Over-stating the case
January 25th, 2013 at 11:00 am by David FarrarKate Chapman at Stuff reports:
Labour leader David Shearer is attempting to capitalise on the Maori Party’s apparent demise by extending his visit to Ratana.
Whoa. There is no way that should be asserted as fact in a news story. You can and should refer to leadership tensions, infighting etc. But to label a mere leadership challenge is the apparent demise of a party is not appropriate for a news report. It would be okay in an opinion piece speculating on what the struggle may do to the Maori Party.
All parties have leadership challenges, except those which are personality cults. You don’t label a party as having apparently demised, just because of one.
Tags: Maori Party, Media
January 25th, 2013 at 11:03 am
At the risk of appearing a pedant, you shouldn’t label a party as having apparently demised, at all!
Vote:January 25th, 2013 at 11:21 am
Shearer’s apparent demise was overstated last year, and the same is trying to do it again. With some confusion.
Yesterday ‘Zetetic’ posted a promotion of the Green housing policy and was critical of Labour’s version. He said “Nice one, Metiria. Got my vote.”
Today Zetetic seems to be demanding a vote on Labour’s leadership as a party member and said “What loyal party member could not swing in behind his leadership?”
Some loyalty. Pseudonym confusion is making a farce of party democracy. Zetetic’s loyalty and pseudonym confusion
Vote:January 25th, 2013 at 11:29 am
And what is ‘apparent’? Does Chapman know or not?
A sub-editorial look at this story might have been useful.
Vote:January 25th, 2013 at 11:29 am
For the first time, I do hope the socialist leader is right and the racist Maori Party dies of a sudden detah.
Vote:January 25th, 2013 at 11:48 am
I was astounded last night to hear the TV1 reporters say John Key’s rather mild response to criticism from the Labour Party as a ‘cheap shot’! Eh?
When did they start editorialising? Is this part of Shearer’s strategy? To have TV1 run his defence? I didn’t of course hear any comment on his lame and insane policies.
Vote:January 25th, 2013 at 11:59 am
Manolo. I hope the Maori party thrives. There are 235 000 Maori voters and I prefere that they elect MP’s that are rational and that the Right can have a discussion with rather than the likes of the loon Hatfield.
Vote:January 25th, 2013 at 12:02 pm
Perhaps it isa little premature, but when we look back at the leadership change in Act, it now appears to have started the demise of that party.
Looking at the Maori Party, credit for idenitfying a need for a succession plan, not to mention a gap in its own rules for changing leaders. But in light of predation from Mana, Sharples looking to Harawira to bolster his own position, Turia retiring and Flavel’s ambition, perhaps the Maori Party does face its demise.
Vote:January 25th, 2013 at 12:06 pm
I think Maori voites will survive separately.
Vote:but Farrar just can’t help himself.
he says :
”
All parties have leadership challenges, except those which are personality cults. You don’t label a party as having apparently demised, just because of one.
”
You will get down and beg Farrar and all of you NZ Nat, you will beg for the 7%.
Where you think you can coalition Farrar, get real and get real now
January 25th, 2013 at 12:22 pm
“Overstating the case”…
Until a couple of weeks before the last election it was very uncertain whether “7%” would come close to 5% and be a possible player (it wasn’t even considered).
So it’s a bit premature being confident about 7% still being 7% and being essential for a governing coalition in nearly two years time.
Vote:January 25th, 2013 at 12:57 pm
I would have thought it’d be a bit premature to assume the personality cult still had a leader come next election. How old will he be? He hasn’t exactly lived a healthy life.
Vote:January 25th, 2013 at 1:19 pm
The end of the ACT Party is continually reported and has been since its inception. Every commentator has got it wrong. Even the polling organisations have been massively inaccurate when poling about ACT. I don’t recall this blog picking up journalists on this.
Vote:January 25th, 2013 at 1:29 pm
pq: to try to make a coherent point, there’s a good chap.
Vote:January 26th, 2013 at 3:51 am
The apparent demise is because of the decline in party membership.
And the visit to Ratana is more about trying to win the seat of the retiring sitting MP.
Vote: