Somehow I feel "breaking New Zealand's democracy" is precisely the aim of this coalition outfit. I just can't call them a "government" because they have no-one's interests at heart but their donors'.
If there's anything that's true in life, it's that broadcasting is always an insecure proposition, at the mercy of the vicissitudes of politics and money. I went through something similar to what Newshub's staff are going through, at the other broadcaster in the late-90s, when it moved the transmission of TVONE from Avalon to Auckland for *literally* no reason. The disbelief on the executives' faces when none of my staff agreed to relocate remains one of my life's fondest memories. We all had to start over and we did - successfully. And so will Newshub's staff - the good ones will be ok. And another platform/s will emerge because there's a whole audience that will be looking for a place to go. I doubt the fringe elements will attract much interest because I believe New Zealanders in the main know bullshit when they smell it. To every yin there's a yang.
Many I know are celebrating this news, as they say it was just liebour news, most of these same people think that Trump made a great President and will do so again, so it's not only the US that has fair share of fuckwits, we certainly have a lot here as well.
Oh yes, the people celebrating with all the catchphrases you can imagine. They sounds like an army of borg group-think.
From when I shared this piece on Twitter/X:
"Despite David's long struggle session piece on the collapse of Newshub he fails to understand just how and why people have lost trust in the MSM.
And that is the problem with the intelligentsia, they live in an echo chamber divorced from reality. Looking down at us rubes...."
&
"Perhaps if they had reported the news instead of slanted and biased woke opinion pieces this wouldn’t be happening. I am delighted this is happening David. I don’t like seeing people losing their jobs but I make an exception in this case."
There's an incredible amount of that glee in our country that's prompted by the re-engagement with tobacco, semi automatics, petrol engines and even the exclusion of relationship information at schools.
Jeeesus, that's appalling news. Journalism in Aotearoa has been in decline for so long, I can't remember when it peaked--the mid-1980s, just before TV1 News staff became slavish followers of neoliberalism?
I can't say I ever watched TV news, it being by far the most shallow news medium (no offence). But this is a major step towards the replacement of anything approaching well-resourced journalism constrained by traditional news values (which at least gave lip -service to 'balance' and impartiality).
This news is appalling because the void is increasingly filled by right-wing propaganda machines funded by plutocrats whose raison d'etre is to secure the hegemony of the Right, Fox News-style. Apart from the odious Plunket, we've seen groups of right-wingers setting up imitations of Fox News in NZ as elsewhere (e.g. GB News in the UK). More balanced outlets, like Newsroom and Spinoff find it hard to compete with the thrill and spectacle of the populist hate-mongering. The replacement of old-style 'news', for all its bias and faults, with propaganda is a clear and present threat to our democracy.
Radio NZ is under threat. Last time around, National tried starving them into submission. Expect the current government to make a more concerted effort to finish the job, when they have finished wrecking their priority targets. It really is a sad day for Aotearoa.
PS, Thanks for the insights into your experiences, David. Greatly enjoyed reading them.
Loved the photos David. Made my day against the horror of competition being destroyed. I just can’t get out of my head that the leader of the Labour Party was on Sean Fuckwits show. I feel sick about that.
It will be a sad day when Stuff shuts down. As mediocre as they are, they are the only thing keeping the NZ Herald close to honest.
I find it interesting that all stories on the Herald with a right-wing slant are free to read & those with a leftwards slant are more & more often paywalled.
I just got an email from Sinead at Stuff, who says I am off on my call here. I am willing to listen - and will update this newsletter online as she adds comment on the future of Stuff, as she sees it.
Interesting observation. Of course, that could mean that the leftie-slanting stories are getting more hits and the rightwing stuff is just getting a big "meh."
Correct you paywall the content that people are subscribing for.
There’s huge data models running on subscription websites that provide scoring for all content that then help the newsrooms (and increasingly the decision engines like the NYT have) select what does and doesn’t go behind a paywall. With metred paywalls increasingly the paywalls are also dynamic so they paywall the content that YOU will pay for. That content may not be paywalled for others and in some cases it could only be a registration wall.
