In a bombshell move, former National Party strategist-turned consultant Matthew Hooton has been chosen as the new editor of The Post, replacing outgoing Editor in Chief Tracy Watkins. He hopes NZ’s powerful institutions are ‘a little unsettled’ by his appointment, and has big plans to accelerate the brand to become Kiwis’ primary news source.
It is fair to call this a bombshell move.
I think it is a very smart, albeit somewhat risky, move.
It is fair to call this a bombshell move.
I think it is a very smart, albeit somewhat risky, move.
Matthew did not seek out this role. He was headhunted for it. He has been exceedingly happy as a Visiting Associate Professor at the National University of Mongolia. He doesn’t need the job – he is doing it for the challenge.
First of all Matthew is a brilliant writer. He got hired as a 19 year old speech writer because he was that good. His columns for the NBR and now the Herald were major attractions for their paywalled products. His Friday columns reverberate around Wellington and New Zealand. I can’t think of a more impactful columnist.
Assuming editors do actually still edit, Matthew will be a great asset to the journalists at The Post and SST. He knows how to write, and write well.
The Post and SST are (for now) part of the Stuff Group and are generally perceived as left of centre. Matthew’s appointment will neutralise that (at least in the short-term) as Matthew is of course a centre-right classical liberal. This will expand the potential readership and subscription base.
This does not mean Matthew will turn The Post into a more sympathetic paper for the National-led Government. Off memory Matthew has been at war at, or strongly critical, of every single National Party leader since Jim Bolger, except possibly Todd Muller. Matthew has written more mean column centimetres about National leaders than even The Standard.
What are the risks?
The first is that the existing readers and subscribers may leave, if they don’t like the newspapers under Matthew. I think this is unlikely though. I think there will be curiosity over what it will look like.
The second is there may be some staff resistance. Matthew has managed staff before but here he will have 100 to 200 and managers and unions etc.
The third is Matthew is what I call an idiot savant. Not in the literal sense. What I mean is with around half his columns I think Matthew is a genius, and with around half I think he is crazy. He has the ability to say outrageous things with total conviction. Sometimes he goes too far, and lawyers get involved. I recall working with Matthew once on a campaign by 2 degrees against outrageous mobile termination rates charged by (then) Telecom and (then) Vodafone. The way Matthew referred to the two big telcos was incredibly amusing and defamatory
Matthew will not be a status quo editor. This doesn’t mean it will be revolutionary change as in fact The Post is quite successful already. But I expect it will become harder hitting.
I’m looking forward to seeing The Post and SST under his stewardship.
First of all Matthew is a brilliant writer. He got hired as a 19 year old speech writer because he was that good. His columns for the NBR and now the Herald were major attractions for their paywalled products. His Friday columns reverberate around Wellington and New Zealand. I can’t think of a more impactful columnist.
Assuming editors do actually still edit, Matthew will be a great asset to the journalists at The Post and SST. He knows how to write, and write well.
The Post and SST are (for now) part of the Stuff Group and are generally perceived as left of centre. Matthew’s appointment will neutralise that (at least in the short-term) as Matthew is of course a centre-right classical liberal. This will expand the potential readership and subscription base.
This does not mean Matthew will turn The Post into a more sympathetic paper for the National-led Government. Off memory Matthew has been at war at, or strongly critical, of every single National Party leader since Jim Bolger, except possibly Todd Muller. Matthew has written more mean column centimetres about National leaders than even The Standard.
What are the risks?
The first is that the existing readers and subscribers may leave, if they don’t like the newspapers under Matthew. I think this is unlikely though. I think there will be curiosity over what it will look like.
The second is there may be some staff resistance. Matthew has managed staff before but here he will have 100 to 200 and managers and unions etc.
The third is Matthew is what I call an idiot savant. Not in the literal sense. What I mean is with around half his columns I think Matthew is a genius, and with around half I think he is crazy. He has the ability to say outrageous things with total conviction. Sometimes he goes too far, and lawyers get involved. I recall working with Matthew once on a campaign by 2 degrees against outrageous mobile termination rates charged by (then) Telecom and (then) Vodafone. The way Matthew referred to the two big telcos was incredibly amusing and defamatory
Matthew will not be a status quo editor. This doesn’t mean it will be revolutionary change as in fact The Post is quite successful already. But I expect it will become harder hitting.
I’m looking forward to seeing The Post and SST under his stewardship.
In case it isn’t obvious, I have known Matthew for around 35 years.
David Farrar runs Curia Market Research, a specialist opinion polling and research agency, and the popular Kiwiblog where this article was sourced. He previously worked in the Parliament for eight years, serving two National Party Prime Ministers and three Opposition Leaders
8 comments:
The right wing takeover of media is nearing completion. And with no requirement for balance following the right wing disestablishment of the BSA, the move towards Fox News style “opinion news” can now accelerate.
I’ll nip off and read up on Hooten’s journalism experience and qualifications now and report back. I’m sure he’s well qualified for the role and in no way a DEI or right-wing nepo hire.
Little wonder the far left msm are up in arms, there (hopefully) will be more balanced reporting now. Time to highlight just how incompetent, racist and dangerous the left actually are. It won't be difficult for a competent person like hooten. Go for it Matthew hooten.
Hooten is not right wing at all. After his idiocy with Mueller he comes across as a bitter old man. Ranting about how unfair it all is and National is bad.
Hardly rightwing. He will more of an ex insider Nat working against it. His views have drifted over the years. Stuff has not changed its ideology . This is a veneer.
Absolute proof, as if it were needed, that Stuff is circling the drain.
The right wing takeover of media is nearing completion.
You've got to be joking!!
If I can add to Anon's (9:34AM 16 June) comment - there are excellent products available from either M10 or Bunnings under the packaging label - "Draino", would a "glug" of this liquid assist in moving "it down the drain"??
The Post (Dominion Post) is a very clean newspaper. The Editor is changed about every 18 months. Mr Hooton has a job on his hands to turn it all around. Does he have charge of the Stuff website at the same time? If he is not involved with the website then not much will change. He will be constrained by a steadily shrinking newspaper product and a poorly designed website. I gave up on The Post not so long ago and confine myself now to scanning the website – that occupies me for about 10 minutes a day.
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