC bandwagon. The restructure of TVNZ didnt cull enough deadwood.
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 8:57 am
it all just adds to that widespread..and growing..perception that national aren’t quite what they pretend to be..
and at this stage..are only telling us what focus groups tell them they should be telling us/what we want to hear….
keys’ ‘tax-the-crims-fifty-bucks’ is only the latest (potent) example of this (populism-soaked) focus-group-driven-policy-on-the-hoof…
phil(whoar.co.nz)
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 9:00 am
Well I read The VDS and their latest cause celebre is that this should be The Greens’ election. Evidently the TV media agreee and have decided to win it for them, seeings as they can’t do it themselves? I think you have to face facts. The ony way to win votes is to win arguments. The last two weeks have seen a more concerted effort from the left to win the arguments and they have succeeded. Even humble little kiwiblog is becomig inundated with lefties ‘taking it to the opposition’. Whether they are here to seek answers or provide them they have been winning the arguments. Last night, on a thread about Cullen’s chewing-gum tax, the lefties were like a victorious tag-team, beating up the hapless righties with their moralistic invective. FFS sake, if the right can’t win an argument which is predicated on the fact a Minister of the Crown promised something then blatently reneged on it because he felt like it, what chance do you hae? If we are to believe them, and the television news, the fact is we are not wanted. So, we either cry into our ickle hankies or we take it back to them with some proper arguments. However – with this caveat – we are wasting our time ‘arguing’ with the dyed-in-the-wool lefties. They are convinced and that is that. Really, the message for a change needs to go to the actual voters. Now, when I last checked, that was the job of the Opposition Party. In this case National under John Key. Last week I suggested on radio that the ‘kindest interpreatation’ one could offer for John Key’s laclustre leasership was that he is ‘keeping his powder dry’. The unkindest one however, is that he doesn’t have the arguments on his side. I suppose only time will tell….ps for once, philu just made sense. All it will take is for National voters to desert Key and the whole house of cards will topple. This is why the left have been attacking him so relentlessly. However, if Key is to keep his support, he really does need to stand up and be counted. Like he did with the EFA and anti-smacking legis… oh well, looks I might as well just book my ticket to Oz…. ps this is not sock-puppetry – it is a wake-up call.
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 9:02 am
Does the Labour Foreign Affairs Minister support the Labour Government’s biggest foreign affairs initiative?
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 9:06 am
David,
The reason that TV One asked Smith and Williamson if they believed in global warming was because those two senior MPs were reported as saying to an AA meeting that they didn’t believe in global warming.
Goodness knows what else they’ve been saying around the traps.
Surely you think that the principle of caucus responsibility extends to when National Party MPs are talking to public meetings?
Why didn’t those two repeat their derisory ‘My views are the same as the National Party’s views’ line to the AA then? Why are they undermining Key? Should the New Zealand public be concerned that two senior National MPs don’t even believe in one of the greatest challenges facing humanity?
Of course we need to remember that this comes after John Key himself said on record he is “somewhat suspicious” about global warming. Very concerning.
Or is another case of saying one thing to one group of voters and another thing to everyone else.
[DPF: Conor it is quite legitimate to ask MPs what they said to the AA Conference. It is quite another issue to insist they give a *personal* rather than a *party* view on an issue]
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 9:07 am
Well, here’s a slightly better analogy. I think it would be fair comment to say that if you asked Nanaia Mahuta (off the record, naturally) whether she wishes the Foreshore & Seabed Act had never made it onto the order paper, you’d get an answer in the affirmative. Now, if was doing the rounds of hui in Tainui and saying the F&S Act was shit that’s news. But I’d expect a little more beef to the story than various unnamed sources who – Tau Henare? Georgina Te Heuheu? The Maori Party’s Tainui candidate?) claiming that she’d been publicly trashing her own party’s policy.
Now, to be fair, there is a legitimate story if senior members of a political party are saying one thing in public and quite another to sector groups, but I decline to be particularly shocked at the notion that Parliament is full of politicians who are going to publicly stand by party policy whether they personally agree with it or not.
And it was just farcical watching Espiner bark “do you believe in climate change”, like a toddler having a meltdown at the notion that some people might not believe in the Easter Bunny but still take Easter off and eat their own weight in chocolate. At least he didn’t follow Maurice Williamson into the crapper. That would be must-flee TV.