Mate...this newsletter almost made me cry. As someone who has been in and around the media industry since 2013, and has gone through two absolutely traumatising redundancies, I truly feel for the Newshub team, and everyone else who feels like they may be in their shoes soon. Having that sword of Damocles hang over your head is a stress like no other, and it seems completely absurd that in a world where we're seemingly consuming media nonstop, it's a flailing, penniless, dying industry. Wouldn't we all be outraged if we couldn't get news anywhere? Like...wouldn't we?! I'd like to think so. And yet, somehow there's no money in it.
The way the internet has changed the world is truly terrifying. From the way we consume media right down to the way we even interpret it, it's just wild. It's becoming harder and harder to find trustworthy sources and it's like integrity has become a joke. If you aren't extreme in some way, you're not popular. If you don't show some huge bias, you don't get clicks. It's fucking scary.
I've been a struggling freelancer for a year now and I think I just have to accept that there's no future for me in this industry. I'm not a right wing quack and I refuse to sell out and write clickbait.
David, you're a real one and you're just about all we have left. I'm glad you're succeeding and doing well as a journalist - leaving NZ was the right choice. I truly believe that what you're doing couldnt be done here. Thanks for being you.
Thanks, Louise. That's really kind. It's a really fucking sad time, but I do like to think of the extreme talent still in NZ doing amazing stuff across all the outlets. Late stage capitalism (as someone said above) is bringing this all to a scary end. But there will always be ways to tell stories. It's just getting very, very hard.
Shocking and terrifying news. Luxon said (summarising) WBD is a $20B company and this arm wasn't profitable enough so had to be shut down. I hate that, it seems backwards to me. It should be, WBD is a $20B company and therefore can afford to sink some of those profits into supporting a good product that ultimately benefits the industry as a whole. The constant grind for endless shareholder profit continues to destroy us
Wow! I realized there must be something wrong. I emailed TV3 last weekend asking why the promised weekday 7pm replacement of The Project with a current affairs program fronted by Ryan Bridges hasn’t eventuated. Plus, The Nation hasn’t returned in the weekends for its political analysis.
TV3 has a different “feel” from TV1. I like to follow both, but tend to gravitate to TV3 news.
No news department - does that mean the end of the AM show and 6pm news?!!!
This is terrifying for NZ democracy. Over the last few years I’ve watched clever, previously liberal, people submerge into Qanon style conspiracies. It’s why I began following you. I want the truth - always. Thank you David.
Hi David - What an epic shock this has been today!! On a personal level, I'm pissed off cos 3News/Newshub has always been my go to... but also, I'm so sad for everyone involved and share your same concerns about NZ generally. I know it's different but given all the angst about the RNZ/TVNZ (non)merger... I just pray that someone steps in here to save the day!
I heard the breaking news on RNZ and feel gutted. This and the multiple backward steps this government are taking (smoking, guns, health etc) has me feeling despondent. I find it absolutely mind boggling that Reality Check Radio has legitimate politicians doing interviews on it. NZ already seems to have an alarming number of conspiracy/right wing individuals and I feel this situation in the media landscape is only going to add to it. Off to take my dog to the river in an attempt to decompress!
The thinking behind pollies doing Reality Check Radio etc is that you just *might* get through to someone and change their mind/vote. It's not an endorsement of those channels; it's a necessary evil and one that might pay off. If - say - Chippy turned his nose up at them, he'd be seen as elitist. So he's giving it a go.
👍👏 My thoughts exactly... If you don't try to talk to people where they listen, they will NEVER hear you, and it is NOT endorsing the horrible human 🤬 being who is hosting. I'm sure politicians have issues with some of the main stream political editors, but they still talk to them - it is actually part of their job IMHO 🧐
It's terrible news! I know it's loathed in some circles, claiming it's biased, but both sides say that, so, they must do something right. It's bad news for journalism and it will be really missed...
