Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: It would be polite to ask

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  • Phil Lyth,

    commercially-unattractive older viewers

    Any plan to use an excerpt of that storyline from Boston Legal last week (IIRC) where aid viewer sues the networks?

    Phil

    Wellington • Since Apr 2009 • 458 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    If a referendum is appropriate on whether Waikekamukau gets moved from Sunshine District to Environment Taranaki, or in the real NZ to confirm STV voting in Wellington, how is it not appropriate for a total restructuring?

    We don't need to abandon our democracy just so we can host a few rugby games, or, if we do, we should send the rugby off to Fiji or Zimbabwe.

    Given that our ACT masters consider it appropriate to rebuild councils on governmental whim, I look forward to the next Labour government reversing this with a measure passed in urgency the day after they get elected.

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

  • Jose Barbosa,

    I was somewhat confused when talking to Doug Armstrong yesterday when he argued against any sort of public consultation on the grounds of too hard, too expensive, not enough time to do so etc. Yet in the same conversation suggested if you got one thousand Aucklanders in the same room they'd be in favour of the Government's plan, of course how he'd know that without the public's input I have no idea.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 64 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    On the Hanover subject, as I pointed out at the time, the shareholders would almost certainly have been better off with liquidation.

    Mr Grey Accountant might not have the glitz of Eric Watson, buit at least he wouldn't spend your mum's money on parties in Istanbul. (Suspiciously close to the fraudsters favourite statelet of Northern Cyprus, but that's just my suspicious mind...)

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

  • Russell Brown,

    Any plan to use an excerpt of that storyline from Boston Legal last week (IIRC) where aid viewer sues the networks?

    Good guess!

    Yes -- we intro with that very excerpt.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • B Jones,

    Good timing on the Media 7 panel subject. The top three stories on TV3 last night seemed to be pitched specifically to generate maximum race relations outrage: Maori names sought for North and South Islands, Eskimo lollies slammed as racist by Canadian tourist and the UN conference.

    The first two in particular were of relatively minor news value and none would have led, IMHO, without playing up the controversy angle. This in particular wound me up:

    3 News searched for groups that use North Island in their title. We talked to the North Island Minisprint Club whose spokesman said they have no intention of becoming Te Ika A Maui Mini Sprint Club."

    Whoever came up with this kind of journalism had no idea of either what the NZGB actually proposed, or what its powers are (hint, they don't have jurisdiction over the naming of clubs). Or they just didn't care. They may as well have said "Prepare to go ballistic over this" in the intro.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 976 posts Report Reply

  • johnno,

    Re. the Media7 discussions tonight. I would love to see Anthony Flannery, the Australian head of our State broadcaster's newsroom, answering questions as to why there are so few Maori and older people in his newsrooms. I understand there is only one Maori reporter in the entire company who works on an English-language daily programme, none on their flagship current affairs programmes (Sunday, Close-Up, 20/20). The average age is in the early 30s, and this was prior to the latest round of redundancies where experienced older journalists like Owen Poland and Brent Fraser were given the boot. Wouldn't it be nice to see a little diversity on One News, a bit more of a reflection of the wider society they reportedly serve?

    wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 111 posts Report Reply

  • Zippy Gonzales,

    But I think you can certainly argue that the government has made such abrupt and profound changes to the structure recommended by the commission that Aucklanders' consent needs to be sought.

    Too true. Dame Margaret Bazley made it clear on NatRad that the Royal Commission report was to introduced as is, not cherry-picked. Now there's a limbo land of checks and balances.

    Are Uniform Annual General Charges (poll taxes) still off the menu? What about the commercial/residential rates proportionality? Without the Maori seats, who will have the power and authority to marshall the various Maori voices on the Watercare etc boards?

    Too much uncertainty abounds. While this could work in incumbent Banky's favour, it may very well backfire. The AuckGov report was a radical step as it was. I think the Nats and Act have over-reached themselves.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 186 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    looking at the way television fails to provide for commercially-unattractive older viewers

    I pondered this after the Boston Legal episode, given how much more television my mother watches than we do, and I don't think we're as badly off as the US, because British tv seems to have a long tradition of making programs that appeal to older viewers. Antiques Roadshow, Midsummer Murders, Coronation Street, Last of the Freaking Summer Wine... Yes, Jonathon Rhys Meyers isn't going short of work, but neither is Geoffrey Palmer.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Antiques Roadshow

    Watched an old one last night on the Living Channel and it was particularly awesome. Does this make me old?

    Also: Two Fat Ladies is my crack. Or possibly heroin.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Kit McLean,

    The first two in particular were of relatively minor news value and none would have led, IMHO, without playing up the controversy angle.

    Totally agree. I had to switch the news off after the Eskimo story - slow news day for sensationalist journalism?

    We talked to the North Island Minisprint Club whose spokesman said they have no intention of becoming Te Ika A Maui Mini Sprint Club.

    How many other NI clubs do you think they spoke to who's answer was "what the f*ck are you talking about, how is this even relevant to an actual story??!?" before settling on the obvious juggernaut of public democracy, the NI Minisprint Club?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 24 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    I adore both Coronation Street and Antiques Roadshow . Does this mean that I am an old soul?

