WHAT, EXACTLY, DO WE KNOW about the confrontation outside Internet-Mana’s campaign launch? Well, we know the news media was there in force. We also know Internet-Mana’s media person, Pam Corkery, blew her stack. We know that Corkery’s outburst led the TV3 and TVNZ news bulletins – which suggests that the people who make such decisions believed that what they had recorded was news. And, honestly, it probably was news. It’s not every day that you see a media minder call a reporter a “puffed up little shit”. So, yes, let us grant that it was news. But, and this is the more important question: was it journalism? And the answer to that question, sadly, is “No.” Nothing about that confrontation had anything to do with journalism. Nothing at all.
What was the role of a journalist at the Internet-Mana Party’s campaign launch? Above all else the journalist’s role was to answer the five questions fundamental to communicating the substance of any event: Who? What? When? Where? Why? Only after these five questions have been answered should the journalist have begun weighing the news value of the many words and actions he or she had witnessed.
Now, I am not so naïve or one-eyed as to suggest that any journalist hearing the founder of the Internet Party, Kim Dotcom, talk about hacking into a credit rating agency and reducing a German Chancellor’s rating to zero, and then, a few seconds later, mentioning “another Prime Minister I don’t like” would want to ask a few questions. And, obviously, the person they would want to put those questions to would be the man himself.
The problem, of course, was that Dotcom had made it clear to the news media well before the campaign launch got underway that he would not be giving interviews. That left the assembled news media with a number of choices.
They could simply have run the footage of Dotcom talking about nixing a political leader’s credit rating and his subsequent comment about “another prime minister” without comment – thereby allowing their viewers to draw conclusions that may, or may not, have been correct. That was one (not very responsible) option.
Alternatively, they could have gone to Internet-Mana’s media person and asked her what conclusions she believed they were entitled to draw from Dotcom’s comments. At this point, of course, Corkery would have been able to tell them that Dotcom had been telling and re-telling that story for weeks; that it is part of his warm-up routine, and that the link between his story about the Chancellor and his subsequent remarks about John Key was purely and simply that he did not like either of them. She would then, no doubt, have reminded the assembled journalists that Dotcom has repeatedly denied having anything to do with the hacking of Cameron Slater’s computer, and that Nicky Hager has backed-up his denials.
At that point a responsible journalist would have understood that what sounded like a hot story was, in fact, a non-story. He or she would then have moved on to the other elements of Internet-Mana’s campaign launch.
Foremost among these was the party’s commitment to creating a full employment economy by drawing on the vast reserves – more than $20 billion – built up as a result of the National Party’s decision to change the way the ACC meets its claims – transforming it from a pay-as-you-go to a fully-funded scheme.
Was this even possible? And, if it was, why hadn’t Labour or the Greens signalled that they, too, were considering using this vast pool of capital to kick the New Zealand economy into a higher gear? The implications for the wider election campaign were considerable.
But, as we all know, that is not what the assembled news media did. Instead they decided that they would not take Dotcom’s “No interviews” for an answer, and constituted themselves into that most fearsome and mindless of phenomena – a media frenzy.
So determined were the television networks to make a headline news-story out of Dotcom’s remarks that virtually every other aspect of the Internet-Mana campaign launch was forgotten. Also forgotten was their duty, as members of the fourth estate, to act as the public’s eyes and ears. To convey to the voters the essence of the Internet-Mana Party’s election manifesto.
Corkery should not have lost her temper, but it’s easy to see why she did. What she was confronted by was a seething mass of microphones and cameras, behind which stood a media pack bereft of all professionalism and who, being denied their primary quarry, turned Corkery’s four-letter exasperation into their bulletin’s lead item. Not because it was fair reflection of what had happened at the Internet-Mana campaign launch, but because it would serve Dotcom, Internet-Mana and Corkery right for not allowing them to turn a non-story into their lead-story.
Media circus was the word to describe the event.
We never saw the media goading Key for answers did we so why attack any other candidates for the election.
I though the media was supposed to be “impartial remember”?
We are seeing this media now selectively doing what they want not assisting to convey proper means by which all candidates can present their policies in a calm positive manner not be in the centre of a wolf pack.
Disgusting I say.
HOW TO FIX THIS MEDIA MESS.
My call is now for all opposition parties to again to hold an EMERGENCY Forum to condemn the media lack of impartiality.
Then if no results they must call for a stop to the election clock and call for NZTV & RNZ to set aside an independent TV & radio broadcast election media studio to allow sole operation and broadcast by all opposition parties so we can get a balanced election policy coverage PLEASE before the MSM destroy this election process and leave both the voter and the opposition parties to get the message across for us all. PLEASE…
Hey Folks
The election is drawing near. I suggest you all stop talking to each other and hit the trail. See if you can find talk rooms populated by people whose vote might change. And if you do, try to be a little more civil that Pam. Remember you are not preaching to the choir, so use your heads: try persuasion before you turn on the abuse machine.