Meanwhile, someone should ask TVNZ news and current affairs whether they stand by their hysterical, misleading and flat out untrue reports that studies have shown “anti-depressants don’t work”. That was an incredibly dangerous piece of junk reporting (I’ve heard anecdotal evidence that in the wake of stories like this people with serious mental illnesses have stopped taking urgently needed meds), but I guess when it comes to the media accuracy is for other people.
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 9:09 am
Labour are trying to draw blood and recapture some lost glory, so the election plans must have been kicked off by Helengrad HQ. Lets see, a 3 month unofficial ‘mobilisation’ and then 3 months official campaign, April, May, June July, August, September, October for the elections.
Phil made sense if you cutnpaste from any generic argument about politics in the 21st C.
The real fear for labour is that the longer Key stays out of the press the more damage labour inflict on themselves with hamfisted PR (since all their top flight PR’s abandoned the sinking ship.
Interestingly a UK house of lords? enquiry found no long term economic benefit of open gates immigration. Wait till that puppy rears it head in NZ.
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 9:11 am
Well look at it this way… Nat MPs are coming in for increased scrutiny because it’s becoming clear that their views matter, since they will be in government. Labour MPs in contrast are dead in the water and probably already preparing their applications for the unemployment benefit, so who cares what they think?
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 9:19 am
Two points:
Espiner will not be chasing Cullen down the halls of parliament questioning him about his personal views on tax cuts because, as Holmes pointed out this morning, he is a mouth piece for the Labour party research unit.
Lee – you have hit the nail on the head. Key (bless him) has taken pragmatism too far. This has put him in a poor position from which to genuinely argue the point from. He seems to have lost sight of the fact that many voters are looking for a change in direction – NOT just a change of faces. I hope he can turn it around, but I am not holding my breath.
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 9:19 am
I always thought News was supposed to report the truth maybe they should search google for Global Cooling and report a balanced view, not just of Global warming.
Vote:There are many other views in the world from renowned Scientists. A concessus has not been reached.
April 2nd, 2008 at 9:20 am
IMVHO, TVONE and Espiner set this up for a new series of “We ask the hard questions” adverts for election year in a desperate effort to reclaim some lost audience. Just watch the ads for CloseUp for a vomit inducing example of the self agrandising promotions from Mark Sainsbury for a clue into the strategy of TVNZ trying to set themselves up as the distributor of fact based news and as the only organisation willing to face the dragon and “ask the hard questions”.
I prefer to judge on performance rather than rhetoric so TV3 may have just gained one more viewer.
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 9:26 am
I thought Key dealt with this well with Paul Henry this morning. Then, or course, no sooner had his interview finished, than the news ran this beat-up again.
Veering off-topic, did anyone else notice ANOTHER display of Peters’ arrogance and Wilson’s bias yesterday?
http://keepingstock.blogspot.com/2008/04/rules-are-rules.html
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 9:28 am
DPF, your Winston Smith analogy is completely appropriate. The powers the media have assumed over the AGW beat-up are frightening to behold. No politician even dare argue the background facts with the tyrants of primetime TV, in fact no politician dares to even let it be known that they THINK something different to the “consensus”.
The polling level of ACT is testimony to the consequences of going against the various consensuses of political correctness, not just global warming. This is frightening. This is how whole cultures are undermined.
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 9:30 am
“NOBODY EXPECTS THE SPANISH INQUISITION!!!!!”
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 9:30 am
I would suggest that we should be very grateful that some MP’s within a party disagree with the policy. To not do so would demonstrate that our MP’s can’t think. If Cullen thinks everyone must think the same then he is merely showin ghis true colours. We are the state, you must think this way or else. Get over it TVNZ, grow up and tackle the issue of climate change itself, thats where you could do some real digging and give us some real investigative reporting.
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 9:31 am
David – TV3 gained the Inventory whanau as news viewers some time ago, for the very reasons you allude to!
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 9:34 am
Will TVNZ balance the ledger by running a story that some Labour ministers (including the Finance Minister) do not believe in personal tax cuts? Oh, that’s right, April Fools’ Day was yesterday!
