Can there be any doubt that the NZ Herald is taking an anti-Winston Peters editorial line?
Repeated use of an unflattering photograph of a politician is one way newspapers reveal their biases.
Here’s today’s story (by the intrepid Claire Trevett) about a recent dinner — gasp! — involving the NZ First leader and Labour Party leader David Shearer. Look at the photo of Peters. Distinctly unflattering, isn’t it?
It’s also not the first, second, third, or even fourth time the paper has chosen to use that same Mark Mitchell snapshot to illustrate a story about Peters. See links below.
Now, it’s no skin off my nose, but judging by appearances, it seems pretty plain the NZ Herald possesses, let’s call it a point of view about Winston Peters … and by the repeated use of that photo they’re letting us know what it is.
Is there another explanation? What do you think?
– P
Why, it’s almost enough to make one wonder about the credibility of the words they publish.
UPDATE: I received a response from @NZHerald. See comments.
I would venture to suggest that there are more than a few people packing their y fronts over Peters – he was put back in parliament fairly and democratically squarely under the system.
Non partisan media. Not likely.
Guess which way they vote??
Not hard is it.
Impartial – non partisan – purveyors of the truth and uncoverers of lies and deceit.
Forgive while i fall about laughing.
Peters at his worst – looks more believable than Key at his “best” if such a thing is possible. Key & Joyce (voldemort & malfoy) – like a grubby little back street lawfirm with the motto “legislation under urgency – you want it – we’ll do it and lie through our teeth to you idiots while its happening ….” . Maybe they’ll set up a branch in Knockturn alley.
Ivan, I hope you don’t take offence at this, but, jeez, you express such a passionate loathing for Key/Joyce it actually weakens your argument, IMO.
Your comments are welcome here, don’t worry about that, but … well, just some feedback. Up to you. I can understand your frustration and exasperation, really, I can. It’s disheartening to see politicians (of any hue) ‘gaming’ the system.
re the Herald: The repeated use of the ‘grumpy’ photo of Peters seems to me to be a signal of something untoward in the newsroom … (‘trouble at mill’?)
Unlike some, I have a lot of time for John Armstrong, and I’m getting value from Claire Trevett’s work. It’s just weird about the seemingly obvious negative slant … where’s the paper’s self respect?
– P
Well Pete – im not required to be dispassionate – and truth is truth and will stand on its own merit. If its not truth – then it will fall to the ground. Im not particularly clever – it is what it is take it or leave it i guess.
I am actually not interested in swaying anyone here or elsewhere to my arguments – which are not arguments – but rather simply expressed opinions. Im also not particularly concerned about impressing anyone with any stunning logic.
Not at all offended Pete. Lets put it this way – Key and Joyce conspired to take several million dollars from the public purse (in effect) and give it to a private broadcaster – that broadcaster has had a relationship of a direct and financial nature with Joyce. I keep stating it – simply because the media dont worry away at it like a dog at a bone – they give far more time to Peters or Sonny Bill Williams and the the next has-been boxer he is slotted to fight next? Go figure. None of that is a lie – however it is a P.O.V. to use the acronym and is open to question. Fine by me.
I am not commenting to sway anyone – and i’m not trying to construct an argument. Its what i see – and what i say – fullstop.
I leave the showpony stuff to others more qualified than I….
Quite right about expressing opinions. Self expression is the new leisure … cheers Ivan. Just a thought. As I said: welcome.
On Mediaworks, you may enjoy Chris Keal’s language on the NBR site today (I did):
http://www.nbr.co.nz/opinion/adams-pours-cold-water-sky-tv-regulation-talk
“Complicated”. Wonderful understatement, I thought.
– P
Well i tend to think that expressing opinions is something that has been a basic right for the entire history of this Nation – not a leisure activity. Its only lately become seen as a luxury or a quirky practice – since the growth of government intervention in matters of truth-telling and openness – and the fact that blogging (in many – not all quarters) seems to have seen itself as capturing the moral high ground while simultaneously shutting down free speech by metaphorically stamping on any dissenters to their doctrinal “line” – in fact often seeking to denigrate and discredit the slightest murmur of dissent from any free thinking soul.