It's difficult to take seriously a news outlet whose chief political reporter is married to a political party's chief of staff - no conflict of interest declared. How they square that with credible, unbiased coverage I cannot fathom, so I just don't participate.
True, BUT knowing that fact and adjusting my perception and see their newsreporting through a filter that would take that into account is still better than NO news at all...
Feels like a *lifetime* ago. That whole thing started as an accident; I did it sarcastically when I was on a deadline and running very late to record a voice over. And it... stuck.
Oh I almost forgot too - that picture of Jesse Peach reminded me how my ex thought it was a made up name. “How can such a lovely looking boy have such a lovely name? Its just not possible”
David Farrier THREE NEWS! often plays on a loop in my head. I felt so cool staying up to watch Nightline, learning about world events and then seeing this cool nerd interviewing famous people.
Newshub are the only news we watch at home (besides listening to RNZ and reading online news). This will likely spell the end for us watching any TV news. A very sad day for NZ. Aroha to the staff - you are the best.
David, I have had similar roots to you -though 30 years before you got started on the journalism trail. Christian home and upbringing, evangelical/Pentecostal training, penchant for writing, journalism school (Wellington Polytechnic School of Journalism run by Dame Christine Cole- Catley , Keith Gunn, Tony Curtin and Judy Callingham 1969) and then went on to university to study languages, English literature,anthropology, political science before moving overseas (Japan, 22 years).
I share the same sadness and horrors as you do about the state of NZ, democracy and the media. I live in Eastern Bay of Plenty and I’m immersing myself in Te Reo Māori lessons and learning as much as I can about the Treaty and Māori culture because with this coalition government in power, I worry about the lack of power in our opposition parties, the sickening influence of Seymour and Luxon, Peters and Reti, Goldsmith, Willis, Bishop and Simeon Brown on our democracy
and equity in society. As a retired teacher, I care about education and the effects of social media on our NZ kids. Do me a favour and keep posting along these lines. We need to continue to expose conspiracy theories , Trumpism and the toxic media outlets led by people like Plunket and Tucker Carlson. Keep up the good work brother. Hugs.
I'm finding the news devastating, TV3 news programs have been my go to for so long now. I find the thought of a TVNZ only news source cringe-worthy, as they do seem to be more right leaning these days. The last thing we need is the TV news going back to a monopoly like when I was a kid.
I really feel for all the staff who will be affected as where else can they go to practice their trade.
Sadly more of the younger generation do rely on rubbish news sources (mostly social media) these days and it has been frightening hearing some of the 'so-called' news stories sprouted by some of them.
I still fondly remember you David signing off your late night news segments with your characteristic "three news" call.
Somehow I feel "breaking New Zealand's democracy" is precisely the aim of this coalition outfit. I just can't call them a "government" because they have no-one's interests at heart but their donors'.
If there's anything that's true in life, it's that broadcasting is always an insecure proposition, at the mercy of the vicissitudes of politics and money. I went through something similar to what Newshub's staff are going through, at the other broadcaster in the late-90s, when it moved the transmission of TVONE from Avalon to Auckland for *literally* no reason. The disbelief on the executives' faces when none of my staff agreed to relocate remains one of my life's fondest memories. We all had to start over and we did - successfully. And so will Newshub's staff - the good ones will be ok. And another platform/s will emerge because there's a whole audience that will be looking for a place to go. I doubt the fringe elements will attract much interest because I believe New Zealanders in the main know bullshit when they smell it. To every yin there's a yang.
I hope the famous NZ BS detector continues. With our pols courting the tin hat brigade and SP their will be a lot of BS in the air!
Terrible news for the state of media in New Zealand and like you say it just adds fuel to the fire for the likes of Plunket! Save us
He is going to be.... more insufferable. If that is possible.
he’s a f**kwit
Indeed it is possible sadly.
I think its time for me to finally start contributing to the news outlets I currently use (mostly spinoff).
Thanks for being here. And feel free to switch your sub from here to Spinoff anytime, too. No harm no foul!
Love the Spinoff (you write for them yourself on occasion, do you not?). Some really original stuff on there.