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 9:39 am
The reality is that 90% of the national caucus is in close agreement with this two guys, they are after all very highly qualified in science and influential to non technical Mps
Global warming is one of those issues the consultants have said that national must embrace , like nuclear free NZ, so that they will get over 40% in an election.
There is a whole raft of policies like this, such as maintaining the ´core´’ public service that most find anathama but the consultants say otherwise and Shar Key has said we will follow the consultants since he has no backbone and is all cartilage.
Will carbon trading be the new ‘gone by lunchtime’
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 9:44 am
“..Last week I suggested on radio that the ‘kindest interpreatation’ one could offer for John Key’s laclustre leasership was that he is ‘keeping his powder dry’..”
(heh-heh..!..lee c. is a talkback-jockey..!)
and he/she’s ‘disgusted’..
and is ‘leaving the country’..
bye darling..!
((make sure the door dosen’t bang you on the heels on your way out..eh..?…)
phil(whoar.co.nz)
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 9:46 am
DPF – I also don’t like the sight of journalists barking at MPs. He should have changed his line of questioning to “why did you tell an AA meeting that you personally don’t believe in global warming?”, or “how will you be reflecting your personal view in any cabinet decisions on global warming?”, or “why are you reflecting one view of global warming to one group of people and another to another?”
Legitimate questions that remain unanswered.
[DPF: And Conor how will you be reflecting your personal view on tax cuts in any future cabinet decisions on tax?
]
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 9:46 am
Why is it an issue? You just have to hear what Nick Smith is saying. It’s an issue because National is incapable of answering it. The incompetency how this is handled by National is the story.
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 9:47 am
If all MP’s agreed with absolutely each other on absolutely everything – would it still be a party or would it be a cult?
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 9:52 am
Global Warming is dead.
The next ice age is on the way.
World tempartures have been falling since 1998 by more than 1C in less than a decade.
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 9:55 am
(heh-heh..!..lee c. is a talkback-jockey..!)
I’d rather be a talk-back jockey than a ‘wank-fest junkie’..!
heh heh..!
eh?
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 10:01 am
Why on earth is any right-winger surprised by this event.
We have an Oldsmobile TV network that is slowly dying along with it’s demographic, as it plays an endless stream of British drama and comedy to middle-aged and oldies who grew up with the NZBC. It’s missed the change in the youth market and this sort of stuff is an attempt to catch up with TV3 in that area, while Youtube and co. relentlessly grow in influence with better Internet connections.
They’re doomed and the probably know it now. They will increasingly be dependent on government revenue for their survival and know that at some stage they might simply be shut down by a future right-wing government as yet another useless government department. After all – how many right-wingers can honestly say that they see much of their values reflected in what iis shown.
Forget privatisation, that train left the station a long time ago even if National had the appetite for it. TV1 and TV2 just really are not worth selling. At some future stage their ‘market’ value might drop to the point that somebody would risk picking them up – but that will be someway down the line and by the time any future government realises, probably no price will reflect how useless they are.
You know, I thought as a society we had moved beyond heresy.
It’s all a matter of how a majority can be built and maintained. Those who scream that they are in the oppressed minority are perfectly happy to act exactly as oppressors always have when the tables are turned – and modern society is not really that different. Put the following words in Espiner’s or Campbell’s mouth:
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 10:02 am
The policy stream at the New York International Conference on Climate Change asked the question as to why so many political leaders (vrtually all except for Vaclav Klaus) come to adopt alarmist positions on global warming.
The experts who have looked into this explained that, while public opinion polls show a low level of
concern about global warming among electorates, the politicians soon learn that if they dare to query the alarmist
position the mainstream media jump on them like rapid dogs;
The mainstream media have developed such an investment in alarmist global warming that they can brook no challenge and
will even deny politicians their rights to speak out to defend their vested interest.
We have just seen a great example of the media shaping “public opinion” rather than reporting it.
The private transport sector accounts for only 8.5% of greenhouse gas emmissions by the way.
Food accounts for about 30%.
And we actually have no idea what Maurice Williamson said to the AA. He may have just pointed out that cars are a weak target for emmissions given that they account for such a small percentage (the smallest slice in the standard pie chart) and especially as public transport (other than taxis and shuttles) is less efficient than the private fleet.
