Mold quits TVNZ
August 30th, 2010 at 11:18 am by David FarrarFran Mold has today quit as Deputy Political Editor for TVNZ, according to well placed sources.
The reason is an agreement in principle that she will replace Kris Faafoi as Chief Press Secretary to Phil Goff.
However the timing of this is very is interesting. You see Labour have yet to have their “democratic” selection process. Yet the outcome seems certain enough that Fran has quit prior to the 18th of September when the selection is made. I guess, the head office delegates are not going to be listening to who makes the best speeches on the night.
Related posts:
- Faafoi confirms Mana nomination
- Not a surprise outcome
- Who is that other bloke?
- Campaigning for votes in Mana in Australia
August 30th, 2010 at 11:22 am
Perhaps the decision to appoint her as Chief Press Secretary to Phil Goff was made quietly at the OpenLabourNZ conference.
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 11:26 am
Good riddance to her – we all knew she was a labour hack and she was always difficult to watch on TV spouting Labour’s shit.
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 11:26 am
Perhaps she’s quit ahead of the official selection process because it was becoming so well known around Parliament that she was hatching a job with Goff that her role as a political reporter was becoming untenable. I first heard about this very thing happening three weeks ago.
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 11:35 am
So she’s been showcasing her political leanings in on-screen reports cunningly designed to double as a ‘pick me phil’ job application. I wonder how much that cost the taxpayer?
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 11:35 am
Frankly no surprises at all. Media Luvvy gets plum job with Socialist Machine that tries to assimilate and control everything in our lives.
Having watched Bill English being interviewed on Sunday Morning, how can that Espinor chap consider himself to be the least bit impartial? He was actually disparaging and rude. Obviously all the blame lies with National because Cullen was a Saint?
FFS.
The David “I run the show” Cunliffe was on this morning, and he really does need to be the next Labour leader. What a beaut.
Just how does one get eyes to slant and flicker around like that? I prefer him to Goff even.
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 11:38 am
I just love journalistic ethics. Oxymoron?
Vote:No wonder MSM is on the way out. Give me open bias every time.
And let’s cut TVNZ adrift. Watching Sky News is so pleasant with no shouting, time for people to finish sentences and, above all, clear analysis, explanations and information. Just what I want from news with pictures.
August 30th, 2010 at 11:41 am
Fran Mold working for Labour – who would have thought……..?
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 11:47 am
Do you clowns have ANY idea how many former journalists the National Government has working for them as Press Secretaries?
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 11:47 am
I have no clue who Fran Mold is.
Never seen her, never heard her.
Yes, it is possible to isolate you completely from the NZ MSM.
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 11:51 am
Nice conspiracy theory, but isn’t there a vacancy in the media team with the appointment of the new Chief of Staff? I’m sure I read about that appointment someplace, maybe on Kiwiblog?
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 12:06 pm
danyl mac @ 1147
Names and numbers please.
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 12:08 pm
Let’s see … who else should Labour employ to put us all out of our misery?
Top of the list would be Audrey Young, and of course it would be wonderful to have Chris Trotter taken back into the fold.
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 12:21 pm
Good Riddance to the pinko little cow.
The real story here will be whether TVNZ are capable of hiring a ‘neutral’ journalist now that yet another has shown their true colours.
Yeah right, I can feel a Tui’s coming on.
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 12:23 pm
Ah Ha!
So that explains why Key and co. are centre-left.
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 12:32 pm
I thought she already was Goff’s chief press secretary?
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 12:34 pm
Danyl, I can’t recall any of them shrieking like a banshee “When are you going to resign, Dr Brash, When are you going to resign?’
Nor can I recall terribly many National Party members’ press secretaries being drawn from that coven of socialism, TVNZ.
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 12:46 pm
That would have made a great No Minister headline Adolf – “Shrieking banshee brings down Leader of the Opposition”. It was absolutely nothing to do with any personal indiscretion was it.
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 12:58 pm
When did she start?
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 12:58 pm
Kris Faafoi is only 84% likely to win the nomination, according to iPredict.
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 12:59 pm
Wow, not only was Labour helping itself to $800,000 it wasn’t entitled to for the 2005 election but it was also receiving even more State funded advertising via the TVNZ Labour promotion department.
Time to sell TVNZ off to stop this rort.
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 1:01 pm
MikeG, no it was long before that. She was assisting Mallard in his assertion that National’s policies were being written in Washington when all along Labour’s policies were being written by Tony Blair. Do you remember that?
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 1:07 pm
OECD – any reason to think privately owned media wouldn’t be just as lefty leaning? I guess the upside is that you wouldn’t be directly paying for it….but it won’t change the fact that the overwhelming majority of journalists lean to the left.
