Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Television and the Public Good

64 Responses

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  • Sacha,

    trickle down

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Chris Waugh,

    It's Arthur Waley, originally published as Monkey, and highly abridged. I fell in love with it years ago, and while I've read that purists feel that he took liberties with the text, it's still a more rollicking read than later scholarly English-language versions.

    Someone described Journey to the West as combining Mother Theresa, Hulk Hogan and Wile E Coyote in one big slapstick adventure. The wonderful 80s Japanese TV series is fondly remembered.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Chris Waugh, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    I don't know about the 80s Japanese TV series, but the Chinese TV series of the same era seems to be on constant repeat here, to the point where I think I've seen the whole thing, but never in order, and not on any one channel.

    and while I’ve read that purists feel that he took liberties with the text, it’s still a more rollicking read than later scholarly English-language versions.

    Translation is a very difficult job that often requires one to take liberties with the text.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 2401 posts Report Reply

  • merc,

    In the land of perpetual darkness there are answers to questions that are yet to be asked…
    The nature of the monkey is irrepressible.
    (from the 80s Japanese TV series).

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to merc,

    The nature of the monkey is irrepressible.
    (from the 80s Japanese TV series).


    Even the priest's horse was a river demon doing penance for having eaten the original horse.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • merc,

    I loved that Tripitaka is a boy…or not. Haha... Buddha says with our thoughts we shape the world...hello Twitter!

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report Reply

  • Roger Lacey,

    It is sad that the current government considers anything to do with culture or national identity a "luxury" that has to be slashed in hard times. TVNZ7 has built a strong audience considering that neither the Listener or the Herald publish its schedule. TVNZ has acted like channel 7 is an embarrassment to them and just paid lip service to their obligations to a scheme that was supposed to encourage Kiwis to switch to digital. They canned TVNZ6 as soon as they could and probably can't wait for the demise of TVNZ7 so they can use the channel for commercial purposes.
    My 4 year old daughter will miss Kidzone when TVNZ7 ceases. The kids programs on the other channels have some pretty dubious content for a 4 year old and you've got to watch out for when the adverts start.
    A TV channel that reflects us as a diverse nation and provides an outlet for locally produced content that encourages debate should not be considered a luxury. Nationhood has a cost. If all we can get on our TV screens in the future is 300 channels of imported garbage we will start to look like a colonial outpost.

    Whatakataka Bay Surf Club… • Since Apr 2008 • 148 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Roger Lacey,

    My 4 year old daughter will miss Kidzone when TVNZ7 ceases.

    Kidzone will still be around, provided you have a SKY sub – yet another case of TVNZ giving head to SKY. I’ve said it before, but the BBC and ABC would never tolerate such a state of affairs. D:< There’s little scrutiny because turkeys aren’t going to nominate their own Thanksgiving – read possible threats to withdraw advertising revenue.

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

  • Steve Barnes,

    According to Steven Joyce we have too many Can'ts in this country, I reckon he just needs spellcheck.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • merc, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    Possibly the strangest blurt I have ever read from a politician in a local newspaper. I wanted to ask him if he actually wrote it himself, and if so, seriously, why is he in politics at all and not marketing?
    How much do those boys, Joyce and Key spend on writers anyway?
    A gem from said article,

    And very quickly we start limiting our options. Through the 2000s, as a country, we progressively boxed ourselves in more and more to depend on fewer and fewer industries based on what the “can’ts” said.

    Can’ts can talk don’t you know.
    Further,

    The reality is you don’t build an economy by lopping off an arm and both legs before you start. A small country like New Zealand has to make the best of all its natural advantages to lift incomes and give more people more chances to make it while staying right here.

    The reality is you just need to use the right words to make it?
    Lastly,

    We need to encourage the development of all of our opportunities if we are to prosper.

    Genius. Mr Joyce you earned your pay by saying can’t today.

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report Reply

  • linger, in reply to Rob Stowell,

    Mitch Benn’s song here does seem to owe something to Dan&Dan's (less celebratory) Daily Mail song.

