Hard News: The Wall and the Paper
297 Responses
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Re: SST
When you're losing sales to a competitor you know what always works? Copying the competitor.
It's like all those iPod knock-offs, they've done so well. Or that singer who's a lot like Lady Gaga. Or that movie that was like Twilight. It's surely just an aberration that CNN continues to lose viewers to FOX News, despite increasingly copying FOX's style.
History really respects those who were there second, who refused to forge their own path, to take risks, to try something new. Good on ya, Sunday Star-Times.
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James Butler, in reply to
When you're losing sales to a competitor you know what always works? Copying the competitor.
See also Phil Goff. /threadmerge
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Re: SST
When you're losing sales to a competitor you know what always works? Copying the competitor.
It's like all those iPod knock-offs, they've done so well. Or that singer who's a lot like Lady Gaga. Or that movie that was like Twilight. It's surely just an aberration that CNN continues to lose viewers to FOX News, despite increasingly copying FOX's style.
History really respects those who were there second, who refused to forge their own path, to take risks, to try something new. Good on ya, Sunday Star-Times.
Android phones? :)
Good post, but.
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What on earth are the SST doing ditching Finlay Macdonald’s intelligent column, turfing the eloquent Steve Braunias while elevating Michael Laws?
The format changes are kind of interesting, so many inserts, including inserts inside inserts – it was like one of those Russian Dolls, vaguely reminiscent of pass the parcel, all rather fun on a Sunday morning. When I finally got to the last doll / parcel and found no Finlay McDonald, no Braunias and no majorly inspiring content to offset this loss ( I never read the Laws pieces – I don't do despair on a Sunday). I went out to my garden – tossing the paper in the compost on my way. What a shame. -
Nick Kearney, in reply to
The only real reason to continue to buy the SST is Rod Oram’s business column.
Nah.
That would be my reason for cancelling my subscription.
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Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to
Android phones? :)
...which I just lurve mine.
Also, I must go photograph the corner of Morningside and New North Rds just in case....
How is anyone scared of street art?I mean c'mon guys! -
Thanks Nick - you reminded me of one good reason to keep my subscription - Rod Oram's column - that man should be advising govt
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Kumara Republic, in reply to
Yes, his claim that people feel too scared to go out because of graffiti is probably true, but it does rather say to me that said people should harden the fuck up.
Probably the same McMansion dwellers who cotton wool themselves and their kids behind razor wires and concrete walls. And whinge about how society is going soft and PC. And then the pot said to the kettle...
How is anyone scared of street art?I mean c'mon guys!
Entartete Kunst 2.0, anybody?
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Heather Gaye, in reply to
Also, I must go photograph the corner of Morningside and New North Rds just in case….
That’s the view from my bedroom window. Suffice it to say, I’m more than a little apprehensive about its future.
Just as an aside – the other day my flatmate drew my attention to a bunch of people getting wedding photos taken in front of that particular piece. He thought it was all kinds of wrong, but I reckon that’d be the coolest wedding album ever. Granted, when I asked him what kind of wedding photos he'd want, he said "none at all".
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James Butler, in reply to
What on earth are the SST doing ditching Finlay Macdonald’s intelligent column, turfing the eloquent Steve Braunias while elevating Michael Laws?
I'm sure that what Michael Laws writes gets much more exposure than anything Finlay Macdonald or Steve Braunias ever wrote (example: this blog post). After all, any publicity is good publicity, right? Right? Anyone?
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giovanni tiso, in reply to
After all, any publicity is good publicity, right? Right? Anyone?
No. I would probably buy the Dominion Post if it was just mediocre, as opposed to both mediocre and racist.
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I don't miss Braunias - wittering Kiwiana has only so much to give and he's been on repeat for a very long time. I eventually found Findlay Macdonald's brand of Public Intellectual just as annoying as Emily Perkin's Public Writer. Strangely, I do miss Rosemary McLeod...
I guess the age of the considered newspaper columnist is over - bloggers rule in that sphere. So, in the SST, it seems we are left with the deliberately unpleasant shock-jockery. Unless we find the SST readership complaining while simultaneously cancelling their subscriptions (something those inspired could also do in emails to those who advertise on Law's radio-show) this will not change.
But that 30,000 slide should give some room for reflection. I can't see alterations in layout or columnists affecting this. The dumbing-down (vide TVNZ) is simply going to continue in what seems to be some sort of awful species-drive toward eventual entropy.
I have always thought New Zealanders are simply not suited to the unpleasantries we think are required by Capitalism (especially in our odd shut-in's version of it - and especially not in our media). We should simply settle down to being the nice face of eco-tourism.
So bring back Rosemary. Those occasional columns on knitting and tea-pot cosies were little masterpieces.