One day we may look at ourselves – and realise with some dismay – that we have actually lost some of our most basic freedoms to the neo-liberal thought police.
“Rigidity speaks of death” – as an old preacher once said to me. With regard to a spirit of free enquiry – we seem to be afflicted in NZ with Rigor Mortis.
Cheers Ivan.
Blogs are overrated. And many bloggers conceive of themselves as having “influence” when they really don’t. Most newspaper columnists, likewise.
I watch the abuse some in the blogosphere spray at people of differing views with eyes widened in horror sometimes. Real nasty stuff — basically, as you suggest, plonkers seeking to create a hostile environment for those of another persuasion or point of view.
Horrible.
“Come, let us reason together” has a much better ring to it.
– P
Though your sins be as scarlet … they shall be made white as snow (paraphrased) …
Nothing like a quote taken from Isaiah … say wot.
Political correctness on one hand – and political and religious reactionaries on the other – are the two forces that stifle debate.
I had a colleague say to me (he worked for a very large Japanese corporate – he was/is a Jap) … “in japan when we go into a meeting – the outcome is already predetermined – everything is channelled (i’m paraphrasing again slightly) toward finding that outcome in the meeting ….”
Maybe we are being quietly moved into a state of the “borg collective” – “resistance is futile” – or to use a more classical idiom … “abandon hope – all ye who enter here…”
It’s been obvious to me for some time. Also, the media kept putting out bogus polls to thwart us voters against Peters (a vote for peters is a wasted vote) Noticed how the polls kept putting peters way under the 5 percent mark?? I voted for Peters because I wanted him to give Key a hard time.. I feel much better about it rather in 2005 when I voted for Key which I deeply regretted it!!!!
Hi Jack,
Opinion polling as a political tool is a tactic with a long pedigree. Consider the way the operators behind the Brash ACT leadership coup used them. Real Hollow Men stuff.
As for Peters, while I’m not personally a fan, he does (for better or worse) represent the political aspirations of thousands of New Zealanders, and as I tried to say here: http://www.thepaepae.com/being-the-medium/20214/
sometimes the media just has to get out of the way and let those who’ve got the guts to ACTUALLY STAND FOR ELECTION have their voices heard — without the clatter and din of the so-called intelligentsia and armchair critics denigrating them before the fact.
– P
Actually i rather like that pic of Peters – its sort of “For Gods sake – is this what people actually voted for ….” in nature.
IMO – Peters is probably the only one demonstrating much principle at present. Weird isnt it?
I remember on the Holmes programme on Sunday once in early 2011 – the panel openly scoffing at peters when he made statements about his comeback. Havent they just all had a big black dog shoved where the sun dont shine. Its priceless – and nothing less than the “establishment” deserves.
Ha! Well, there goes my argument! It’s in the eye of the beholder. 🙂
Maybe Winston Peters fan boys & girls are HAPPY to see the photo repeated?
Who’da thunk it?
– P
Pete – he looks “elegantly” pissed off – and Peters reminds me a bit of a mixture of Shylock and Macbeth with a smattering of Gandhi thrown in. I can identify with that feeling his pic expresses. He’s old too – so Key will be happy that he is in the anteroom – ready to shuffle off this mortal coil.
That man is about to change the face of New Zealand politics – and restore balance to the Kiwi-verse in my view. I like him – warts, wrinkles and contradictions included.
For key – to use the Shakespearian analogy …. “false face hides – what the false heart doth know….”
Winston Peters has a great name and a lot of charisma.
Alas, rather disturbingly, he is also a “little New Zealander”. He is steeped in insular, isolationist tendencies of the Muldoonist era, where “Fortress New Zealand” is everything and the rest of the world doesn’t exist.
This matters. No man is an island, entire of itself. New Zealand is a small open economy dependent upon trade for any sort of reasonable standard of living. Mr Peters’ economic nationalism (read protectionism), if ever implemented, would quickly turn New Zealand into a pariah State in trading terms. The Third World living standards would then beckon.
These insular traits leads onto the next rather disturbing aspect of Mr Peters’ character – he appears to be an and out racist (see for example his many anti-Asian comments). I find his views on Asian people to be ignorant.
