Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Better, faster ... prettier

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  • Ryan Nielson,

    Hi Russell,

    Sorry to hear you'll be departing the Listener - you've done a great job of making tech subject matter interesting and accessible to a wider audience.

    Can we assume that the Listener's loss won't be the Sunday Star Times' gain?

    Wellington • Since Jun 2008 • 3 posts Report Reply

  • Caleb D'Anvers,

    Perhaps it's too early for this, but has anyone written a sustained account of what's been happening at the Listener under the most recent editor, and why? I mean, it's not just about cost-cutting, is it?

    London SE16 • Since Mar 2008 • 482 posts Report Reply

  • Lucy Stewart,

    It's always struck me as one of socialism's great problems is the association with Chardonnay. If Riesling had an ideology, that would be something to fight for.

    Most of the wine-drinking socialist types I know go for a nice sav blanc, come to think of it.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report Reply

  • Caleb D'Anvers,

    It's always struck me as one of socialism's great problems is the association with Chardonnay. If Riesling had an ideology, that would be something to fight for.

    I agree, although I think socialism should dissociate itself entirely from the white varietals, just to be sure. What we need instead is some good, honest malbec or sauvignon socialism.

    London SE16 • Since Mar 2008 • 482 posts Report Reply

  • samuel walker,

    One less reason to bother reading the Listener in the supermarket then. Now its basically down to Brian Easton...

    Plus stinky Jim Pinckney's music reviews. as irregular as they are.

    Since Nov 2006 • 203 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    Diana Wichtel?

    Genius. So funny.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • philipmatthews,

    For the guy who wanted a sustained account of changes at the Listener, a good piece went out in the student mag Critic a week or so ago. Interviews both Pamela and Finlay:

    http://www.critic.co.nz/about/features/129

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2007 • 656 posts Report Reply

  • John Morrison,

    We've stopped the Listener, so in a way, I'm glad RB has given up on them as well because I won't miss his column. It is just a shame that it has come to this, but as they have just won a Qantas media award, they are unlikely to change direction in a hurry.

    It just seems that the chardonnay socialists are being replaced everywhere by the savvy blanc blues.

    Cromwell • Since Nov 2006 • 85 posts Report Reply

  • Marcelo Rodriguez Ferrere,

    Perhaps it's too early for this, but has anyone written a sustained account of what's been happening at the Listener under the most recent editor, and why? I mean, it's not just about cost-cutting, is it?

    It's funny you say that. It feels like everyone talks about the standards of The Listener and slippage thereof, but noone has ever written about it. With one exception. The University of Otago's student magazine, Critic, recently featured a very good article on the issue. It's worth a read.

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 33 posts Report Reply

  • Marcelo Rodriguez Ferrere,

    Beat me to the count, there Philip! That'll teach me for trying to be clever with the hyperlinking.

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 33 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    I can do you a nice deal on Venezuelan Merlot. Picked and bottled by union labour.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Rowe,

    It's always struck me as one of socialism's great problems is the association with Chardonnay. If Riesling had an ideology, that would be something to fight for.

    i've always considered myself something of a Grappa Anarchist. Whenever I drink the stuff, anarchy ensues.

    Lake Roxburgh, Central Ot… • Since Nov 2006 • 574 posts Report Reply

  • Mikaere Curtis,

    Sad for the Listener to lose one of it's more enjoyable columnists. Are they going to keep the column going ?

    True, actually. I remember Jenny Wheeler telling me she'd had feedback asking why I banged on about this internet thing all the time, and why didn't I write more about CD-ROMs. I gave her a speech about how a CD-ROM was a piece if plastic, but the internet would change the human condition. Or something ...

    I can relate to that. I was working at AIT back then and was on the Finance committee. One of the techs wanted to roll out internet access to students, estimating a 25% growth in use per month. Many of the committee members we appalled at the cost.

    They said things like "but we could employ half an FTE for that kind of money".

    I made a speech about the internet being bigger than the telephone. They got the point, but I was still appalled at the lack of foresight at an Institute of Technology.

    Tamaki Makaurau • Since Nov 2006 • 528 posts Report Reply

  • Idiot Savant,

    I can do you a nice deal on Venezuelan Merlot. Picked and bottled by union labour.

    Generally I prefer to buy NZ with wine. It's not like we're short of the stuff.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report Reply

  • Caleb D'Anvers,

    Thanks for that Critic link -- an interesting read, to say the least.

    London SE16 • Since Mar 2008 • 482 posts Report Reply

  • LegBreak,

    Russell, I’m only just getting over your departure from Media Watch…

    I’d have thought Riesling was more of a United Future kind of drink. I’ve never understood the Chardonnay bit either though; shouldn’t it be a red wine?

    I agree about Nippert; he’s good.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    The University of Otago's student magazine, Critic, recently featured a very good article on the issue

    Indeed it is good. If I may comment:

    people don't want the diatribes of the left or the right. New Zealand does not have any room for a Spectator or New Statesman; we're shooting straight down the middle

    We have:
    Investigate: crazed christian right
    North & South: suburban traditional right
    Listener: aspirational right-wing
    Metro: aspirational liberal

    I make that three right wing mags and a centrist one.

    We're aware that magazine readership skews female these days. So that's why we've introduced new health and nutrition columnists

    Patronising or what?

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • dc_red,

    Men are too busy drinking merlot, chardonnay, riesling, and grappa to worry about health and nutrition?

    I agree Mediawatch just isn't the same without RB.

    Oil Patch, Alberta • Since Nov 2006 • 706 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    Patronising or what?

    Don't worry Rich, we're used to it. :)

    I liked the bit about how they always put Helen Clark at the top of the 'power list' <hurl>, so they can't possibly be biased. 'Some of my best friends are Labour voters!'

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Grant McDougall,

    The Critic story on the Listener is excellent. It takes a very measured, intelligent look at the sorry state of the magazine, without merely slagging it off. I highly recommend everyone to read it.

    Very tellingly, Findlay Macdonald declines to comment on the current state of the magazine and his silence is deafening. Gordon Campbell on the other hand does comment, making several insightful comments.

    Dunedin • Since Dec 2006 • 760 posts Report Reply

  • Michael Stevens,

    You know, if you really want a revolution, I suggest tequila all round

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 230 posts Report Reply

  • Idiot Savant,

    The Critic story on the Listener is excellent. It takes a very measured, intelligent look at the sorry state of the magazine, without merely slagging it off.

    So, they'll be sicing the lawyers on them then?

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    I reckon there's a pattern here - is liberal media going underground (blogs included)?

    And the public wants what the public gets
    But I dont get what this society wants
    Im going underground, (going underground)
    Well the brass bands play and feet start to pound
    Going underground, (going underground)
    [so] let the boys all sing and the boys all shout for tomorrow

    We talk and talk until my head explodes
    I turn on the news and my body froze
    The braying sheep on my tv screen
    Make this boy shout, make this boy scream!

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • andrew llewellyn,

    Picked and bottled by union labour.

    Funny - I read this as "__pickled__ and bottled", and I thought "wrong order, surely?"

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report Reply

  • andrew llewellyn,

    And reading the Critic article now - did they really sack Braunias & Romanos?

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report Reply

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