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 1:15 pm
Maybe the Govt should just give TVNZ to Fox – to even things up?
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 1:37 pm
I am amazed and not a little shocked.
Surely if you don’t like something or someone you don’t watch/listen to them.
If it makes you feel better also ensure advertisers know that you don’t watch/listen to that program.
As for the sheila, never heard of her.
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 1:46 pm
Who is Fan Mold – sounds like a load of bad cheese.
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 2:00 pm
I wonder who will get her job at TVNZ maybe Chris Trotter or Mat McCarten, or will they headhunt Dunky from TV3.
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 2:04 pm
I knew it, I knew it, I knew it….the first time I met her she reeked of a being a socialist.
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 2:05 pm
Nor can I recall terribly many National Party members’ press secretaries being drawn from that coven of socialism, TVNZ.
Nicky Grant from TVNZ, for starters, was one of around a dozen journos that went from media to National PR after the election – that’s not counting those who signed up before the election, including Key’s chief press sec who worked at the Herald.
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 2:21 pm
Nicky Grant from TVNZ,
Like the teen said to the parent telling them all about Jimi Hendrix: WHO?
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 2:25 pm
Like the teen said to the parent telling them all about Jimi Hendrix: WHO?
Never mind little Kiwiblog commentor – you go back to ranting about socialism.
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 2:28 pm
Yeah but those journalists going to National were not highly influential chief political reporters for a supposedly neutral state broadcaster. I always wondered why Mold always fronted stories which were so biased and absurdly critical of National (her ambush of Key on his shares in 2008 springs to mind) and never on a story which was evenly mildly critical of labour.
Now we know why – no surprises there.
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 2:37 pm
Jeez Danyl, Nicky Grant, she was a producer for TVNZ’s Close Up show, as far as I’m aware. Talk about clasping at straws.
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 2:39 pm
did you notice that woman [deleted by DPF and 20 demerits]
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 2:40 pm
re Silent T’s eyes .. I understand he used to be a sparring partner for david Tua
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 2:46 pm
I wonder what Mold will do for a job after 2011?
Will Goff sack her if she doesn’t stack up within 90 days?
Danyl, you just stood in a piece of dog shit. The Herald ain’t TVNZ.
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 2:54 pm
There’s heaps of ex-journalists that have gone to work for the current government.
Off the top of my head I can think of Kevin Taylor, Ben Thomas, Jackie Maher, Sia Aston, Simon Beattie, Grant Fleming, Paula Oliver, and Craig Howie.
And of course the previous Labour administration managed to pull heaps of journalists over to the dark side as well. This is essentially another part of the whole state subsidization of political parties and their electioneering.
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 2:56 pm
will Goff need a press secretary once Silent T rolls him?
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 2:58 pm
Never mind little Kiwiblog commentor – you go back to ranting about socialism.
Channeling Redbaiter? How quaint.
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 3:03 pm
Danyl, you used to be quite clever and amusing, but of late your ranting about capitalism has become somewhat shrill.
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 3:28 pm
Is this a first case of Rats lining up to board a sinking ship?
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 3:39 pm
Bloggers will almost always tell their readers what their political affiliations are, why the fuck do our low life media scum get away with pushing their biased views and calling it journalism.
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 4:19 pm
On TV she [deleted by DPF]
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 4:50 pm
A typical morning in Phil Goff’s office
Phil Goff: Good morning Fran
Vote:Fran Mold: When are you going to resign Mr Goff, when are you going to resign?
August 30th, 2010 at 6:00 pm
What’s the matter with you guys.
[deleted by DPF for 20 demerits]
By the way have any of you noticed that all the TVNZ reporters are all looking like National Bank clones in their black suits and stuff?
So that’s Parliamentarians, DHB’s TVNZ , all looking like suited up dickwits. Won’t be long and we will all have to bow down do Hail Mary’s for them. No suit no interview. Fuck its like going back 40 years in time. Nice little fellows in suits and jackboots.
Vote:Looks like it will be off to Aussie where the sunshines and pin stripes don’t go to the beach.
August 30th, 2010 at 6:26 pm
I’m surprised she’s prepared to take such a short term job…Goffe will be rolled within the year.
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 7:34 pm
OK – since a journo working for the pollys is such a big deal here’s a rough list of the ex-journo’s now working for the Nat’s as press sec’s. Where I can recall their media employer I’ve added it
Kevin Taylor (Herald), Lesley Hamilton (Radio Live), Craig Howie, Grant Fleming (NZPA), Brent Webling, Rachel Bruce (Radio Live), Jackie Maher (TVNZ), Gillon Carruthers (RNZ), Ben Thomas (NBR), Sia Aston (TV3), Jason Ede (TV3)
I also believe Simon Beattie, Jane Fraser-Jones, Vanessa Rawson, and Christian Bonnevie have also worked for media outlets in the past, though I may stand to be corrected on that.