Many I know are celebrating this news, as they say it was just liebour news, most of these same people think that Trump made a great President and will do so again, so it's not only the US that has fair share of fuckwits, we certainly have a lot here as well.
Oh yes, the people celebrating with all the catchphrases you can imagine. They sounds like an army of borg group-think.
From when I shared this piece on Twitter/X:
"Despite David's long struggle session piece on the collapse of Newshub he fails to understand just how and why people have lost trust in the MSM.
And that is the problem with the intelligentsia, they live in an echo chamber divorced from reality. Looking down at us rubes...."
&
"Perhaps if they had reported the news instead of slanted and biased woke opinion pieces this wouldn’t be happening. I am delighted this is happening David. I don’t like seeing people losing their jobs but I make an exception in this case."
Etc etc ;)
They scream "slanted bias opinion pieces" as if their preferred news sources don't have any bias or underlying ideology. The hypocrisy is infuriating.
There's an incredible amount of that glee in our country that's prompted by the re-engagement with tobacco, semi automatics, petrol engines and even the exclusion of relationship information at schools.
The age of anti-enlightenment 🫤
The dark ages.
Emphasis on "over at X" - where the non-intellegenstia hang out.
It is roughhhhh over there. I post thinks in the hope that it will reach new, open ears - but it's mostly chaos.
Yeah, gave it up years ago.
Or perhaps… the un-intelligentsia…,?
Probably a better descriptor.
argh - as they get their "balanced and truly unbiased news" from the likes of Fucker Carlson and Alex Fucking Jones! (yes - I'm angry)
Ugh. I can feel the smarmy smugness from my monitor reading those quotes.
Jeeesus, that's appalling news. Journalism in Aotearoa has been in decline for so long, I can't remember when it peaked--the mid-1980s, just before TV1 News staff became slavish followers of neoliberalism?
I can't say I ever watched TV news, it being by far the most shallow news medium (no offence). But this is a major step towards the replacement of anything approaching well-resourced journalism constrained by traditional news values (which at least gave lip -service to 'balance' and impartiality).
This news is appalling because the void is increasingly filled by right-wing propaganda machines funded by plutocrats whose raison d'etre is to secure the hegemony of the Right, Fox News-style. Apart from the odious Plunket, we've seen groups of right-wingers setting up imitations of Fox News in NZ as elsewhere (e.g. GB News in the UK). More balanced outlets, like Newsroom and Spinoff find it hard to compete with the thrill and spectacle of the populist hate-mongering. The replacement of old-style 'news', for all its bias and faults, with propaganda is a clear and present threat to our democracy.
Radio NZ is under threat. Last time around, National tried starving them into submission. Expect the current government to make a more concerted effort to finish the job, when they have finished wrecking their priority targets. It really is a sad day for Aotearoa.
PS, Thanks for the insights into your experiences, David. Greatly enjoyed reading them.
Just wanted to make sure you saw some embarrassing photos of me.
Loved the photos David. Made my day against the horror of competition being destroyed. I just can’t get out of my head that the leader of the Labour Party was on Sean Fuckwits show. I feel sick about that.
Me too . It’s deeply disturbing that any MP would appear on that’s creep’s show especially the leader of the Labour Party.
Not embarrassing. You are one cool dude
It will be a sad day when Stuff shuts down. As mediocre as they are, they are the only thing keeping the NZ Herald close to honest.
I find it interesting that all stories on the Herald with a right-wing slant are free to read & those with a leftwards slant are more & more often paywalled.
Also, the ads on both websites are horrendous.
I just got an email from Sinead at Stuff, who says I am off on my call here. I am willing to listen - and will update this newsletter online as she adds comment on the future of Stuff, as she sees it.
Interesting observation. Of course, that could mean that the leftie-slanting stories are getting more hits and the rightwing stuff is just getting a big "meh."
You don't paywall the stuff no-one wants to read.
Correct you paywall the content that people are subscribing for.
