Until Nicola Willis used the phrase to describe her 2024 Budget, this phrase “It’s Always Darkest Before The Dawn” was one of comfort - and often - truth.
I have to wonder about the value of TVNZ after items like the "David Seymour claims reporting on Treaty Principles Bill lacking 'fairness'" on Breakfast.
It wasn't an interview, more a party political broadcast with a gobsmacked interviewer observiing. Then TVNZ+ had the nerve to caption it:
"Breakfast host Jenny-May Clarkson pushed back against the ACT Party leader's assertions in a must watch interview."
I watched it guys. Sure, the presenter is not Jack Tame - remember Peters in that election interview (2020) threatening Tame's job would be on the line - but however you rate the presenter's technique there is no getting past the fact Seymour did not like the questions and came across as a shallow chauvinist
Thank you Winston! I haven't got round to watching it yet, but a thought occurred to me this morning that Seymour has some dirty intellectual tricks and one would have to be versed in those techniques, and very very well informed, to counter
Thanks Robin I.havent seen this one. I suggest Jenny May should not have been the person to ask the questions. I'd have thought Anna Burns Francis might have been better placed. I'll take a look now.
It's true when you mentioned how the interviews on breakfast would not be seen/heard on the likes of Newtalk ZB & the platform.... or even the evening news. I (as diplomatically as I could) try to discuss these issues regarding the health system with my parents, one says they "don't like talking about politics", the other seems to not really care(their party is in power so it all good), they both think that what I'm saying is my OPINION, not what is actually happening.
Another major issue still regarding the health care system is because it has a bad reputation for decades amongst kiwis, they think that nothing is different. They don't seem to appreciate that it has gotten worse.
i.e Patroning and/or subscribing helps those media survive
That said - need to stay independently alert as so many newsrooms are now being influenced by money and for our state broadcasters, govt has said they will replace with "friendly to them" people so it's .. tenuous.
Counteracting can be done via a number of methods:
1. People power can boost - unfortunately I'm not seeing mass mobilisation or agreement on platforms. Or even strategy - my other post appeals to people on the left who attack media ... i.e. even strategies aren't aligned
2. Big pooled money on the left is absent. Unfortunately, writ large, I'm not seeing massive billionaire wealth on the left for the most part (or maybe it exists and is working via other channels) - but even in America we see the right aligned billionaires outgun the left.
3. In terms of the wealthy, I feel that there are only a very few willing to put money out ... Then the rest of us are "normal" people and we are the masses - and we do what we can. Compare that to the mammoth money of the Middle East, Russia, fossil fuel companies, tobacco companies, Rupert Murdoch, Koch, Peter Thiel, Gina Rinehart. Sometimes it feels... like unarmed people might feel against guns..
3. Government policy. In normal circumstances, govts could offer scholarships, funding, and implement policies that help media survive.
(I think we saw some of that in the last government and they were accused of "inventing problems that don't exist" and "bribing media" - both which are false.)
4. A combined effort of "left or centre" voices which offer a new platform - but hard to see how that will happen given what I've seen/
Sorry to offer that grim outlook, but I'll sit on this one some more, Lesley!
A serious consequence of the US election imo is the power now vested in Elon Musk. He is as big a winner as Trump. So invest in bitcoin the best ponzi since banks started printing money.
Also in NZ, those like John Key who were raised in statehouses post WWII are now capitalists. Even those who actually vote Labour will not contribute financially to its election campaigns because they have become comfortable capitalists. Indeed they will find an excuse, like law and order, to vote National. As for health, these dear old souls go private ...
Unfortunately tvnz has become a victim of its own lack of preparedness. Now shit's hit the fan and it's way too late. In saying this, as a state broadcaster TVNZ should receive the support it requires to ensure there is genuine balance. As it is, RNZ seems to have the resources TVNZ doesn't because there's a heavy commercial element attached to the TVNZ model. Perhaps this needs to change.
It really is a sad state of affairs when mainstream media is dying as the world is hit by the unbearable calamity of unhinged right wing rhetoric supported by fascist platforms.
