Quite a good column — readable, at least — from 3News’ Patrick Gower on the narrative that he’s been promoting lately: that NZ Prime Minister ‘Teflon John’ Key has regained his ‘vice-like grip on the centre voter’.
It’s not the first time, of course, the ‘Teflon’ label has been used referring to Mr Key. But clichés emerge because they are commonly used.
See what you think of Patrick’s piece. I think it’s a good read: The Left’s ‘Nightmare on Key Street’ at TV3.
– P
Isn’t it weird I read an article not 2 weeks ago (can’t be arsed finding it) stating categorically National was slipping badly in the recent surveys.
Go away Lame stream media with your crap surveys. They mean nothing.
Much like Patrick Gower.
It’s tempting — but ultimately futile — to treat the news media as a monolithic thing with a unified view. It seems it’s ‘Liberal media’ or ‘Corporate media’ depending on the POV of the critic at the time.
It’s also important, in my view, to allow for a puppy-like attention span in much of daily news (such as what features on TV) because that is what it says on the tin: news of the day.
Patrick does OK, and sometimes very well, in my view. He’s an enthusiast working with a really tight time-constraint to tell his yarns, and having worked in the Press Gallery myself, I know how competitive that environment is.
I’m happy to agree with others that Campbell LIVE is producing some knock-it-out-of-the-park TV journalism, and straying into Pilger-esque campaigning journalism … with great effect.
See the ‘The Story of Solid Energy’
http://www.3news.co.nz/The-story-of-Solid-Energy/tabid/367/articleID/288935/Default.aspx
Their school lunch campaign was great use of influence. Good on them.
– P
I commented to someone recently … “dont tell me that Key will once again prove that the voting public are gullible and susceptible to propaganda …”
The polls are not lying … thats entirely the way its all heading.
Shearer doesnt have a shit show in hell in 2014 … his lineup is his biggest letdown.
The only wild cards – are the fringe parties.
Nice bit of lean back to Patrick’s premise today from Martyn Bradbury at The Daily Blog.
http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2013/03/06/the-leaps-and-bounds-of-patrick-gower-how-the-spin-is-spun/
Worth a read, seriously.
As I said, I appreciate Patrick, but I grinned at the imagery in this line from Martyn trying to be scathing:
“I won’t even bother with the rest of his argument when the bridge he’s built to justify his conclusion is held together by snot and hope.”
– P
I regularly talk to real people … who suffer in the current economy … but the majority are not swayed toward the alternative to Key.
My assumptions are based on reality (i think).
Gower is not someone i admire ( as with my soviet-censored views on a person now resident at Maori Television ) – but even taking out the schoolboy NZ media behaviours and practices … the polls arent wrong.
Thanks for your restraint Ivan.
Do I admire Patrick? That’s not the right word … but I do enjoy & appreciate his work (remember the Don Brash “deceitful bastard” episode?
http://www.thepaepae.com/is-it-ok-for-don-brash-to-call-a-journo-a-deceitful-bastard/20123/ What an unintentional comedy highlight!) and, knowing something of the challenges of his job, from experience, I think Patrick acquits himself.
He got played (in my view) on the “Russian hackers” in Murray McCully’s email story. I (mildly)hassled him about it at the time:
http://www.thepaepae.com/every-source-leaks-for-a-reason-patrick/21630/
None of us goes into journalism to make friends, as Steve Braunias said.
– P
PS Soviet censorship would be far worse than my light-handed and benign tyranny at The Paepae 🙂
Well … i didnt say you admired him – i said i didnt – big difference.
Any journalist affectionately called “paddy” in interviews by the “madame lefage” of the National party ministerial lineup (also known as the “nutcracker sweet” referring to said femme fatales hardfaced visage) – has to be suspect.
He also needs more sympathetic lighting – i’ve personally nearly lost my dinner when he has popped onto screen on some occasions.
“Soviet” was used as a word or descriptor by myself to describe an action that attempts to subvert free speech and allow only accepted viewpoints (much as you so recklessly and incorrectly, used the terms Oligarch and Oligarchy). You have consigned me to the Aranyi-gulag archipelago. I am now a bona-fide dissident in your empire of thought.
So when do you intend to invade Poland and Finland Comrade??
Wouldn’t have you any other way, Ivan. Welcome along, er, comrade. (Am I saying that right?)
– P
Interesting so Bradbury was in the same view as myself I just summed it up in one Paragraph.
One point I struggle to understand, and was not in the article so much more the comments following.
Sorry firstly I have to explain I have not watched the TV news either channel for over a year. I just so frustrated with the crap agendas being pushed down people throats.
So unless there’s been a 180 flip since I’ve stopped watching which I doubt Tv3 and Gower included are not Pro National. they are more balanced than other on this Site but nevertheless Pro Labour.
By the way my life has been lifted since we have turned the box off One and 3 at 6pm try it. Highly recommended.
Well done ! No?
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/8454683/Economy-stronger-than-expected