Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Only what we would expect a child to do

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  • Juha Saarinen,

    This is probably my OCD itching, but I couldn't help noticing that the Herald put the "Celebrity in disorder case named" story in the Technology section, instead of the Crime or Entertainment or even News one(s).

    The deeper meaning of that is of course... uhh... something that isn't lost upon us. :)

    Since Nov 2006 • 529 posts Report Reply

  • Andre Alessi,

    Shorter NZ Herald: "We report stories that the public want to hear about! It's not our fault the public was interested in a story we published that invited speculation by not containing the information that would have convinced the public that they wouldn't want to hear about it!"

    Next up: "Secret business plan inside company to set mystery product price at an unspecified level! We ask why you haven't heard about this shocking development! Update: Grapefruit now 3 for $5 at Foodtown."

    Devonport, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 864 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    I wonder at what point newspapers and television graduated from being all about printing presses and transmitters to just "content".

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

  • Graeme Edgeler,

    No matter what legislative change Simon Power might be minded to introduce...

    Already done.

    I refer you to clause 204 of the The Criminal Procedure (Reform and Modernisation) Bill.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    “Overwhelming public interest.”

    Now, Russell, this would be the same newspaper whose editor won't accept invitations to appear on Media7 or Mediawatch, right? Because there's no public interest in public scrutiny and analysis of the only daily newspaper in New Zealand's largest city.

    I'd also disrespectfully suggest the Herald would not be editorially sympathetic to any union that ran a "public interest" defence for Wikileaking, say, contract negotiations or discussions around the next round of lay-offs -- something I don't think APN would consider good faith bargaining. .

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Sam F, in reply to Andre Alessi,

    Next up: "Secret business plan inside company to set mystery product price at an unspecified level! We ask why you haven't heard about this shocking development! Update: Grapefruit now 3 for $5 at Foodtown."

    Oh how I chortled.

    Where's Editing the Herald when we need it eh?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1611 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    And to those who are aware of Devlin, isn't he considered one of the "good ole boys" that Paul Henry, Paul Holmes and Tony Veitch also claim membership to?

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

  • John Campbell,

    Hear hear, etc. Or hair hair, given we're talking about a "celebrity". Fine writing, Russell. One small point of limited interest to anyone but me: the Herald keeps insisting I made it known that I was not the 46 year old celebrity concerned. I did not. At any stage. The Herald and Fairfax kept calling me to ask me to do so, but I didn't return a single call. I knew it wasn't me, they knew it wasn't me, so the notion that I would give the story more air by publicly denying it was me, seemed artful at best.

    Since Jun 2009 • 3 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    And to those who are aware of Devlin, isn't he considered one of the "good ole boys" that Paul Henry, Paul Holmes and Tony Veitch also claim membership to?

    I'd not thought him in that group but it's been a while since I've been in the country. Certainly his actions are incomparable with Vetich's (and his acceptance of blame too differentiates him further).

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    That cracks me up, John. Is it the first time that sort of thing's happened to you?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Jacqui Dunn, in reply to John Campbell,

    One small point of limited interest to anyone but me: the Herald keeps insisting I made it known that I was not the 46 year old celebrity concerned. I did not. At any stage.

    Outrageous!

    As well, Martin Devlin might be well-known to people who listen to the station he works for, or who happened to see him on TV, but really, isn't the word "celebrity" over-worked in this country, just a wee bit? Reminds me of when the weather girl was named "personality of the year". I despaired at that point, but we were obviously in for a lot worse.

    Deepest, darkest Avondale… • Since Jul 2010 • 585 posts Report Reply

  • Yamis,

    So he was arrested for sitting on his own car bonnet in traffic? I suppose you had to be there but I would have thought that after explaining the circumstances to the police they may have let him off with a warning not to be a plonker.

    What are the chances of Auckland getting another daily paper? Anybody ever heard any serious moves being made to do it or is there simply no money in it?