Seymour was threatening TVNZ with a dividend earlier this year which would make their survival even more precarious.
They have done many good stories and Newshub has significantly changed the balance.
What it looks like here is TVNZ will stay but in truth their newsroom and news capability is being seriously diminished - which is even more dangerous as it will "look" like news, but not be real journalism...
Over the last twenty years I have steadily lost faith in, and respect for, our state broadcasters. Repeatedly appointing bad actors (not Reagan but his followers) to governance and management has hijacked and/or neutered our national (small n) treasures. Sound bites out-Trumped sound reporting, great journalists moved on, and lesser ones get appointed… Incidentally, other oldies will remember that back in the day both Hosking and Plunket did time on Morning Report alongside the much loved Geoff Robinson
I understand and empathise and I have had gripes at t times - but to me, it's now more of an issue of relativity and pragmatism.
i.e. Stuff - and its owner who is apparently part of the Wellington right wing party to take down Tory Whanau - is not going to chase Casey Costello like TVNZ did. They aren't going to report on Health NZ's whistleblowers like RNZ do.
The fact is there are very few good journalists around - and strong intellects and minds to fight this.
But I also know that this government has power - and they are not afraid to use it - either through legitimate channels (appointing cronies, paying) or through their operatives e.g. sending their hounds out.
Newshub's demise left a massive hole and many stories are going uncovered when every single day feels like a dung storm - what to cover? What to cover?
It's hard so I think that if this government succeeds in its goals - which they probably will and will be emboldened by the Trump win - we will be weaker for it.
Most people Keith seem to believe whatever this government says and on Te Tiriti alone, the ignorance feels like a tsunami...
I have to wonder about the value of TVNZ after items like the "David Seymour claims reporting on Treaty Principles Bill lacking 'fairness'" on Breakfast.
It wasn't an interview, more a party political broadcast with a gobsmacked interviewer observiing. Then TVNZ+ had the nerve to caption it:
"Breakfast host Jenny-May Clarkson pushed back against the ACT Party leader's assertions in a must watch interview."
I didn't watch it - was she just out-manouvered or intimidated, or was she generally supportive?
Just sat there, saying almost nothing, let him rant. I don't watch Breakfast but was shared elsewhere
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/news/breakfast-1730939658697-1718-1731006338486/david-seymour-claims-reporting-on-treaty-principles-bill-lacking-fairness-in-depth
Thanks I’ll take a look when I can stomach some Seymour. Will revert.
I watched it guys. Sure, the presenter is not Jack Tame - remember Peters in that election interview (2020) threatening Tame's job would be on the line - but however you rate the presenter's technique there is no getting past the fact Seymour did not like the questions and came across as a shallow chauvinist
Thank you Winston! I haven't got round to watching it yet, but a thought occurred to me this morning that Seymour has some dirty intellectual tricks and one would have to be versed in those techniques, and very very well informed, to counter
Atlas training I reckon, I used to think he was clever but now accept that he is well prepared - or is the correct word groomed?
Thanks Robin I.havent seen this one. I suggest Jenny May should not have been the person to ask the questions. I'd have thought Anna Burns Francis might have been better placed. I'll take a look now.
Anna is good.
It's true when you mentioned how the interviews on breakfast would not be seen/heard on the likes of Newtalk ZB & the platform.... or even the evening news. I (as diplomatically as I could) try to discuss these issues regarding the health system with my parents, one says they "don't like talking about politics", the other seems to not really care(their party is in power so it all good), they both think that what I'm saying is my OPINION, not what is actually happening.
Another major issue still regarding the health care system is because it has a bad reputation for decades amongst kiwis, they think that nothing is different. They don't seem to appreciate that it has gotten worse.
It’s getting very grim for traditional media, and fast. We need to think of ways to counteract the moneyed forces
I wrote about recommended publications on a related post I didn't email out: https://mountaintui.substack.com/p/we-need-the-journalists-and-newsrooms
i.e Patroning and/or subscribing helps those media survive
That said - need to stay independently alert as so many newsrooms are now being influenced by money and for our state broadcasters, govt has said they will replace with "friendly to them" people so it's .. tenuous.