One can agree with AGW and still make those observations because pursuing the private car (especially if you simultaneously switch to biofuels) only speeds up the process.
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 10:03 am
heh heh !
And when everyone like Lee C has left the country……
and kicked the door shut behind them………
and turned out the lights…..
how are the bludgers who are “left behind” gonna work out who HAS to work and pay taxes and who is still entitled to a lifetime of leisure? Karl Marx REDUX, man………
heh heh…….
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 10:04 am
By the way, “philu”, I’m not a supporter of Ayn Rand, but YOU really, really need to read “Atlas Shrugged”……..
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 10:10 am
y’know mcshane..!
you are parroting the words of a paranoid/deluded loon..
“..The mainstream media have developed such an investment in alarmist global warming that they can brook no challenge…
and will even deny politicians their rights to speak out to defend their vested interest..”
(so..it’s a vast media conspiracy..eh..?
woof woof..!..eh..?)
“..Food accounts for about 30%..’ (of greenhouse gas emmissions..)
how much of that is from growing meat..?
phil(whoar.co.nz)
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 10:10 am
I’m just saying..!
Grown man all alone..
All.. day, just his keyboard for company..
must explain his..
breathlessness..!!
yesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss..?
eh?
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 10:14 am
still with the ‘karl marx’..eh phil-the-inferior..?
get over in the corner with the other ‘barkers’..
(mcshane is already there..so you’ll have someone to cleave to..)
phil(whoar.co.nz)
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 10:14 am
I must admit to being very disappointed in Espinor last night. He’s normally pretty balanced, but it was like all of a sudden Tane became the political editor for TV one news!
I also suspect this was a Labour jack-up – perhaps a ‘whispering campaign’ that Espinor has swallowed hook, line, and sinker.
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 10:18 am
National Party Leader John Key was correct when he stated that AGW is a “complete and utter hoax”.
It is great to see senior National Party MPs now backing their Leader’s previous statements on this matter.
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 10:23 am
TV One is a business (well it tries to be but the government keeps interfering). It’s news product needs to get attention so it can sell ads. John Key has allowed himself to be painted as a flip-flopper. If TV one can infer that other leading National party members are flip-floppers then they get a scoop and alot of attention and ratings and they get paid more for their ads. I would have thought that as a right leaning blog, most of the readers would have seen this a mile away. I didn’t see the clip (the news is generally purile so I try and avoid it) but I wouldn’t be surprised if the quality was as rubbish as you all are saying. However John Key’s leadership examples have allowed this to happen. I really wish he’d show some solid initiative so I feel like I’m voting for National this time, not just against Labour.
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 10:23 am
Owen’s comment “..The mainstream media have developed such an investment in alarmist global warming that they can brook no challenge…
Phil’s comment – (so..it’s a vast media conspiracy..eh..
More debate framing from the left-wing. It’s more like the following, which I quoted in the thread on US media the other day but which is equally appropriate for NZ:
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 10:34 am
DPF: Is ‘Conor’ Conor Roberts, the Labour Party candidate for Rodney — whose current MP is (gasp! shock! horror!) Lockwood Smith? Perhaps you should amend your comments policy so candidates can only post under their full names and over a disclosure statement regarding their partisan affiliations. It would allow readers to assess the credibility of people calling their political opponents liars.
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 10:45 am
The fact that Espiner is a mouthpiece of the Labour party is not the issue IMHO (he should perhaps admit it as Trotter has done in the past) after all if Espiner wants to be a socialist he is perfectly entitled to do so.
The Issue for me is the way the media have backed off the Labour party simply because Klark barked at them, they are gutless and useless, it is now obvious that they have decided they want Labour to win the election and will do “anything it takes” to achieve their goal.
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 10:50 am
Hi Craig,
Your continued weird obsession with this seems somewhat churlish. I’ve pointed it out numerous times who I am. I’ve put out a press release out about it. Hell, I’m even noted on the official ‘DPF candidate spreadsheet’ as being the Labour candidate for Rodney – I’ve never lied about it, I’m bloody proud of it. And again – I think it’s a good thing that candidates come onto public forums to discuss and debate the issues.