    (I read something at some point about Coro saying that it had a surprisingly large number of younger women viewers, in their 20s and 30s. Hmm.)

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

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Anybody with friends or family caught up in the Hanover Finance debacle might be interested in what Hanover co-founder Eric Watson has been up to. NBR reports on Watson's extravagant 50th birthday party in Istanbul. The pictures are here.

    Apparently the theme was bring a partner dressed like they have more money than sense.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    Watched an old one last night on the Living Channel and it was particularly awesome. Does this make me old?

    Also: Two Fat Ladies is my crack. Or possibly heroin.

    You know who was awesome? Sister Wendy.

    I say you're not old until you start using words like 'nowadays'. Possibly in connection with TV1's Sunday night programming.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Re. the Media7 discussions tonight. I would love to see Anthony Flannery, the Australian head of our State broadcaster's newsroom, answering questions as to why there are so few Maori and older people in his newsrooms.

    Jonno: WTF is the enitrely gratuitous and irrelevant 'Australian' reference about?

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

  • Evan Yates,

    I didn't realise that Eric Watson was so popular in Turkey.

    The way the photos were presented, there seemed to be a pre-ponderance of (I assume) Turkish celebs present. The question is whether they were the equivalent of rent-a-slebs who are paid to turn up at swarrays like this to guarantee press coverage.

    Or is Eric really the toast of the town in Constantinople? (Now Istanbul)

    Hamiltron, Te Ika-a-Māui • Since Nov 2006 • 197 posts Report Reply

  • Stuart Coats,

    Or is Eric really the toast of the town in Constantinople? (Now Istanbul)

    Why did Constantinople get the works? That's nobody's business but the Turks.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 192 posts Report Reply

  • Gareth Ward,

    Anybody with friends or family caught up in the Hanover Finance debacle might be interested in what Hanover co-founder Eric Watson has been up to.

    I suggest they spend more time investigating the governance, shareholding and inter-party issues of Hanover than something as completely unrelated as a birthday party which frankly doesn't look particularly remarkable (no elephants snorting cocaine etc).

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report Reply

  • Gareth Ward,

    And in other "please ask before fuckin with our futures" news - the Guardians of the Super Fund have responded rather blankly to the forced 40% in NZ election promise.
    http://pundit.co.nz/content/super-fund-wary-of-40-home-country-bias-oia

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report Reply

  • Caleb D'Anvers,

    Good timing on the Media 7 panel subject. The top three stories on TV3 last night seemed to be pitched specifically to generate maximum race relations outrage: Maori names sought for North and South Islands, Eskimo lollies slammed as racist by Canadian tourist and the UN conference.

    Oh definitely. I was thinking that during the rather similar shenanigans on Sunrise this morning. The media really do seem to be playing race issues from some bad gothic horror script, with Maori as the unspeakable other who just won't die . We voted in that nice John Key but ... oh noes, the Maori Party! Now you're telling us that Cook's Endeavour map referred to ... Te Ika a Maui and Te Wai Pounamu, not the North and South Islands! Good heavens, the ground is shifting beneath our feet! The crypt won't stay closed! You were supposed to die, godammit!

    I really wish they'd stop.

    London SE16 • Since Mar 2008 • 482 posts Report Reply

  • uroskin,

    The use of the LGC law to change local boundaries is apt as one of our community board members has exactly such a proposal before the LGC to move Waiheke Island to Thames-Coromandel.
    What is amazing that the LGC is actually consisdering this, given it was only requested by 10% of islanders who bothered to sign the petition. I'd have thought that 90% opposition would have been enough to laugh this out of court.
    Apparently not. Leninist avantgarde political strategies are alive and well in NZ.
    Locals should vote on which community board they want to belong to, want to be ruled by, be represented on and pay taxes to.

    Waiheke Island • Since Feb 2007 • 178 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark,

    Antiques Roadshow

    Watched an old one last night on the Living Channel and it was particularly awesome. Does this make me old?

    Why, yes it would, Mr Brown. But then if you factor in your very eclectic music tastes, and the fact that you sometmes attend very loud gigs, I guess that would take off a few years.

    I say you're not old until you start using words like 'nowadays'. Possibly in connection with TV1's Sunday night programming.

    That would be me over the hill, then.

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report Reply

  • Duncan McKenzie,

    If asked, I'm voting for Nort and Sout Islands. Got to get rid of the surplus aitches.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 53 posts Report Reply

  • James Littlewood*,

    @Emma regarding Sister Wendy:

    you're not old until you start using words like 'nowadays'.

    What about "And just look at the way he's painted her lovely pubic hair, so lovely and fluffy", keen as hell through a toothy grin. Would that be old? Or something else.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 410 posts Report Reply

  • ScottY,

    I really wish they'd stop.

    They won't. It's too easy to generate these "outrage" stories. The news media are often accused of runnng only bad news stories. But I call this latest trend "mad news" - stories calculated to provoke outrage and controversy.

    I've blogged about this if anyone wants to look... and apologies for the clunky look - I'm new to these interwebs.

    West • Since Feb 2009 • 794 posts Report Reply

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