[Russell, btw, I have to admit the phrase 'in defence of Jonathan Marshall's honour' is a great one. I bow in admiration...]
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Paul Williams, in reply to
Strangely, I do miss Rosemary McLeod...
I disagree. McLeod's not said anything new, constructive or insightful for years. She mightn't be as regularly offensive as Laws but I recall this thoroughly trivial piece full of false praise for Helen Clark (and including gratuitous criticism of Grant Robertson's win in Wellington Central). Trite bullshit.
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Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to
It's a great wall. I'm guessing you may be in that leaky looking building :) I imagine that wall would be great for many photographic essays including weddings that you mention.Recently watched "Exit thru the Gift Shop" and I was impressed at all the interpretations on that. Street Art, gold!
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JLM, in reply to
Is that why Oram's latest column isn't online?
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Russell Brown, in reply to
[Russell, btw, I have to admit the phrase ‘in defence of Jonathan Marshall’s honour’ is a great one. I bow in admiration…]
I did smile as I typed it.
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This week, he will doubtless be receiving some stern correspondence in response to Michael Laws' extremely unpleasant column on Sunday.
And, perhaps, a visit from the police.
I consulted Steve Price, who doesn't think there's much hope, but I still reckon someone asking the Chief Censor to consider classifying the paper as "objectionable" on the basis of it containing that "let's all go a lynch mobbin'" article might at least draw attention to the fact that people are no longer prepared to passively consume the s**t that's shoveled at them.
Mind you, readership figures seem to be doing that job.
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Richard Aston, in reply to
After all, any publicity is good publicity, right? Right? Anyone?
I know you're being ironic James ( I hope so) - it does have a terrible surface logic to it - I noticed today the top read article on the SST site is of course Law's lynch mob rant.
Damn I was one of those readers!
Do you think the SST have gotten that desperate? Will they be lobbying for public flogging of looters next?
My optimistic side says maybe they just stuffed up and can't figure out how to retrieve themselves from slipping down into the deep dark pit of any-publicity-is-good. -
BenWilson, in reply to
Will they be lobbying for public flogging of looters next?
Page 3 girls might work better. Isn't the paper aimed at people who don't have the internet?
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James Butler, in reply to
I know you’re being ironic James ( I hope so) – it does have a terrible surface logic to it – I noticed today the top read article on the SST site is of course Law’s lynch mob rant.
Damn I was one of those readers!I was.
But I also have an embarrassing admission to make - I paid money for the SST yesterday. My wife asked me to go out and buy one, and I mentioned that advance reports suggested that it was a bad idea, but I let myself be convinced. I walked home in fear that I would be seen carrying it.
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Heather Gaye, in reply to
I'm guessing you may be in that leaky looking building
Nope, other side of New North, next to/above the BMW dealership, thank god. The only bad thing about not living in those apartments is that I can see them.
I love this neighbourhood for the graffiti. A couple of times I've been utterly horrified when someone's tagged one of the pieces, or it's disappeared wholesale, but there's a lot to be said for the slightly different creative model that's less "leave my art alone", and more "sweet, we'll do a new one".
Exit thru the Gift Shop
Hitting up my UK friends RIGHT NOW
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Page 3 girls might work better. Isn’t the paper aimed at people who don’t have the internet?
Public floggings of page 3 girls ? Wow Ben you are one sick puppy
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BenWilson, in reply to
You just have to find page 3 girls who like that sort of thing and it's all good?
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Paul, there was a certain level of facetiousness in my reply, sorry not to have signalled it more... But in those knitting and sewing columns, which I did specify, Ms McLeod at least had some feel of authenticity, more so than those many of those paid to manufacture weekly opinion.
I'd have once put Braunias' birds in the same category, but then he slutted them to TV like an avian-procuress, eager for dosh, didn't he...
There is nothing more unpleasant than those who fake opinions with regularity. And the SST's columns have seemed to devolve over the last few years to the opining of the 'will-say-anything-for-cash' brigade, of which Laws is now the pure exemplar.
But as I tried to suggest, maybe it is all just the unpleasant flip-side of New Zealand's version of capitalism. Look at TVNZ. Look at the personalities of those the NBR regularly positions on some sort of 'Admirable' list. Look at RadioLIVE. Yuk.
And I really am beginning to think we should just take up some Pacific relaxed mindset, and just chill, while taking German tourists for rides on outriggers. Be healthier for everyone.
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Islander, in reply to
I also got a bit bothered when Braunias' mangroves sort of vanished off his planet when he discovered birds...
and, I'd suggest, that generation by generation, a Polynesian mindset (whatever) *is* combining with other mindsets and both sharpening & relaxing our mentalities/mindsets(whatevers...)
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