    Since Nov 2006 • 903 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    If the courts want to suppress names, I think it would work better if they suppressed all identifying information, so the paper was restricted to printing:

    A <person> was arrested and charged with bad behaviour in downtown Auckland

    .

    Which wouldn't be of interest, so they probably wouldn't bother and would move on to something more relevant. It would also limit the opportunity for guessing games by the sewerbloggers.

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

  • Shane Jackson,

    Reading the Herald lately reminds me of trying to hold a conversation with a psycho ex girlfriend. You know, saying something then claiming someone else said it...

    But what can you do? I switched my online local news source to Stuff.co.nz, and was confronted with a quarter-screen photograph full of fat, naked tattooed man. Not really my cup of tea either.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2011 • 1 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Martin, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    If the courts want to suppress names, I think it would work better if they suppressed all identifying information

    Which made me wonder where the occupation of 'celebrity' came from.... Devlin or the Herald.

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 187 posts Report Reply

  • Grant McDougall,

    I knew it soon enough. Somebody texted me.

    I was going to ask if this was an open secret around Auckland, looks like it was, cheers.

    Dunedin • Since Dec 2006 • 760 posts Report Reply

  • Steven Price,

    Damn straight, Russell.

    As a footnote, here's a headline from Stuff about the case:
    "Expert slams celebrity's name suppression". The "expert"? Tim Pankhurst, former DomPost editor and current NPA chief executive. Given the High Court's criticisms of his paper's approach to the Urewara Raids suppression orders, I would have thought his expertise was not beyond question. Anyway, surely he's a lobbyist not an expert in this context.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 29 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Paul Williams,

    I'd not thought him in that group

    The sports show "A game of two halves" had both Devlin and Veitch as hosts and consistently promoted a rude, boorish 'lads' culture with a nostalgic disrespect for diversity that saw itself as "anti-pc".

    That's probably the connection with Paul Henry and we'll no doubt see a lot more of it proudly paraded in this RWC year. Our international visitors will be as impressed as Anna Farris was.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Grant McDougall,

    if this was an open secret around Auckland

    Most locals didn't care - the Herald's readership is slumping for a reason.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to John Campbell,

    One small point of limited interest to anyone but me: the Herald keeps insisting I made it known that I was not the 46 year old celebrity concerned. I did not. At any stage.

    Um, it's of overwhelming interest to me, because when I was at journalism school attributing non-existent quotes (indirectly or otherwise) was considered a no-brain #journalismfail. Will further lower my expectations when Santa bring me a shovel.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Jacqui Dunn, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    attributing non-existent quotes (--) was considered a no-brain #journalismfail

    Along the lines of interviewing one's own typewriter/word processor?

    Deepest, darkest Avondale… • Since Jul 2010 • 585 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to John Campbell,

    the Herald keeps insisting I made it known that I was not the 46 year old celebrity concerned. I did not. At any stage. The Herald and Fairfax kept calling me to ask me to do so, but I didn’t return a single call. I knew it wasn’t me, they knew it wasn’t me, so the notion that I would give the story more air by publicly denying it was me, seemed artful at best.

    Good grief.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • James W,

    "'Celebrity' in disorder case named"

    As a friend of mine pointed out, the use of the word "disorder" without the "-ly conduct" part conveys a very different meaning.

    Still, this is What They Want, right? The 'Public Interest'! Of course, the public is interested in things we promote as interesting, and that's normally celebrities and tits, but still...

    Since Jul 2008 • 136 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams, in reply to Sacha,

    The sports show "A game of two halves" had both Devlin and Veitch as hosts and consistently promoted a rude, boorish 'lads' culture with a nostalgic disrespect for diversity that saw itself as "anti-pc".

    Fair points though I still think Devlin's offence and subsequent behaviour ought to be differentiated from Veitch's (Henry's too, he's a twatcock but he's not physically assaulted anyone).

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Paul Williams,

    I agree, Paul - and should have made that clearer.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

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