Counteracting can be done via a number of methods:
1. People power can boost - unfortunately I'm not seeing mass mobilisation or agreement on platforms. Or even strategy - my other post appeals to people on the left who attack media ... i.e. even strategies aren't aligned
2. Big pooled money on the left is absent. Unfortunately, writ large, I'm not seeing massive billionaire wealth on the left for the most part (or maybe it exists and is working via other channels) - but even in America we see the right aligned billionaires outgun the left.
3. In terms of the wealthy, I feel that there are only a very few willing to put money out ... Then the rest of us are "normal" people and we are the masses - and we do what we can. Compare that to the mammoth money of the Middle East, Russia, fossil fuel companies, tobacco companies, Rupert Murdoch, Koch, Peter Thiel, Gina Rinehart. Sometimes it feels... like unarmed people might feel against guns..
3. Government policy. In normal circumstances, govts could offer scholarships, funding, and implement policies that help media survive.
(I think we saw some of that in the last government and they were accused of "inventing problems that don't exist" and "bribing media" - both which are false.)
4. A combined effort of "left or centre" voices which offer a new platform - but hard to see how that will happen given what I've seen/
Sorry to offer that grim outlook, but I'll sit on this one some more, Lesley!
A serious consequence of the US election imo is the power now vested in Elon Musk. He is as big a winner as Trump. So invest in bitcoin the best ponzi since banks started printing money.
Also in NZ, those like John Key who were raised in statehouses post WWII are now capitalists. Even those who actually vote Labour will not contribute financially to its election campaigns because they have become comfortable capitalists. Indeed they will find an excuse, like law and order, to vote National. As for health, these dear old souls go private ...
Sometimes it feels to me like everything is going topsy turvy - but in the context of human history and what has occurred, maybe it's not so peculiar.
Still - these developments have all been ... like a splash of cold water on the face.
Unfortunately tvnz has become a victim of its own lack of preparedness. Now shit's hit the fan and it's way too late. In saying this, as a state broadcaster TVNZ should receive the support it requires to ensure there is genuine balance. As it is, RNZ seems to have the resources TVNZ doesn't because there's a heavy commercial element attached to the TVNZ model. Perhaps this needs to change.
It really is a sad state of affairs when mainstream media is dying as the world is hit by the unbearable calamity of unhinged right wing rhetoric supported by fascist platforms.
Seymour was threatening TVNZ with a dividend earlier this year which would make their survival even more precarious.
They have done many good stories and Newshub has significantly changed the balance.
What it looks like here is TVNZ will stay but in truth their newsroom and news capability is being seriously diminished - which is even more dangerous as it will "look" like news, but not be real journalism...
Classic interference that supposed "anti liberal" parties like ACT rail against when in opposition. ..the irony!
Over the last twenty years I have steadily lost faith in, and respect for, our state broadcasters. Repeatedly appointing bad actors (not Reagan but his followers) to governance and management has hijacked and/or neutered our national (small n) treasures. Sound bites out-Trumped sound reporting, great journalists moved on, and lesser ones get appointed… Incidentally, other oldies will remember that back in the day both Hosking and Plunket did time on Morning Report alongside the much loved Geoff Robinson
I understand and empathise and I have had gripes at t times - but to me, it's now more of an issue of relativity and pragmatism.
i.e. Stuff - and its owner who is apparently part of the Wellington right wing party to take down Tory Whanau - is not going to chase Casey Costello like TVNZ did. They aren't going to report on Health NZ's whistleblowers like RNZ do.
The fact is there are very few good journalists around - and strong intellects and minds to fight this.
But I also know that this government has power - and they are not afraid to use it - either through legitimate channels (appointing cronies, paying) or through their operatives e.g. sending their hounds out.
Newshub's demise left a massive hole and many stories are going uncovered when every single day feels like a dung storm - what to cover? What to cover?
It's hard so I think that if this government succeeds in its goals - which they probably will and will be emboldened by the Trump win - we will be weaker for it.
Most people Keith seem to believe whatever this government says and on Te Tiriti alone, the ignorance feels like a tsunami...