Did Fairfax media blacklist inequality expert?

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There is a terrible rumor in the blogosphere that journalists within Fairfax media were told that visiting inequality expert & London School of Economics Professor Robert Wade was to be blacklisted.

I say rumor, even though Fearfactsexposed is a solid blog because such an allegation of self censorship by a major NZ media outlet on an issue as important as inequality from a world renowned expert like Professor Robert Wade if true would surely mean the end of that company as any kind of meaningful news agency.

I have reported previously that Fairfax have censored political opinion at Essential Mums, but I would be horrified if journalists were specifically instructed to ignore any press release and told to effectively black list Wade because of what he had to say about NZs shocking leap in inequality.

Let’s remind ourselves what the facts of our inequality are…

-The gap between high and low incomes has widened faster in recent decades in NZ than in most other developed nations.

-Across all adults, the top 1% owns three times as much wealth as the poorest 50%.

-NZ now has the widest income gaps since detailed records began in the early 1980s.

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-The average household in the top 10% of NZ has nine times the income of one in the bottom 10%

-Between 170 000 – 270 000 children living in poverty (depending on the measures used)

-One of the world’s worst worst records of child health and well-being.

-One major report on children’s welfare ranked NZ twenty-eighth out of 30 developed countries.

-There are more Pakeha in poverty then Maori, but poverty impacts Maori & Pacifica more acutely. 1 in every 10 Pakeha households live in poverty, 1 in every 5 Maori and Pacific households live in poverty.

-Maori had 95% of their land appropriated and alienated between 19th Century and 20th Century.

-Women earn 13% less than men and are under represented in senior positions within almost every occupation. Many are forced to take low income part time work.

-Subsidies for Kiwisaver contributions and some Working for Families tax credits, are available only to those in paid work or, sometimes, in full-time paid work. A lower proportion of Women are in full time work so they are more likely to be excluded from these initiatives and more reliant on inadequate state benefits.

-Pacific Islanders are 3 times more likely to be unemployed than the general population’s rate, they also, like recent immigrants, struggle alongside Maori against structural discrimination.

-These groups represent the 800 000 NZers living below the poverty line.

-Against that number, 29 000 people own 16% of NZs wealth, and 13 000 NZers have incomes over $250 000.

-Wages and benefits are too low for people to live on, it isn’t an issue of budgeting, it’s an issue of income.

-Poverty erodes voice and citizenship which generates inequality.

-People’s ability to participate fully in their society and enjoy a sense of belonging is vital for a Democracy to flourish.

-While we all have a responsibility to contribute, we also have the right to benefit from the fruits of society. The road worker, receptionist and sales assistant all contribute to a functioning economy as much as the businessman and executive do.

…how on earth could revealing those facts be considered so dangerous that a news organization would censor them?

I’ve spoken to the blogger who has made these allegations, he says he has been told by concerned employees within Fairfax that this happened. I’ve emailed Fairfax editorial staff for comment.

I had assumed their near zero coverage of Professor Robert Wade’s tour was due to Fairfax being out of touch with the real issues, but the allegation that journalists were specifically instructed to ignore him has to be answered.

2 COMMENTS

  1. You probably want to change the fearfactsexposed link to the actual one about the journalists being told not to see Wade. ATM, you’ve just got it going to the top of their blog which means that, over time, it will drop from the front page.

    If this allegation is true then it would show that the news that we’re getting from the MSM is being purposefully manipulated and not for the benefit of the country.

  2. Thanks for another great link. I get all my investigative political journalism via The Daily Blog, The Standard, No Right Turn, Chris Trotter and Gordon Campbell these days.

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