Mr Peters’ policy position of giving huge and every increasing handouts to his constituency (the elderly) would similarly bust New Zealand in no time.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Mr Peters is a wrecker. There appear to be no positive thoughts. He can’t work with anyone. Any agreement and relationship with Mr Peters seems to ends in tears.
Let us hope that Mr Peters finally gracefully retires after this term in Parliament. He is a dinosaur whose confrontaional views help no-one.
Rgds,
*p*
I was asked to pass this on …
Hi “Tim“,
Thank you for the kind words.
Poormastery should confess that he does imbibe in excessive quantities of alcohol – more than my fair share, if the truth be known. Alas, poormastery cannot claim to be a fully fledged alcoholic as yet. Today, I haven’t even supped my morning whiskey as yet. My job only requires me to be drunk on special occasions (such as at bonus time), rather than 24/7 all year round.
As I am sure you will agree, lacking the predominant qualification that any self respecting hack enjoys – only scribbling random rants while blind drunk – means that I am but an enthusiastic amateur in this blog business. I will, however, try to lift my drinking game, in the interests of improving my journalistic credentials.
Anyway, to return to the issue of dinosaur politicians, I am reminded of a documentary I saw ten years or so back about Northern Irish politicians.
Someone on the programme pointed out that the Northern Irish leaders (the Reverend and Right Dishonourable clown Ian Paisley, and the twin terrorists Jerry Adams and Martin “Minus Kneecaps” McGuinness) had been kicking around for 30 – 50 years.
Britain had at the time the Brown / Blair years, whilst Northern Ireland still had the same leaders as they had during the Harold Wilson / James Callaghan years.
Political time had stood still in Northern Ireland. Generations of politicians had come and gone everywhere else in the world, but the Northern Irish had the same guys having the same stupid conversation…
So it is with Winston. He had his time and his chances (and blew them). Enuff already!
Your Humble Reactionary Curmudgeon,
*p*
I take the point about the time warp. It *is* non-plussing(?) to observe old-timers like Peters — and John Banks even more so — ‘holding on’, still being an influence (benign or malign? You decide) … but that’s how constituent democracy works.
We have a system that, aside from hate speech, allows those seeking political office to rise up on their hind legs and *appeal for votes*. If they get them, well …
The baby boomer generation has distorted every system it’s come into contact with along the way — child benefit, education system, employment, health system, elderly care … what’s a Gold Card election bribe between friends?
What I find interesting is the fixation with Peters. The guy excites attention, even from people who should know better than be drawn in.
Thanks for your your comments, as always.
-P
Peter,
Of course, old-timers, like everyone else, deserve representation. The question isn’t whether under constituent democracy they achieve representative power – rather it is perhaps an issue of how much power they yield. Curiously, I was back in New Zealand last month, and my brother coincidently explained to me about this legendary “Gold Card”. Suffice to say, the quality of the NZ government investments now could materially affect the future prosperity of ordinary New Zealanders for decades to come…
The fixation with Mr Peters probably stems from the electoral system. It is in essence impossible for one party to get over 50% of the popular vote, so small coalition parties are vital. National completely monstered the election, but only got 48%?
With the demise of the Association of Crooks and Thieves (ACT), National has basically no-one they can form a coalition with. Labour has the Greens, who will always pass the 5% threshold.
What of Winstone?
I doubt that either National or Labour would work as a coalition partner.
What a waste!
Rgds,
*p*
Well – Winston is in the house – democratically placed there by virtue of our completely kosher and very legal system. So i guess its tough tittie to his critics.
So is National – by the same system. So those of us who cant stand Key and National suck it up and get on with it.
Winston is the only one in the house asking the tough questions. He’s providing leadership and example to the wallflowers and wilting violets in opposition.
One thing MMP unfortunately supports – is political expediency – but it would seem that the FPP system demonstrated enough of that commodity as well for decades?
He’s gottem all on the run. Its so much fun to watch.
And its even more fun to watch the media get itself all tied in knots over Peters. Its like he has some sort of “unwitting self exposure” effect on MPs and Media. They all seem to be ending up looking like mean-spirited naysayers when coping with the Peters phenomenon.
Watching media choking on their oatmeal is wonderful.
I think there will be much more to come.
Good response from @NZHerald …