Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: A cog in the Mediaworks machine

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  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    It appears TV3 is suffering from Glucina...
    Sorry, glaucoma.

    Could this be the word you're looking for?

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    Bill Ralston as a candidate for the Auckland City Council next year

    He has pretty much confirmed that himself on Twitter. Much smarter grasp of transport policy (>50% of spend) than similarly rightish folk like Cameroon Brewer.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    cupcakes for africa

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    Could this be the word you're looking for?

    Nah...
    This one...

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • izogi, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    but only in towns where the mayor is mildly left wing

    Auckland… Christchurch… Dunedin… Invercargill.

    I’m surprised they didn’t bring in Wellington. It seems to be a favourite for left wing council bashers of late, or maybe it’s just what I see from living here. What’s a current example of a right wing council? Or do all councils supposedly spend everyone else’s money 'irresponsibly'?

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 1142 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    And the whole narrative of the Nats is about “hard working keewees pulling themselves up by their own bootstraps”, so it’s useful to point out that it’s really all about having the good sense to be born to rich parents

    Too fucking true. I know all about ‘survivorship bias’ first-hand, and it’s something I feel so strongly about that profanities can’t describe it. How we’re all beaten over the head with the notion that ‘the only disability is a bad attitude’ (which was originally said by an American athlete who happens to be a fundy creationist).

    It’s charitable to call it a fucking lie at best, and it’s used by hypocritical cunts as an excuse to slam the door behind them. The late comedienne/disability activist Stella Young neatly deconstructed it:
    "That quote, ‘the only disability in life is a bad attitude’, the reason that’s bullshit is … No amount of smiling at a flight of stairs has ever made it turn into a ramp. No amount of standing in the middle of a bookshelf and radiating a positive attitude is going to turn all those books into braille." When anyone tells me to ‘just believe in yourself’, I have to resist the temptation to say, “I don't want your smiles, I want a ladder you motherfucking cunts!”

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

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to izogi,

    Auckland… Christchurch… Dunedin… Invercargill.

    As far as I can tell, the big urban centres are mostly dominated by red-green-leaning mayors.

    Make of Tim Shadbolt what you will. He’s probably having a bet each way.

    Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt: I’m a Union Jack man

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

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Russell Brown,

    I’ve even heard horror stories about management from inside the marquee event productions. Weldon and Christie are burning the place down in pursuit of their bonuses.

    Could those still standing sabotage it somehow? Like say, feeding hoaxes or libel bait to Scout?

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

  • Rob Stowell,

    And goodbye Tony Abbot. Ozzie comics may rue the day. We're unlikely to ever see your budgie-smuggling sentence strangling eye-rolling like again ...

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Sacha,

    cupcakes for africa

    Get a bunch of 6-year-olds to do the song for free.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Rob Stowell,

    And goodbye Tony Abbot. Ozzie comics may rue the day. We're unlikely to ever see your budgie-smuggling sentence strangling eye-rolling like again ...

    The conventional wisdom about Turnbull used to be that, despite his naked ambition, he'd never be PM because he was "too shiny". There was a nice cartoon in the now-defunct Bulletin showing Peter Costello, John Howard's then deputy and presumed heir apparent, standing drink in hand at a social gathering. From out of frame a voice can be heard saying "They say I'll be Prime Minister when I grow up", prompting an angry Costello to ask "Who invited Malcolm Turnbull?"

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    Story just did a puff piece promoting National Party spin doctor Bill Ralston as a candidate for the Auckland City Council next year.

    This morning's lead is a puff piece on Judith Collins.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Stowell, in reply to Russell Brown,

    It's clear there's not going to be much pretence here. It's nakedly National. Unashamedly gutter. Happily shallow. Whalefluff?

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report Reply

  • Felix Marwick, in reply to tony j ricketts,

    I think you’ll find it’s Frances Cook, who was female last time I talked with her.

    Tony, I can tell you Frances Cook, who is my colleague, is most definitely NOT working for Scout. I'll happily issue defamation proceedings on her behalf against anyone who says otherwise

    This is the Francis Cook that you are looking for: http://info.scoop.co.nz/Francis_Cook

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 200 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Rob Stowell,

    It's clear there's not going to be much pretence here. It's nakedly National. Unashamedly gutter. Happily shallow. Whalefluff?

    I think it also shows how limited Glucina's reach is.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • llew40, in reply to Russell Brown,

    I personally agree with virtually everything you have said here Russell, yet ..... what does it say about us if Scout is a success?

