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Public Address
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 1654
Hard News: A Highlight
Yesterday was a good day. I chaired the Media Women in Asia seminar staged by the Asia: New Zealand Foundation, and it's a while since I've found such a gig as enjoyable and flat-out interesting as that one.
stephen walker
From: tokyo
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 523
The NZ media is so Anglo-centric it makes Australia look like the world's most cosmopolitan Asiaphiles.
The bottom line is that anyone who wants to get out of that narrow mindset just leaves and does their thing. As can be seen by the talent and achievements of the panelists at this event.
Good on these women for showing how it's done! The sheer pace of life in Asia is like a drug. Get your fix!
BTW, does anyone under 35 understand the Selwyn Toogood reference ;)
Simon Grigg
From: Just another klong...
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 2152
Al Jaz 24/ 7 and Australia Network 24/7 are the highlights of an sometimes patchy 50 odd channel Indovision service up here (although the rather graphic local news channels do tend to draw you in)
The quality of the news, the balance, and the analysis on both rather dwarf their US & (to a much lessor degree) UK counterparts. I'm quite particular to the irregular show on Al Jaz, fronted by various ex-CNN anchors, which seems to take some pleasure in dissecting the biases of the US networks. Considering the shit that they get from the beltway and their disciples I guess they have the right.
It was all a really useful grounding in the reality of just how much news there is in Asia,
three and a half billion people gets you that.....
kowhai montgomery
From: wellington
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 446
Al Jaz is a welcome addition to our screens. Must get freeview, that has decided it.
Good on these women for showing how it's done! The sheer pace of life in Asia is like a drug. Get your fix!
BTW, does anyone under 35 understand the Selwyn Toogood reference ;)
Yes Asia is like a drug, I loved the crazy madness and am still in withdrawl. The Selwyn Toogood thing, right over my head ; )
Jim Cathcart
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 65
Even stuffy NHK (Japan national broadcaster) fits in Al Jaz before the BBC from 7:20-7:30 on their morning international news slot. I notice that it's always dubbed directly from the Arabic as opposed to the English version. Without wanting to pump sclerotic NHK too much, I've always found their documentaries on the Middle East to be closer to the pulse than what I have seen in English.
Russell Brown
From: Auckland
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 9060
Moderator
Oh, bonus fun. We went out to dinner on Tuesday night.
Sagarika's father in law, Dilip Sardesai, played cricket for India and her husband and son are manic cricket fans.
When we spied Adam Parore at the restaurant she was quite excited, so we encouraged her to go over and get his autograph and a picture. He was cool, but Sally looked a bit miffed ...
Robyn Gallagher
From: Wellington
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 1309
BTW, does anyone under 35 understand the Selwyn Toogood reference ;)
Hey, I'm 32 and I got it. I remember watching Beauty and the Beast during the school holidays.
I recommend Selwyn's autobiography "Out of the Bag", which pops up from time to time on Trade Me.
uroskin
From: Waiheke Island
Since: Feb 2007
Posts: 91
Aljazeera has already been screening since day 1 on Traingle TV Auckland and Wellington (and will continue to do so after the Stratos launch). If you catch the AJ News Hour (currently at 6am) you may spot anchor Kamal Santamaria, who ued to be on TV3 News.
Hadyn Green
From: Wellington
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 1802
Moderator
Re Toogood: 28 and got it.
Re Freeview: does anyone know if Freeview will be coming through the Sky/Telstra boxes?
Tom Semmens
From: Auckland
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 1094
It seems to me that anywhere the pernicious dead hand of Murdoch has fallen (i.e. most of the English speaking world) news has been packaged as just another lowest possible reality TV variant focussed primarily on the advertising revenue stream. People with a brain in the English speaking are so starved of quality journalism of any kind they've even taking to paying to see documentaries at the cinema. And now I finally have a reason to buy a freeview box.
Oh and Selwyn Toogood. What a different age, by hokey! A time when the marriage of Tinika Bouchier(sp?) was impossibly exotic and when winning a washing machine was a big deal and when summer salads were made with vinegar & condensed milk dressings and boiled eggs.
Tom Semmens
From: Auckland
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 1094
oops should read "A time when Tinika Bouchier(sp?)..."
I was going talk about the buzz when she got married but I work intervened.
Danielle
From: PAS Women's XV Strategic Headquarters
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 2249
Also 32 (for eight more days!), and I'm all about the Selwyn Toogood reference. I loved watching Beauty and the Beast and It's in the Bag.
I remember in primary school, the height of childhood wit was calling him 'Selwyn Threebad'...
Jonty
From: Katikati
Since: Mar 2007
Posts: 62
SKY had the chance to get Al Jaz last year and plumped for Fox (the propaganda channel of the Republican Party) instead.
Sadly, down here in the hinterland we can't get Triangle so the news about Stratos is wonderful.
Has anyone noticed Campbell is getting a tad tabloid just lately? Thought there might be a bit of relief with the carbon credit segment last night, but the woman was almost unintelligible.
Danielle
From: PAS Women's XV Strategic Headquarters
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 2249
Oh, and Tom: we still have one of those boiled egg, vinegar and condensed milk salads every Christmas. My grandfather wouldn't have it any other way!
Neil Smart
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 71
One thing we didn't get to discussing was the Chinese government's new crackdown on "low taste" reality TV programmes, and in particular Idol-style talent shows.