For full disclosure I also have two brothers, a neglected XBox 360, a love of Guinness, 180cm of height, a growing CD collection of the Aussie folk ledged Bonnie Prince Billy and I’m a dog person.
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 10:53 am
I can’t comment on last night’s clip for I didn’t catch it. I gave up watching local news many years ago ever since it took the entertainment path as against serious journalism.
However, I can’t let Tom Hunter’s comment above that TVNZ plays an endless steam of British drama and comedy to the middle aged and oldies go without shooting it down for the complete nonsense it is.
Tom, it may have escaped your attention that TVNZ gave up British TV other than reality crap well over a decade ago. Where have you been?
Check the current schedules and I’m pretty sure the only drama/comedy you’ll find over two channels in prime time is Corrie St. One programme that if it wasn’t so iconic would no doubt have also been binned.
This near total move to US and Australian programming has meant that local viewers have missed out on many years of quality cutting edge TV.
I say shame on TVNZ for their deliberate non-British strategy which also reflects their mediocrity in news coverage.
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 11:03 am
No, Connor. I think when you’re accusing a man you happen to be standing against in the forthcoming election of being a liar, you should be a little more scrupulous than most with the immediate and full disclosure. For someone who’s so “bloody proud” of being a Labour Party candidate you sure seem to like keeping it under wraps. Isn’t that just a little ‘slippery’, to coin a phrase?
But I guess transparency, accountability and ‘fair questions’ are for other people.
BTW, Mr. Roberts, if it comes to my attention that any National MP or candidate is behaving like you, I’ll call them out without fear or favour. Can’t be fairer than that, Slippery Con.
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 11:10 am
A mild beat up.
If senior MP’s are saying one thing in private to an audience that is contrary to their party policy then that will always be newsworthy. The problem is that Espiner didn’t appear to have a tape of what they were actually saying – that would have justified the Parliamentary corridor door-stopping. Asking the MP’s to fess up to the contrary statements is a bit lame.
I am heartened that two National MP’s both with science backgrounds are still rational about AGW.
I found it jarring that these MP’s were asked whether they “believed” in a scientific theory. Very odd. It is depressing that the conformist drive is so strong in New Zealanders, its immature. I want MP’s to think, to periodically question long held policy assumptions.
Owen McShane is right about the MSM investment in global warming. For a highly complex scientific issue it allows them to use all that dramatic stock footage of North Sea storms, ice sheet sliding into the sea, retreating glaciers, coastal sea erosion, tornados in the American midwest and Island paradises with noble savages who will disappear under the sea. This is heaven sent stuff for doing a tv bulletin. At the same time the voice over usually tells us that the actually affects of AGW are as yet unknown as is the degree of any change (the visuals lead one to the conclusion that it’s the end of nature).
Mr Espiner is probably a good representative of the Mt Eden Housewife syndrome – comfortable income and worried about what the little one is eating (genetic engineering) and what sort of planet he or she will inherit. And global warming looks horrific on the 52inch Plasma tv in that dime but nice room in the character bungalow with the two sensible cars. Meanwhile the kids are doing their homework on why its so great that New Zealand is nuclear free.
The old God is old hat, the older older God of nature is where it’s at.
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 11:14 am
Yes that Espiner beatup was bollocks last night. TV3 here I come
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 11:16 am
I always cringe when I hear TVNZ advertising their news as if it is some of national treasure. It has been an embarrassment or years. The only thing worse is TV3 news.
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 11:29 am
Mickey D (not Mickey Savage?)
I had to dig through the paper recycling bin to locate an old copy of TV Guide (wife is given a free out-of-date one occasionally for the Sudoku). Let’s look through a week’s prime-time evening (8:30 – 11:00pm) listings for TV1 shall we……
Saturday – 8:30 Kingdom: British drama starring Stephen Fry. 9:30 – The Dame Edna Treatment: British talk show starring….
Sunday – 8:30-10:30 Sunday Theatre: Persuasion, Jane Austen. Say no more.
Monday – 8:30 Spooks: British drama. 9:30 Murder Squad: Reality series following London’s homicide squad (okay that’s your ‘reality’ series but probably not the ‘crap’ of Castaway and so)
Tuesday – No British drama or comedy
Wednesday – No British drama or comedy, although there is a British documentary on the Jonestown mass suicide.