    I've long felt that, politically at least, large numbers of New Zealanders find it too difficult to believe that other large numbers of New Zealanders can hold a very different view to them. Be it on the merits of John Key and National. Be it on the preferred tactics of Labout as an opposition party. Be it on bellweather issues such as Auckland housing or refugee intakes. Be it on the merits of Campbell Live as a bastion of media independence. Social media doesnt help that level of self-reinforcement. At times (e.g. the last election) it becomes an almost wilful act of refusing to acknowledge the beliefs of others (or the lack of interest of others).

    So .... what does it say if shallow recycled entertainment news is popular in NZ?

    Since Nov 2012 • 140 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Stowell, in reply to Russell Brown,

    I think it also shows how limited Glucina’s reach is.

    Spanning almost the entirety of Auckland's National Party elite :)

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to llew40,

    Girl guyed by Scout?

    ...the preferred tactics of Labout

    Surely there is a 'ya' missing from that new political party's name?
    A party that will serve the Scout fans well
    - the Layabout Party
    ;- )

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Stowell, in reply to llew40,

    what does it say about us if Scout is a success?

    There's no doubt the values and identity of the nation have been moulded by 30 years of neoliberal thinking and framing. And there's no doubt people like gossip.
    But let's not declare defeat too quickly.
    National have done things that are 'left-wing.' Surely that's because their focus-groups and polling indicate it will be well-received by the mainstream.
    So far TV3's ditching of Campbell, and replacement line-up of fluff and nonsense has been a ratings disaster.
    What does that say about us? :)

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to llew40,

    So .... what does it say if shallow recycled entertainment news is popular in NZ?

    It's popular everywhere.

    That's why Stuff and the Herald website run it right throughout the day and why the Daily Mail's "sidebar of shame" exists.

    The thing is really whether Scout is doing it well and whether it adds enough value. After all, modestly-paid online editors are throwing this stuff onto competing websites the moment it comes off the wire.

    The decision to lead with a Judith Collins interview today really shows how limited Glucina's reach is. She's trying to establish the few people she actually has an in with as celebrities.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Attachment

    Okay, I do not understand this at all. Scout's official Twitter account is locked. Why would you do that?

    It also appears that they're culling followers – like 200 down in the past hour. This is just weird.

    Update: The account is unlocked again, with the explanation that they're trying to get rid of fake followers.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Lucy Telfar Barnard, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    It’s charitable to call it a fucking lie at best, and it’s used by hypocritical cunts as an excuse to slam the door behind them. The late comedienne/disability activist Stella Young neatly deconstructed it:
    “That quote, ‘the only disability in life is a bad attitude’, the reason that’s bullshit is … No amount of smiling at a flight of stairs has ever made it turn into a ramp. No amount of standing in the middle of a bookshelf and radiating a positive attitude is going to turn all those books into braille.” When anyone tells me to ‘just believe in yourself’, I have to resist the temptation to say, “I don’t want your smiles, I want a ladder you motherfucking cunts!”

    Sorry, off topic, but…

    Halle-fricking-lujah. I was thinking a variation of exactly this when I took the "Be Accessible” survey. Now, I’m sure Be Accessible has entirely laudable goals. But presenting me with “What’s the best thing about having a disability” with the options “Greater empathy for others/Ability to be flexible, problem-solve/A different experience of life/Other (please specify)” just makes me want to spew, and including “your own limiting beliefs” but not “pain” among the options for “What’s the hardest thing about living with a disability” is similarly insulting.
    Did they test this survey before they took it live?

    Rant and derail over, as you were.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 585 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    I... "shallow recycled entertainment news" has been a huge feature of mass media since it began! There were movie star gossip magazines during the silent film period; there were society gossip columns even further back than that. The reach and detail of this news has increased with the internet, but the reach and detail of EVERYTHING has increased with the internet. I'm mildly wary of "everything is different and bad" narratives about this stuff.

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

  • James Francis, in reply to Rob Stowell,

    Or even spamming almost the entirety of Auckland's National Party elite.

    St John's, Newfoundland • Since Nov 2006 • 121 posts Report Reply

  • Marc C,

    Sigh, the “gutter” is a bottomless pit, I fear. There will be no hope with that kind of trend within the NZ media, and no hope for the too easily "formative" minds of too many in future. New Zealand will be “lost”, unless this is stopped, right now!

    Auckland • Since Oct 2012 • 437 posts Report Reply

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