Sure, the media are callow and not what we would hope for, but for almost the first time, they can be largely side-stepped. The question is whether you can do your part without humming that chorus about killing JK. Good hunting!
Exactly
Thank you, Chris!
Unfortunately the standard of journalism in NZ has descended a slippery slope. Once upon a time, the responsibility of the journalist was to report the news. These days, the journalist considers that it’s his/her role to create it.
The problem is that many of them – particularly those involved in TV and talk-back radio – consider themselves to be “celebrities” and forget that their responsibility is to inform the public of proven facts.
In other words, Pam Corkery was right.
The issue is not whether she was right or wrong. Her response to the goading was unprofessional and not at all what was required of her in her official role. She could have shut it down if she hadn’t let them get to her.
Kingi’ Pam at InternetMana lunch,
That’s how Key does it, keeps them away so he doesn’t have to answer awkward questions?
Do we want this instead of a proper run democracy?
Bingo !
Posted Bingo !….. but came up in wrong place, anyways…your right and Pam was right.
I dont believe that the media truly imagined that Kim Dotcom’s comments were a scoop. As you point out,Chris, these remarks were a part of every public meeting that IMP held during their Road Show. I attended the one in Dunedin, and to give the Otago Daily Times credit,it reported the meeting favourably and their Political journalist, obviously thought Kim’s comments were just a joke and of no consequence.
If the media mob at the IMP Party Conference did not know that this was a part of a standard routine, then they are saying that their newspapers/TV companies didn’t bother to attend, which tells you all you need to know about media bias.
Ditto for a Wellington public meeting on 4 August, Dennis. Same speech mostly, smale laughs from the audience.
In fact, I reported on it, here on TDB.
The media didn’t see it as a sensational story until Whaleoil was hacked.
Then the Media put 1 plus 1 together and came up with a custard pie.
As only they could. What do we truly expect from a media who is so indolent and incredibly bone lazy they took their cues from a B grade blogsite ?
They are now pissed off at the IMP ,… after all….the govt isn’t giving Whaleoil any more juicy leaks and no one would believe them now cos of that even if they did.
So now they look and act like puffed up little shits and have to earn their money the hard way – by actually having to work for a living.
Moreover….this simply shows them for the useless, bullshit biased bastards they always were.
And would you write the same thing if Key refused to front the media after revealing criminal actions? Answer NO
He probably would write the same thing, especially if Key were no longer the leader of the National Party nor standing for government.
So glad you agree Key should not be in government, or a Minister of the Crown, let alone PM.
Key is the prime minister. Kim Dotcom is not.
Key has been refusing to front. As has Judith Collins. Haven’t you been paying attention, “Twerp”?
Yeah Rightfrank?
Frank is spot on Key is playing a game with us all, “Catch me if you can”.
An affront to democracy which he hates to operate under! Get it.
As regards ‘Twerp’…. ‘ if the cap fits wear it ‘ ,….simply use the guy for what he’s good for…to bump this thread along , bit like one would use a doorstop.
Twerp – “Yeah right Frank”
Bugger. Well, that was a devastating response. I have no comeback to that, Twerp.
“Revealing” criminal actions?
What’s to reveal? We’ve known about KDC’s youthful hacking activities for ages.
Indeed, Fern. At 19, half of our own country’s youth have been engaged in far worse activities… Jeez, my own mis-spent youth makes KDC look like St Francis…
Oooh, tell us more, Frank!
Twerp, you will be crying into your bollies when Key loses on 20 September!
Twerp- don’t be silly, he isn’t standing for parliament, he has said this all around the country on the roadshow and made it very clear that he wouldn’t give an interview prior to Sunday’s launch.
Key often won’t go on Morning Report but always finds the time for that rubbishy radio station that has endless garbage talkback on it.
Yes, MSM definitely needs an overhaul, and fast! For all our sakes.
The media and political establishment see the the Internet-Mana alliance as the biggest threat to “the way things are” in more than a generation. As a result, we are seeing a brazen attempt to strangle this party in its cradle.
And the advancing beating drums in the distance are indicating September 15th , Auckland town hall……
I agree with your point of view but the fact is Pam is confrontational and not someone I would want as my media liaison officer, while I like her upfront and gutsy persona she sometimes annoys me intensely and she should have been better prepared to deal with the press, she has years of experience being part of that scene and from the footage I saw she marched over to confront rather than was part of some media frenzy, that was how it appeared anyway! Anyway I do think it destroyed all of the work Hone has been doing in his media encounters!
Why did Dotcom not speak to the media, he’s the man behind the Internet party, the front man, why not talk to them? Who cares if they ask if he hacked Whaleoil again for the 25th time, so what? Suddenly him and Key alike have gone all media shy!