Thursday – US dramas “Without A Trace” and “The Sopranos”
Friday – 8:30, Waterloo Road: BBC drama. 9:35 Fear, Stress and Anger: BBC comedy. 10:10 The Kumar’s at No. 42: BBC talk/comedy.
TV2 appears to be more US-based – youth audience target attempt I guess, although there to have been shifts of US dramas like “The Closer” and “The Sopranos” to TV1.
So – 4 nights out of seven had a solid diet of British drama and comedy in my sample. Of course that was for August 2007. Maybe they’ve reformed and you can return to your cosy British niche – not much point being a socialist screaming about the need for public broadcasting if you’re watching stuff via the Internet!
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 11:30 am
Oh, you’re in for a disappointment. Most nights I watch both six o’clock bulletins, along with Campbell Brain-Dead and Throw-Up, for work. I see in the not too distant future a very large ACC payout for psychic trauma and the disability caused by gouging my own eyes out.
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 11:31 am
I saw this on TVNZ News at 8 (which I think had it near 8.30 rather than the lead). I was quite shocked at this. This morning TVNZ News is repeating what John Key has said on Breakfast this morning – that they are entitled to their opinions and it doesn’t matter so long as they support the policy. Probably what most viewers last night were thinking!
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 11:41 am
Tom, 4 dramas and 3 comedies in a week is not a solid diet and definitiely not an endless stream.
To bring you up to speed, I’ve just checked this current week and from my reckoning, yes it’s a single solitary UK drama or comedy, Corrie St. That’s a famine, not a feast.
“Cosy British niche”. You miss the point. It’s the challenging, cutting edge programming from anywhere that just doesn’t make our screens anymore. All our TV is simply “too cosy”.
Dame Edna, I rest my case. Why would TVNZ take this UK comedy and neglect the likes of Shameless and Extras. Thank god for Prime in both those cases.
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 11:57 am
I guess that seeing how Labour MP’s are only capable of toeing a party line, the thought of people having private views and ideas must be bloody frightening.
The political reporting in this country is an affront to our intelligence.
Personally if I do have the rare misfortune to have to watch either TV1 or 3 news I go out of my way to ensure I never buy a product that is advertised during the 30 minutes of commercials that they wrap around the “news”
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 12:06 pm
“..a growing CD collection of the Aussie folk ledged Bonnie Prince Billy ..”
i have bonnie prince billy on the whoar fm one playlist..
(if i lived there..you’d almost get my vote..on purely good musical taste grounds..)
get lockwood to front up with his ‘playlist..eh..?
have a dj-off..!
let the punters decide..
phil(whoar.co.nz)
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Conor (10:50am) and Philu (12:06pm) – the “Aussie” folk legend you both so breathlessly dribble on about (Bonnie Prince Billy) was born in …..Louisville, Kentucky, USA. He’s about as Australian as….”The Star Spangled Banner”!
Do either of you know anything about the topics you lecture us all on, or can we just all stop wasting our time reading your drivel and safely assume that it is ALL bullshit?
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Oops, I made a mix up on that one 3-coil. Thanks for pointing it out in such a non-insane way.
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 1:44 pm
My pleasure Conor – I know you guys tend to choke when any positive association with the USA arises.
I suspected that you really knew he was a yank, but pretended he wasn’t so you wouldn’t be ostracised by all your comrades!
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 2:30 pm
word.
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 2:49 pm
It’s also evident that certain Labour party MPs do not support the Labour party’s “anti-whaling” policy. Throw some mud at them too.
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 3:08 pm
excellent post farrar, one day you get the bar to MQ and you live forever
Vote:do not doubt my soothsay well now down here we have almost universal environmental hysteria.
We had global switch off your bloody lights or something, so i had a party with them girls mn things and hot tubs you know there was a knock at the door and a very severe woman, like a very severe woman accost me she say what you doing i said i have this party with girls
use lotta gas and stuff you wanna shot
well the lecture started and went on, I had to get one of them girl out of the hot video limelight to save me
well the ‘Press’ down here is kontroller of all thought
and they print articles now saying that bad people like me got to be shot,
you donts allowed to criticise, apparently because criticism is negative and NZ too thin skin to take criticism, i told you before farrar the inquisition coming soon
April 2nd, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Guyan Espiner is a lightweight and does not have the intellect to seek out the truth on anything. And his brother, Colin, is an apologist for the Labour Party anyway. mMmerely regurgitating the drivel out of the 9th floor. None of them are capable of incisive and informative reporting of the facts followed by intelligent commentary.