What a great idea suggest it to John Key he doesn't have any policies!!
Banning reality TV is a good place to start.
Tom Semmens
From: Auckland
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 1094
Same here on the salad! I insist on it, its a Kiwi culinary classic, we use iceburg lettuce on a long dish with half tomaties and curried eggs interleaved along each side and the dressing on the top down the middle. ALWAYS served at a picnic with huge wedges of bacon and egg pie and cold lamb sammies on boxing day.
Simon Grigg
From: Just another klong...
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 2152
this perhaps indicates the penetration of Selwyn into our psyche a few years back.
Danielle
From: PAS Women's XV Strategic Headquarters
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 2249
we use iceburg lettuce on a long dish with half tomaties and curried eggs interleaved along each side and the dressing on the top down the middle
Hell, that's a bit flash! </grandfather>
The thought of banning reality television sends an icy chill down my spine. Life without The Amazing Race, Project Runway, America's Next Top Model (and its current stand-in, The Search for the Next Doll), and repeats of the Real World? What do you people want me to do - read or something? :)
(That documentary from a couple of years ago about al Jazeera, Control Room, was very interesting. I'm afraid that's all I've got on the 'real' subject at hand.)
InternationalObserver
Since: Jun 2007
Posts: 908
Remind me why she was made redundant from TVNZ, will you?
Was she made redundant? I thought she was Holmes' producer and when he went, she went?
As for Al Jazeera ... it's a bit like back in the 90s when all the hipster style guides were buzzing about 'Yum Char' which you'd been doing since the 80s (cue elderly PAS readers with stories of 'back in the ...')
Anyway Al Jaz is great and the more that see it the better. The VERY sad thing is that the US spin machine do their best to brand it as Al Qaida TV. This is because they've spent millions themselves on their own Arabic TV channels (to spin the US line) only to have that chap from Qatar do the same and do it much better (__independent__ news anyone?). Hence the reason for detaining the Al Jaz cameraman in Gitmo. BASTARDS!!!
John Farrell
From: Dunedin
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 163
Or "Seldom Muchgood".....
wendyf
From: Christchurch
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 25
Is al Jazeera a forlorn hope down here in Christchurch?
Russell Brown
From: Auckland
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 9060
Moderator
Is al Jazeera a forlorn hope down here in Christchurch?
No, that's the thing: Stratos is nationwide.
Mark Easterbrook
From: Auckland
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 206
Great Selwyn Toogood story.
Years ago I used to work with his grandaughter. She told me about how, when she was about 5, Selwyn arranged it so her and her brother could sneak on to the Play School set and play with Humpty, Jemima, Manu and the Teds.
Best Grandad ever!
daleaway
Since: Jul 2007
Posts: 178
When I worked with Selwyn Toogood he told me his most frequently used playground nickname was "Seldom Anygood". He had lousy school years, and only found his strengths once he had been called up into the army. He ended up a Major.
He was indeed an institution in the 1950s and 60s and even into the 70s. When "It's in the Bag" hit town, there was no bigger drawcard. I went to a live show of it once in Kilbirnie and he could work a crowd like noone else. And it was fun.
All credit to the man for pioneering freelance broadcasting work in this country. He and his late wife Cynthia were a most affable and courteous couple.
Tineke's name was spelt thus.
Daniel McKenzie
From: Hamilton
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 7
I've been watching Al Jazeera when I can online since seeing clips of it on YouTube. Looking forward to seeing it on Stratos. I especially like The Listening Post (they post it in full on YouTube), gives a bit of balance to global reporting.
That Daily Show clip was hilarious!
Russell Brown
From: Auckland
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 9060
Moderator
When I worked with Selwyn Toogood he told me his most frequently used playground nickname was "Seldom Anygood".
It's in the Bag was taped in our school hall once. I went. It was very exciting.
But the best ever Bag moment was at the end of a series, when a nice Russian immigrant chap had gone all the way through to the totally big-ass prize and his big question was ... What is the Kremlin? ...
Margaret
From: Wellington
Since: Sep 2007
Posts: 15
I'm 22 and I got the Toogood ref. I win!!!
Tze Ming Mok
From: Hackney, the Mt Roskill of the North
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 101
Moderator
29 and the Beauty and the Beast reference missed me. Shame on my name.
My brother and I called him Buylose Onebad, in a display of mad English skillz.
Nice work on the forum Russell, and good on Asia:NZ as usual for putting it together, despite the ol' 'missing in action' syndrome from certain journalists... Now that sure brings back memories: I'm sure this isn't the first time Mark Jennings has been expected at an 'ethnicky' type thing and didn't show. Well, no-one likes to feel provincial.
Peppermint Gomez, signing off.
Neil Morrison
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 642
The impression persists that what alarmed the authorities was less any failure of taste than the prospect of people getting too used to the idea of voting and getting what they vote for.
And people trash reality TV. Maybe the UN could send Julie Christie to Burma.
Amy Gale
From: smalltown USA
Since: May 2007
Posts: 329
> BTW, does anyone under 35 understand the
> Selwyn Toogood reference ;)
It's probably a litmus test for under-35s who pulled sickies.
(guilty)
Ben Austin
From: London
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 627
Wasn't Selwyn's attraction partly that he actually made an effort and went outside of the big cities? Sorta like Top Town and the like
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