pn935. Soon, could we be listening to only National Party , Act and NZP news and views?

As the nation's  public TV news and opinion channels start to close down to save government money, we wonder where it will stop.

 Could we, in a  year's time, be listening to only Government news, and the role of the fourth estate as a check on government have ceased until a more enlighted government is returned to power?

Read https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/05/03/thank-you-for-watching-midday-signs-off-for-the-final-time/

Hosking's worst week (pn709)

So very, very close

 I'm not sure whether Mike Hosking is looking for a place in the Guinness Book of Records for the most abuses in one article or whether  he wants to try his luck before the Media Council, but he must have come close to both  this week with Mike's Minute: Could this be the worst week for the Government? 

Covid: as we move down levels we should reflect on the patriotism of some in the media (pn696)

While most of the team of 5 million is trying to beat Covid, it seems some in the media continue to abuse free speech  by undermining what we are doing.  Apparently, profit sales and personal back-slapping  are more important to the media giants and their sycofant journalists than people's lives and safety.  The main target, of course, is the government and most particularly Jacinda Ardern.  The doomsters far outdo National and Act's not always balanced criticism.

No one has ever claimed we've had every measure right, Jacinda and Ashley Bloomfield least of all.   It's an ongoing learning situation to which we understandably respond more than we anticipate. We've chosen to go along the elimination route, saving lives at the expense of some economic hardship,  and have been applauded worldwide for our efforts.

Yet this morning's NZ Politics Daily which lists news releases under separate headings, had 9 negative headings out of the 27 items on Covid. 

Typical headings were:  

Kiss and make up time, Part 1. The Stuff Awards (pn651)

It's kiss and make up time. 

After 51-weeks of snarls and bites, it's kiss and make up time when the media reviews its predictions  over the past 12 month and presents awards for the best and the rest. What's more, Auntie Jacinda points to what the pundits misunderstood and exchanges Christmas gifts with arch-enemy Mike Hosking. Isn't politics fun!

Tova O'Brien kicks off with a relatively staid article starting with "Despite political screw-ups and scandal [by Labour and National], New Zealand is in a relatively good place right now."  Right-oh!

Who is really being raped? Mallard, the media and democracy (pn648. )

Accusing someone of rape is a serious thing, and difficult to withdraw. Parliament Speaker Trevor Mallard must be regretting that mistake, especially now when he's being bombarded by media articles demanding he resign.  

But that is not the point of my story. My focus is on the media and society, not Mallard.  I'm wondering why the media has gone so far overboard on Mallard's fumbled rape charge when there are so many more important issues facing the country. I doubt it was a moral or human rights concern, although it would be nice to think so.   It seems more likely a pursuit of a nice sexy honey-pot  story that attracts readers and pleases advertisers,  and for at least two of them, the NZ Herald and NewstalkZB, it provides another chance to attack our left-centre government.