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 3:43 pm
my bad..i was turned on to him by a friend..haven’t bothered bio-ing him..
phil(whoar.co.nz)
but do listen to him..!..eh..?
he’s feckin’ good..!
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 4:06 pm
I think I’ll just get a cut-and-paste comment prepared and save it someplace… will save the work re-typing the same argument.
Journalism in NZ is a lot like the legendary “little girl”: when it’s good it’s very, very good but when it’s bad it’s horrid. And much of the worst is served up to the masses by both TV channels. In fact TV3 is winning the battle through much the same strategy as National currently is – by being less obviously awful than their opponents.
Bemoan it all you like but it won’t change. The answer is to break the virtual monopoly as has been done in other countries by vastly broadening the choices available to viewers (and no, TVNZ 7 having Russell and DPF talk to one another’s navels, entertaining though that may be, isn’t nearly enough – I’m talking another FTA channel with the resources to generate its own programming).
So perhaps the next time you’re out gargling Moet with your BRT friends, DPF, you might suggest that they switch to a decent NZ sav blanc and put the money they save towards something that’d benefit the country while at the same time advancing what’s supposed to be their agenda, by investing in alternative media.
And the rest of you complaining – have a talk to anyone you know who has the money and/or contacts. Despite the impression TVNZ might give, there are journalists and producers capable of balanced programming – they just don’t get hired. What they need is an outlet for their reporting.
There, I’ve had my choleric lecture for the day, I’ll go lie down now
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Espiner, that little weasle looks like he needs a good drench and a fucking good feed, probably full of worms.
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Battler: lie. Key didn’t say that, and you know it. Slipping it into a conversation doesn’t make it true.
Conor: does cabinet responsibility extend to ministers like Winston Peters? There is a saying about those in glass houses.
Other than that, this is just a usual media beat up. The main point is that there is a spectrum of journalists in NZ, some left, some right (I would argue a bias to the left, but that isn’t especially relevant to my point). If you are going to be a competent opposition and/or government, you have to be prepared to deal with questions like this, all politicians get them. It would appear that National don’t really have the toughness to handle it at present, and they better learn it damn fast.
I’m not sure it really goes to fitness to govern – ability to answer the question you wanted to answer instead of the question you were asked (a skill that many of the Labour ministers have developed) isn’t actually relevant to governing the country. And to some extent it is a skill that you develop after carrying the scars of lots of interviews that went wrong – which of course the Labour govt do after 9 years in power, and the National MPs whom are comparatively younger have less of.
Nonetheless, I believe National could do a hell of a lot better, and they should do so. All the MPs should have answers to questions like this drilled into them so they come out automatically: Q. “What is your personal position on ?”. A. “There are a range of views on that, and it is a complex issue. Having weighed all the opposing positions, the National Party has agreed that our policy is……”. When they push, the answer is “My personal opinion is irrelevant, what matters is what we will do in government. We have made a policy commitment and we will honour that commitment.” Not that bloody hard.
Vote:April 2nd, 2008 at 8:22 pm
david +4 Says:
April 2nd, 2008 at 9:20 am
IMVHO, TVONE and Espiner set this up for a new series of “We ask the hard questions” adverts for election year in a desperate effort to reclaim some lost audience. Just watch the ads for CloseUp for a vomit inducing example of the self agrandising promotions from Mark Sainsbury for a clue into the strategy of TVNZ trying to set themselves up as the distributor of fact based news and as the only organisation willing to face the dragon and “ask the hard questions”.
I prefer to judge on performance rather than rhetoric so TV3 may have just gained one more viewer.
TVNZ’s lovely concrete wall needs some new spray can decor, 2 minutes is the limit on watching Close-up, before changing channels or reaching for the bucket. If Sainsbury is the answer, was the question something to do with Lord of the Rings?
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