There’s huge data models running on subscription websites that provide scoring for all content that then help the newsrooms (and increasingly the decision engines like the NYT have) select what does and doesn’t go behind a paywall. With metred paywalls increasingly the paywalls are also dynamic so they paywall the content that YOU will pay for. That content may not be paywalled for others and in some cases it could only be a registration wall.
So many ways around a paywall though 😎
Tell how.
Mate...this newsletter almost made me cry. As someone who has been in and around the media industry since 2013, and has gone through two absolutely traumatising redundancies, I truly feel for the Newshub team, and everyone else who feels like they may be in their shoes soon. Having that sword of Damocles hang over your head is a stress like no other, and it seems completely absurd that in a world where we're seemingly consuming media nonstop, it's a flailing, penniless, dying industry. Wouldn't we all be outraged if we couldn't get news anywhere? Like...wouldn't we?! I'd like to think so. And yet, somehow there's no money in it.
The way the internet has changed the world is truly terrifying. From the way we consume media right down to the way we even interpret it, it's just wild. It's becoming harder and harder to find trustworthy sources and it's like integrity has become a joke. If you aren't extreme in some way, you're not popular. If you don't show some huge bias, you don't get clicks. It's fucking scary.
I've been a struggling freelancer for a year now and I think I just have to accept that there's no future for me in this industry. I'm not a right wing quack and I refuse to sell out and write clickbait.
David, you're a real one and you're just about all we have left. I'm glad you're succeeding and doing well as a journalist - leaving NZ was the right choice. I truly believe that what you're doing couldnt be done here. Thanks for being you.
Thanks, Louise. That's really kind. It's a really fucking sad time, but I do like to think of the extreme talent still in NZ doing amazing stuff across all the outlets. Late stage capitalism (as someone said above) is bringing this all to a scary end. But there will always be ways to tell stories. It's just getting very, very hard.
Thanks for being here.
Shocking and terrifying news. Luxon said (summarising) WBD is a $20B company and this arm wasn't profitable enough so had to be shut down. I hate that, it seems backwards to me. It should be, WBD is a $20B company and therefore can afford to sink some of those profits into supporting a good product that ultimately benefits the industry as a whole. The constant grind for endless shareholder profit continues to destroy us
👍👏💯 MY reaction exactly 🤔 It is the poorly funded that should failing, not the well funded -
Wow! I realized there must be something wrong. I emailed TV3 last weekend asking why the promised weekday 7pm replacement of The Project with a current affairs program fronted by Ryan Bridges hasn’t eventuated. Plus, The Nation hasn’t returned in the weekends for its political analysis.
TV3 has a different “feel” from TV1. I like to follow both, but tend to gravitate to TV3 news.
No news department - does that mean the end of the AM show and 6pm news?!!!
This is terrifying for NZ democracy. Over the last few years I’ve watched clever, previously liberal, people submerge into Qanon style conspiracies. It’s why I began following you. I want the truth - always. Thank you David.
Yep - those were tells for sure. I really sad day. This *sucks*.
Hi David - What an epic shock this has been today!! On a personal level, I'm pissed off cos 3News/Newshub has always been my go to... but also, I'm so sad for everyone involved and share your same concerns about NZ generally. I know it's different but given all the angst about the RNZ/TVNZ (non)merger... I just pray that someone steps in here to save the day!
Thanks, Rach. This comments section, as usual, is heartening - and great for any TV3 staff, former or present, stopping by.
I heard the breaking news on RNZ and feel gutted. This and the multiple backward steps this government are taking (smoking, guns, health etc) has me feeling despondent. I find it absolutely mind boggling that Reality Check Radio has legitimate politicians doing interviews on it. NZ already seems to have an alarming number of conspiracy/right wing individuals and I feel this situation in the media landscape is only going to add to it. Off to take my dog to the river in an attempt to decompress!
The thinking behind pollies doing Reality Check Radio etc is that you just *might* get through to someone and change their mind/vote. It's not an endorsement of those channels; it's a necessary evil and one that might pay off. If - say - Chippy turned his nose up at them, he'd be seen as elitist. So he's giving it a go.
👍👏 My thoughts exactly... If you don't try to talk to people where they listen, they will NEVER hear you, and it is NOT endorsing the horrible human 🤬 being who is hosting. I'm sure politicians have issues with some of the main stream political editors, but they still talk to them - it is actually part of their job IMHO 🧐
Ok.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/350187936/why-would-chris-hipkins-join-sean-plunket-platform
I agree. Chippy needs to get some better advice imo. He’s taking the Labour Party down a road to oblivion.
It's terrible news! I know it's loathed in some circles, claiming it's biased, but both sides say that, so, they must do something right. It's bad news for journalism and it will be really missed...
It's difficult to take seriously a news outlet whose chief political reporter is married to a political party's chief of staff - no conflict of interest declared. How they square that with credible, unbiased coverage I cannot fathom, so I just don't participate.
True, BUT knowing that fact and adjusting my perception and see their newsreporting through a filter that would take that into account is still better than NO news at all...
So bummed. Nightline was the best goddamed news show I can recall.
David Farrier THREE NEWS!! forever.
Feels like a *lifetime* ago. That whole thing started as an accident; I did it sarcastically when I was on a deadline and running very late to record a voice over. And it... stuck.
Oh I almost forgot too - that picture of Jesse Peach reminded me how my ex thought it was a made up name. “How can such a lovely looking boy have such a lovely name? Its just not possible”
It is SUCH a good name. Still good friends and very happy to have him in my life. He reads Webworm sometimes, too :) Hopefully he sees this.
David Farrier THREE NEWS! often plays on a loop in my head. I felt so cool staying up to watch Nightline, learning about world events and then seeing this cool nerd interviewing famous people.
I still bust it out to my mate at work every now and again, never ceases to garner a chuckle.
Ha! Glad it remains, in some bizarre form yelled between friends and colleagues!
Newshub are the only news we watch at home (besides listening to RNZ and reading online news). This will likely spell the end for us watching any TV news. A very sad day for NZ. Aroha to the staff - you are the best.
Thanks, Siiri. People there are reading this, so thanks.
David, I have had similar roots to you -though 30 years before you got started on the journalism trail. Christian home and upbringing, evangelical/Pentecostal training, penchant for writing, journalism school (Wellington Polytechnic School of Journalism run by Dame Christine Cole- Catley , Keith Gunn, Tony Curtin and Judy Callingham 1969) and then went on to university to study languages, English literature,anthropology, political science before moving overseas (Japan, 22 years).
I share the same sadness and horrors as you do about the state of NZ, democracy and the media. I live in Eastern Bay of Plenty and I’m immersing myself in Te Reo Māori lessons and learning as much as I can about the Treaty and Māori culture because with this coalition government in power, I worry about the lack of power in our opposition parties, the sickening influence of Seymour and Luxon, Peters and Reti, Goldsmith, Willis, Bishop and Simeon Brown on our democracy
and equity in society. As a retired teacher, I care about education and the effects of social media on our NZ kids. Do me a favour and keep posting along these lines. We need to continue to expose conspiracy theories , Trumpism and the toxic media outlets led by people like Plunket and Tucker Carlson. Keep up the good work brother. Hugs.
Thanks Denis - you get it. For so many reasons. I will. And thanks for being here.
I'm finding the news devastating, TV3 news programs have been my go to for so long now. I find the thought of a TVNZ only news source cringe-worthy, as they do seem to be more right leaning these days. The last thing we need is the TV news going back to a monopoly like when I was a kid.
I really feel for all the staff who will be affected as where else can they go to practice their trade.
Sadly more of the younger generation do rely on rubbish news sources (mostly social media) these days and it has been frightening hearing some of the 'so-called' news stories sprouted by some of them.
I still fondly remember you David signing off your late night news segments with your characteristic "three news" call.
THREE NEWS!
Seems like several lifetimes ago now.
Thanks for stopping by in the comments. Staff do hang out in here, and will be reading, and appreciating.