Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: It's worse than you think

99 Responses

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  • Myles Thomas, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    You're not disagreeing with me at all. We're in total agreement that there seems to be bias in the mainstream news media.

    Not that this is a new thing. Most NZ newspapers have always been publicists for the National Party and the business sector, with a thin veneer of impartiality. This is still the case in general except that nowadays the Listener and TVNZ don't offer any balance to the subtle and not-so-subtle right-wing media agenda.

    And how long RNZ (with it's funding frozen) and TV3 (about to be restructured) will continue is unknown. As much as I love Public Address and other blogs, they will never have the impact on public opinion that mainstream media enjoys and harnesses.

    If commercially owned and run mainstream media become the only influencer of public opinion, what happens to democracy?

    Auckland • Since Apr 2011 • 130 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle, in reply to Brent Jackson,

    the few National supporters that I have ever encountered

    The rarefied real-life bubble in which I exist is never more obvious to me than when I read the poll numbers. I cannot think of one single person I see regularly who is a National supporter. And yet they are apparently all over the place!

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

  • Gary Young, in reply to Myles Thomas,

    If commercially owned and run mainstream media become the only influencer of public opinion, what happens to democracy?

    Pretty much what has already happened to genuine democracy in the USA under the influence of the privately owned and frighteningly partisan media over there.

    Glenfield • Since Jun 2013 • 39 posts Report Reply

  • Gary Young, in reply to Russell Brown,

    I seem to recall, at about the same time, the same sort of scientifically illiterate frothing at the mouth over the suggestion that we might consider using water-efficient shower heads in new buildings.

    A few of the somewhat heated 'discussions' I had in the smoko room at work made it quite clear to me that the gender of the prime minister of the day was a significant factor in the objections to the policy.

    Glenfield • Since Jun 2013 • 39 posts Report Reply

  • Pete Sime, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    There are signs that the GCSB issue is breaking out of the Beltway and into public discourse

    I had a look at Google Trends - GCSB is certainly gaining as a search term on Google, and is slightly ahead of the April peak for the search term "Marriage equality", but is quite far behind the search term "Gay marriage". It doesn't appear to be the political story of the year, but interest is growing.

    Dunedin • Since Apr 2008 • 171 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to slarty,

    Define serious.

    "Someone didn't give my jacket back"

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • izogi, in reply to Gary Young,

    A few of the somewhat heated 'discussions' I had in the smoko room at work made it quite clear to me that the gender of the prime minister of the day was a significant factor in the objections to the policy.

    Towards the end of the Labour-led government, I think there were many people who didn't really know why they hated Labour. They just did on an emotional level, which is a sign of how good the destructive marketing was from the other side(s). But people need to justify their opinions to themselves and to others they hang out with, and so we get the "Helen Clark is an ugly bitch" type of reasoning, speckled with phrases like "light bulb" and "nanny state".

    The Labour Party hardly helped itself, though. It was very tired in government by 2008.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 1142 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Brent Jackson,

    Yet not noticing that National government has introduced plenty of “nanny-state” policy of its own.

    They probably think it's not their problem if such nanny statism only targets the "filthy proles".

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

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Gary Young,

    scientifically illiterate frothing at the mouth over the suggestion that we might consider using water-efficient shower heads in new buildings

    Light bulbs we agree on - but the one thing NZ does not have a shortage of is water. Unless of course you are trying to farm a million cows on our one drought prone plain.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Cameron, in reply to Danielle,

    My whole family is of the National voting persuasion, and a large number of my friends. Being from a strong national electorate, that is hardly surprising.

    The polling has had me confused too, because all this so-called "spy gate" shenanigans has left an impression on the right wingers I know. Some are actually saying, and I quote, "John Key has lost the plot. "

    But they just do not know where to go from there, because they do not see a strong opposition. They might vote Labour despite this, except the Greens policies are traditionally out of step with the interests of a North Canterbury farming electorate.

    I have to conclude it is not so much that National is approved of, more they are just considered a default option.

    Christchurch • Since May 2013 • 15 posts Report Reply

  • izogi, in reply to Hilary Cameron,

    I have to conclude it is not so much that National is approved of, more they are just considered a default option.

    Same here, according to impressions of the inlaws (Taranaki farmers). I heard them skyping my wife in the weekly session the other morning, and they're fairly disgusted at everyone (politicians) right now. Thing is, I still can't imagine them casting a vote for any option except the National Party, and I also can't imagine them failing to vote.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 1142 posts Report Reply

  • B Jones, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    the one thing NZ does not have a shortage of is water.

    Cold water, to be sure. It takes electricity to make your showers hot, and I quite like mine like that. An efficient showerhead keeps the power bills down.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 976 posts Report Reply

  • Gary Young, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    Agreed but B Jones beat me to it.

    However, even cold water has a cost attached. It takes money and energy to make it fit for human consumption. And wasting it just because I can feels a bit, well .... selfish.

    Glenfield • Since Jun 2013 • 39 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Reckon many disgruntled National voters are more likely to vote for Winston First..

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    The TV political teams seem to spend an inordinate amount of time finding something embarrasing to say about the opposition(s)

    Talking power to truth

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Ben McNicoll,

    Yeah, but now it's not a woman bossing me around, so nanny-state no longer applies, right?

    And no one has made 'daddy-state' stick. Or done much effective framing of any sort from the left.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Sacha,

    Reckon many disgruntled National voters are more likely to vote for Winston First..

    Or possibly Colin Craig's Conservative Party (sic, full name).

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

  • James Littlewood*,

    In reply to Gareth Swain's excellent question about Key's mysterious ongoing popularity, surely it has to be attributed to conservative proletarians.

    In other words, it's not that they like Key. It's that they fear change. Even when change would plainly be in their best interests. But of course, who am I to make a claim like that?

    Auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 410 posts Report Reply

  • Dave Waugh, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    but the one thing NZ does not have a shortage of is water. Unless of course you are trying to farm a million cows on our one drought prone plain.

    Quite true.
    I mean seriously when did any town or city last have a water shortage or restrictions over summer........ Oh wait.....

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 98 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming,

    Those polls are taken of ~1000 people who use landlines (as they are only conducted on landlines). They generally have a margin of error of 3%-ish. They can be manipulated from here to buggery to give the customer the result desired. Look at the entity that commissioned the poll rather than the company that undertook it (unless it's Curia - then all bets are off).

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • Gary Young, in reply to Sacha,

    I wonder also how many people would deliberately refuse to vote (rather than failing to vote through apathy) because they could not conceive of considering an alternative no matter how upset they were with their usual choice of party.

    Glenfield • Since Jun 2013 • 39 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Gary Young,

    about 800, 000 at the last election, apparently

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock, in reply to nzlemming,

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Gary Young,

    I wonder also how many people would deliberately refuse to vote (rather than failing to vote through apathy) because they could not conceive of considering an alternative no matter how upset they were with their usual choice of party.

    To complicate matters further, poorer voters are more likely to be transient and prone to frequent changes of address. I wouldn't be surprised if there's a chorus of head-desking at the Electoral Commission.

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

  • DexterX, in reply to Gareth Swain,

    I have read over the past few months about some outrageous behaviour by Key and National in general, but also that Key is polling very highly. So, what is it that's keeping him high in the polls? Someone obviously likes him (or National), so what is it they like?

    Two Things

    The reform of Welfare, the sale of state Housing Stock, The Assets Sales - all have broad appeal and make it appear as if the government is doing something – getting things done.

    The Labour opposition being at war with itself – gifting Key and easy time against a background of pretty damning failures of policy and out right lack of honesty.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1224 posts Report Reply

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