All the political parties hire reporters as press sec’s. It’s usually got fuck all to do with their politics and a hell of a lot more to do with the fact they’re bloody good at communicating ideas.
That, and the fact the pay for a spin doctor is a hell of a lot better that what a journalist will ever see.
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 8:11 pm
Thanks for that rndm.
It’s just, for me, that lefty journalists as opposed to conservative journalists, personify such a mind-bogglingly child-like innocent naive view of how the world actually really truly works, that I experience significant cognitive dissonance trying to reconcile their words with any of the reality I’ve ever personally met in my entire life, except when I was a very little reidy.
So for me, as journos they’re not very good and as polly media strategists, well, I just laugh.
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 8:22 pm
I guess another thing with respect to our state-owned media: RNZ/TVNZ, is there seems to be an overwhelming penchant for the naive child-like idiot variety of broadcast media journo, rather than the good ones.
This is sad, since I pay for it and I don’t want to. Pay for what I’m currently getting, that is.
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 8:32 pm
Agreed many many journos go on to well paid jobs in parliamentay offices.
The point I would make about Francesca Mold is that she was vehemently anti -national both when they were in opposition and now in government. Not only would she say things that were unpatently untrue but her spin was designed to cause maximum damage. I used to wonder if she could just say what she liked and was subject to any editorial control.
I will not miss her – she is an utter disgrace to public broadcasting.
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 8:47 pm
Whats with all the deletions?
They might have added a bit of humour to a pretty tedious thread.
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 8:54 pm
While the “MSM bias” angle is an important one worth debating I think DPF’s main thrust in the post the more important issue: gerrymandered candidate selection processes.
We can choose to ignore Fran Mold prattling away on telly if we wish, and there’s alternatives we can turn to if we want the unvarnished news, between them employing thousands of journalists with different perspectives.
But candidate levered into a safe seat or an unlosable list position becomes one of 120 people whom we can’t ignore as they are then in a psotion to exert enormous influence over how we live our lives.
Political party candidiate selection procedures urgently need to be:
a) controlled through a set of statutory minimum standards aimed at ensuring widespread participation on a “one person one vote” basis, none of this “head office has the casting vote” nonsense.
b) subject to appeal through the courts by persons who can show they have been disadvantaged by the process not being followed.
c) transparent. If barely 51% of a party’s local members want a person as their candidate, that in itself might raise questions. We get told how many MPs voted for Party Leader (another process which ought to be a grass roots vote IMO), we should surely know how many Labour card-carrying Manaites voted for Faafoi.
The Greens approach this ideal and Act came at it a different way with the idea of primaries but there’s no onus on them to be democratic and it’s quite plain Labour and National aren’t when you look at some of the dropkicks in Parliament versus some of the unsuccessful candidates.
We deserve a better democracy than this.
Vote:August 30th, 2010 at 9:06 pm
Jeppers DPF you are as bad as the Broadcasting censors. Mearly an observation that is factually correct. You must have had a bad day. All the shit and shite that people write about others on your blog, all the offense that they sling at one another and others and it sails past your head.
I make a factual observation in the same mold as Paul Henry when he commented about that greenies mustache and you jump and dish out demerits. I didn’t even use bad language.
I suppose that’s cause I agreed with Luc the other day about the matter of topics. Oh well. Never mind. There’s a mindfull thought that without vigorous topics and topics that are critical of any part of the political spectrum and the political behavoir in all those parts then Kiwiblog will join the rest of the mediocre.
Not something that we want to see.
Give it some thought.
Vote:August 31st, 2010 at 6:05 am
@ Rex – you’ve hit the nail on the head. Clearly Kris Faafoi has been parachuted in as the leader’s choice for the safe Mana electorate, and once again, local electorate folk who do the hard yards on the ground will be dictated to by head office. The Labour Party has an interesting concept of democracy.
Vote:August 31st, 2010 at 7:00 am
About as good as the Nats. in Tauranga.
Vote:September 1st, 2010 at 10:49 pm
I love a good conspiracy as much as you DPF but could it be that Mold has left TVNZ because it is a really shit place to work at the moment with all the restructuring? I know there is no conspiracy attached to that but just a thought.
[DPF: It is possible, but we'll see if she pops up as Phil's press secretary in a few weeks]
Vote: