I did say in A dignified response to Labour’s complaint that I thought RadioLIVE would ‘no doubt’ have sought advice before going ahead with The Prime Minister’s Hour … it seems that was good advice — at least as far as the Broadcasting Standards Authority is concerned.
image: 3news.co.nz
See:
Complaints over RadioLIVE’s Prime Minister’s Hour not upheld
By Dan Satherley FRI, 14 OCT 2011 10:20A.M.
The Broadcasting Standards Authority has cleared RadioLIVE of any wrongdoing in having Prime Minister John Key host his own show.
A complaint laid by the Labour Party over the hour-long broadcast, The Prime Minister’s Hour, was not upheld because it did not fit the definition of an ‘election programme’, nor did it breach any standards. …
Read the full report at 3news.co.nz
Best line:
The discussion on Coronation St was ruled “light flim-flam and frivolity that are to be expected on this type of entertainment show”. The BSA called [John Key’s] comments “harmless”.
Attaboy, Mr Key. “Light flim flam and frivolity. Harmless”. Maybe a good slogan for a campaign hoarding? You could do a lot worse.
The Electoral Commission has yet to release a finding. UPDATE: They did in February 2012 (delay much?): Radio station referred to police over pre-election ‘Prime Minister’s hour’
—
Heads up: For those interested in knowing such things, I have just accepted an offer to work with Mediaworks (parent of RadioLIVE and TV3 etc) at the RadioLIVE studios/news centre in Ponsonby, Auckland. With the end of the Rugby World Cup looming and the lead-up to the NZ General Election, it seems a stimulating time for me to climb back into the news media. Please be aware my existing disclaimers that the contents of this blog are my personal opinion and represent no-one else still apply.
– P
And no better summary could anyone make of the Prime Minister than that.
I’m stunned – its almost like a freudian slip.
The “harmless” bit i would possibly disagree with. “its all a big Fakade”
Hi Ivan,
Yes, I did laugh OUT LOUD at the ‘Light flim flam and frivolity’ … it almost seemed like a public servant-type having a sly dig.
“You might say that, I couldn’t possibly comment.” — Francis Urquhart.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Urquhart
I’ve been watching the mini-series “The Borgias” – its got parallels with the National Government and politics in NZ in general. Lucrezia is like a slimmer younger and equally ruthless Judith Collins – and Cesare is startlingly similar to Steven Joyce (better looking perhaps) – The youngest brother of Cesare is probably very akin to a younger version of Tau Henare on testosterone tabs. The owlish two faced cleric who interprets Canon Law is very like Chris Finlayson … right down to the mannerisms.
The rest of the Cardinals – a very few represent the opposition but most of them, the scheming corporate welfare recipients of the Pope (or the PM)
Nice little daydream i guess.
Oh, you do make me chuckle!
Now, where did I put my testosterone tabs…? 😉
– P
Oh look.
There was never a case to answer for here. For Gods Sake if this is what Anti National supporters need to hang their hats on. Hows about doing some real work. BTW does anyone mention by Labour complaining abot this and taking it further than it ever needed to go its yet more wasted tax payers dollars and they aren’t even in Power.
And before you claim it would be different if Goof did the same gag I would care, No I wouldn’t. But yet again he would never be able to pull it off because hes an idiot.
Have you actually read the 8-page Broadcasting Standards Authority finding? If not, your shrill sectarian diatribe seems to me to have considerably less credibility.
The BSA considered several significant legal issues arising from the broadcast and the complaint — some for the first time, as it was a novel event. They worked through a number of laws including obviously the Broadcasting Act but also the Bill of Rights Act and other codes like the Election Programmes Code of Broadcasting Practice, as well as considering the initial and follow up comments from the Labour Party and the radio station, and (surprised me) submissions from the National Party and the Prime Minister’s department.
The BSA acknowledged this:
It was not a trivial matter of ‘no case to answer’ as you suggested. They took it seriously, and were required to interpret not just the letter of the law but its intent … and to form a view.
RadioLIVE had it right, in my view, with this statement issued immediately the complaint was lodged, as I indicated in A dignified response to Labour’s complaint:
“The Labour Party is entitled to ask regulators to check whether we have acted lawfully.”
Who are you to say otherwise, and in such a knee-jerk fashion, Craig?
– P
Your right they can (labour) do what they like, I don’t care what mumbo jumbo the Commission umed and arghed their way through . Bottom line there was NEVER an issue here as you say Radio Live would of had their own Lawyers go through the Mumbo Jumbo first hand, infact Key probably did the same, its just people with a general bee in their bonnet with Key thought this may have been an opportunity to stick the knife in maybe because it was different, and then to try and make out hes breaking the rules, oh he must be punished.
You could take any matter to the BSA and they will find
” several significant legal issues arising from the broadcast (matter at hand) and the complaint” — some for the first time, ” and what’s for the first time its the first time the NZ PM had an hour spot on Radio Live not to talk Politics. yeah that’s not too common. So if you think this was a case of there was Smoke so there must have been fire. Ah No.
The only smoke here is from Labour’s fuming ears for once again not only dropping their lip over this, but going to the headmaster and being told to go back to class.
Oh, not so straightforward, after all, …
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10784346
[…] I preferred the Broadcasting Standards Authority’s description of John Key’s (let’s-face-it:-pretty-entertaining-but-maybe-for-the-wrong-reasons) ‘politics free’ radio show as ‘light flim-flam and frivolity‘. […]