    Tokyo • Since Apr 2007 • 1944 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    The John Key RadioLive plot thickens. As does the one about the NZ On Air appointment.

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

  • merc,

    From article,

    Labour yesterday renewed calls for John Key's electorate chairman Stephen McElrea to quit the NZ On Air board after documents showed he backed $299,963 of cash for a documentary on the controversial Whanau Ora scheme.

    So obvious that Key has Police onside and McElrea is compromised. My guess, nothing will happen except boys be richer. Political appointments are all political says Key, because parliament appoints them.
    Brilliant, confidence restored.

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Labour yesterday renewed calls for John Key’s electorate chairman Stephen McElrea to quit the NZ On Air board after documents showed he backed $299,963 of cash for a documentary on the controversial Whanau Ora scheme.

    FFS… Perhaps NZoA should just call everyone’s bluff and invite every political party to submit lists of unacceptable documentary subjects. At least it would make the political interference explicit instead of passive-aggressive.

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

  • merc,

    I'd like to see NZOnAir scrapped. It is being abused and is dysfunctional. Yes I am talking about shutting it down and placing the funds elsewhere.

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to merc,

    Yes I am talking about shutting it down and placing the funds elsewhere.

    As I Tweeted (only half-facetiously) perhaps we should cut the middleperson bullshit and directly fund the National and Labour parties to produce ideologically acceptable documentaries that don’t confuse our feeble prole-brains.

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

  • merc, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    I don't do Twitter for this very reason.

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to merc,

    I don't do Twitter for this very reason.

    This might be a completely insane idea, but my bullshit filter works reasonably well. Well enough to watch a documentary about child poverty with a clear agenda (or one about Whanau Ora) without drooling. Shame our political lords and masters don't really think the same, isn't it?

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

  • merc, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    I really don't know if those political lords think on that micro-a-level. I do think that they be fiddling on that level.

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to merc,

    So obvious that Key has Police onside and McElrea is compromised. My guess, nothing will happen except boys be richer. Political appointments are all political says Key, because parliament appoints them.

    Let’s see what the police have to say, shall we? Personally, I was appalled by the show, but I’m very uneasy with the prospect of a media organisation – even one solely seeking profit, as Radio Live was – being hit with such a large fine.

    It’s also worth noting that McIlrea was on a committee of four that commissioned the issues documentaries. I know two of the others, and they’re decent people. On the other hand, by raising a complaint about the child poverty documentary the way he did, McIlrea put himself under scrutiny as a political appointee, so my sympathy for him is very limited indeed. I think he will be under pressure for as long as he's on the board.

    The one that really irks me is the Health doco. We’re going to learn about the challenges facing the New Zealand health system via an obs-doc at Queenstown Hospital? Really? Presumably it came down to what the networks would screen, but if you want an example of the trivialising of discourse, this looks like it.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • merc, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Let's see what the police have to say, shall we?

    My onside comment was with reference to his handling of the teatapes by stating that...the Police have spare time. I would say that they were compelled to look into the affair and onerously burdened the reporter at Key's behest. That's maybe just me, I think the arrangement is way too cosy all round, especially his one with Radio Live, and yes a fine is in order the magnitude of which I would hope to fit the crime.

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to merc,

    Can’ts can talk don’t you know.Further,

    They are still Running the World

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    You only get to watch what is made and screened, though. The appearance of direct political influence in that is enough to constitute a conflict of interest that would see most moral people resign - or the organisation expel them otherwise.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Russell Brown,

    We’re going to learn about the challenges facing the New Zealand health system via an obs-doc at Queenstown Hospital?

    Well-off white folk and tourists are an under-represented group on our screens, after all. If it's made with TV3's blessing, maybe locally-based Leanne Malcolm can front it.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • merc, in reply to Sacha,

    Gold. And John Key can appear doing bedside visits.

    You only get to watch what is made and screened, though.

    And that is diminishing every day as pay Sky gets the guaranteed lion’s share.

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report Reply

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