Feasibly that’s possible albeit I’m a news hog yet never listen to the radio and being unable to speak maori, don’t watch our television news. But then I’m not necessarily representative of the wider public.
I was actually on the Broadcasting Commission of Enquiry three decades ago, which resulted in Radio and TV being split into two entities and I protested at the proposition which for the life of me seemed pointless, doing something for the sake of it. But my fellow commissioners ran with the British consultants who’s principal argument seemed to be that every other country was doing this.
The big problem for the print media’s future is not with this unnecessary mergers’ allegedly overbearing competition but instead, that reading is now unfashionable. The cell-phone is now the total supplier of information for the entire 8 billion people on earth, only new-borns (and me) being the exception. Stupidity now rules the roost.
That said, in campaigning against this idiotic and pointless costly re-merger, our newspapers should note the decision of the Commerce Commission declining their efforts a few years back to amalgamate, on the grounds it was anti-competitive. It wasn’t in fact as they covered different (geographic) markets, nevertheless they were fighting for survival and as a single entity would have produced a superior product.
The current government have a disgracefully shameful record of wasting taxpayers money on absurdities. This proposal ranks as one of the worst and is apparently the brainchild of Willie Jackson, an amiable former small audience talkback host, now Broadcasting Minister. But Willie apparently possesses a maori ancestor and this must not be crossed.
I like Labour governments. They’ve shaped New Zealand bringing about usually overdue reforms. But one thing is absolutely irrevocably certain and that is never, never allow them a third term. After two they become indulgently cock-a-hoop, treating the public purse as a cornucopian bottomless pit of gold. I say that vis a vis their usual announced future intentions as Helen Clark’s government excepted, in the post-war era the public were wise enough to dump them after one term (twice) and two terms, also twice. Helen alone survived two terms by behaving like a standard dullard National government, not rocking the boat and simply minding the shop.
The Ardern government got there initially by a fluke (Winston) and gained a second term by creating a Covid panic then hogging the news-media with daily pronouncements. It was a shameful period in our history although I concede Jacinda achieved something no-one else could have, at least according to numerous writers to The Herald, namely telling White Island to behave itself and stop showing off. That will go down as her major accomplishment.
That said, in campaigning against this idiotic and pointless costly re-merger, our newspapers should note the decision of the Commerce Commission declining their efforts a few years back to amalgamate, on the grounds it was anti-competitive. It wasn’t in fact as they covered different (geographic) markets, nevertheless they were fighting for survival and as a single entity would have produced a superior product.
The current government have a disgracefully shameful record of wasting taxpayers money on absurdities. This proposal ranks as one of the worst and is apparently the brainchild of Willie Jackson, an amiable former small audience talkback host, now Broadcasting Minister. But Willie apparently possesses a maori ancestor and this must not be crossed.
I like Labour governments. They’ve shaped New Zealand bringing about usually overdue reforms. But one thing is absolutely irrevocably certain and that is never, never allow them a third term. After two they become indulgently cock-a-hoop, treating the public purse as a cornucopian bottomless pit of gold. I say that vis a vis their usual announced future intentions as Helen Clark’s government excepted, in the post-war era the public were wise enough to dump them after one term (twice) and two terms, also twice. Helen alone survived two terms by behaving like a standard dullard National government, not rocking the boat and simply minding the shop.
The Ardern government got there initially by a fluke (Winston) and gained a second term by creating a Covid panic then hogging the news-media with daily pronouncements. It was a shameful period in our history although I concede Jacinda achieved something no-one else could have, at least according to numerous writers to The Herald, namely telling White Island to behave itself and stop showing off. That will go down as her major accomplishment.
Sir Bob Jones is a renowned author, columnist , property investor, and former politician, who blogs at No Punches Pulled HERE.
1 comment:
I understand and share Bob Jone's enthusiasm for printed news, provided the coverage is full and balanced. Articles can be selected, abbreviated, re read with great ease and speed, and filed for reference. Even if available, the same on line is much more tedious and difficult.
At least until the recent blatant unquestioning pro maori bias, RNZ was an excellent source of news and current affairs.. But it involves hours of listening, only practicable for those with occupations requiring low concentration. To recheck involves hunting around on line.
Not just selected, but all production by the new amalgamated medium will in effect be subject to the same pro maori stipulations as apply to the PIJF.
If Bob listened to RNZ he would likely have heard wily Willie's statement that a vastly more inclusive (ie maori) content will be included in the new output. Hundreds of millions of dollars to destroy RNZ, an admirable institution (particularly prior the recent pro maori bias, relatively moderate though it is).
Just as well Bob does not listen to RNZ. The stress from layers of te reo and endless simpering unchallenging "interviews" of sundry maori would likely hazard his continued longevity. And rational NZ certainly needs him
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