Laila Harre quite rightly pointed out last week that National had been making a significant effort to discourage voting and that was straight from Nicky Hagers book right when National wanted to talk policy. But now IM just want to talk policy. That is exactly what National have been praying for all week. Why not touch on the topic of the week that is Dirty Politics and then move on to policy?
This book has been a shining light exposing Nationals extensive dark side and I’m glad the media are still asking questions but it was never going to leave anyone party untouched. Corkery should not have lost the plot, it was dumb and ugly and the principal reason why Internet Mana’s message was lost.
As much as there is loathing of the MSM, pragmatism and working with them would go a lot further.
Since when was the ‘front man’ the man ‘behind’? The terms are opposites. JK is a ‘front man’ but ‘behind’ him is the pugilist Bill English and all JK’s connections in the USA/Zionist banking system. Dotcom is not the ‘front man’. He’s not the ‘leader’ of the Internet-Mana party, nor is he standing for a seat in parliament. The meeting was supposed to be about policy and meeting potential politicians and determining some idea of their ability to represent voters and to deal with NZ issues. The media obviously are not interested in that sort of relevance. Their agenda is simply character assassination and obeying jerks on their puppet-strings at the whim of their publisher owner and corporate/political affiliations. Democracy is very compromised in this country, in fact does it really exist still?
Since he is the money behind the Internet Party and the face of the Internet Party, the man who goes on stage and talks to the audience. You can have both and that is completely acceptable. Even if he is not standing for parliament it does not mean he can’t speak to the media given his speaks for his party.
On the other hand Owen Glenn was a donor to Labour and National a few years back but he didn’t espouse any views publicly or fund and start a party so I would not expect him to be questioned by the media on either party’s policy!
Unlike Nationals silent donors who hide away and yet demand pay back, to the detriment of the rest of us.
New Zealand is no longer well-served by any of its television news services with the possible exception of one or two programmes on Maori television.
The rest are truly dire, truly abysmal, staffed by children with little comprehension of the function of the fourth estate within a healthy democracy.
Nah, if only it was that simple.
Much like the oft-quoted “if it bleeds, it leads” phrase that sums up much of Angle-Saxon media reporting these days. The reality is that having a “mad cat lady” image, complete with swearing and high emotion, is sensational stuff.
Sensationalism leads the 6pm bulletin.
Sensationalism draws viewers.
Viewers = ratings.
Ratings = advertising revenue.
Advertising revenue = profits = shareholder dividends and CEO bonuses.
The only thing missing was Pam attacking a couple of TV1 and TV3 journos, “Kill Bill” style. That would be a Leading/Bleeding story that News Producers, CEOs, and Board Chairmen/women fantasise about, a-la Shane Jones.
(And what’s a couple of dead journos? Easily replaced.)
This is the modern highly-commercialised media of post-Rogernomics.
“Integrity” is a commodity that has no currency and cannot be paid out to shareholders.
Plus I get the feeling that MSM has decided how it wants to brand IMP so evidence & material supporting that is what gets prominence.
Sad when one could follow the UK’s Guardian’s objective reporting of the Dotcom back story and the follow-up confirmation of his non-involvement in the hacking of the Whale Oil blog site. The Guardian served an international audience without the distraction of having cub reporters getting their faces in front of reality. The bottom line is that Pam Corkery was far more reserved than those on Slater’s speed dial deserved.
After all, today Dotcom appears to have done a good job of damage control, allowing both TVNZ and TV3 into his mansion to explain, clarify and put things into better perspectives. And he announced that on 15 September there may be a video link with the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, where Assange is still having his refuge. This was on both major channels, not as leading item, but not far behind.
Now that has put a lot of the drama that happened with Pam Corkery and the media behind all somehow.
Now the media will be hanging out to learn more about Kim Dotcoms great announcement, and try to get more information.
Drip feed the media hacks, with little bits now and then, and they are like obedient dogs sitting there and waiting for a treat.
As ones dictated by commercialism, opportunism, and competition, that seems to be the only way to keep them idiots in check. As a smart businessman Dotcom seems to know how to deal with this.
A Press Officer knows that s/he is not the ‘story’ and should never become one.
A fringe but very experienced politician/broadcaster doesn’t go ballistic merely at the sight of journalists. A campaign launch is primarily a ‘media event’. A good Press Officer will facilitate the delivery of an appropriate ‘story’ for the media being served. It’s a symbiotic relationship of longstanding.
What are the real tensions going on within Internet/Mana ?
Now that question might occupy a proper journalist !
Laila made the point that the media were recycling Key’s spin. That was what made the media action improper – if it had been public interest curiosity it could be respected – but this crap was pitiful.
If the media really gave a shit about the identity of Whaledump they might start with http://laudafinem.com/ – not saying their version is true but they’re running from a few shreds of evidence – unlike the PM’s assertion of Dotcom involvement.
The media has been like this right throughout, they just go for the low hanging fruit. The parties are cheated of any cut-through for their policies and NZers are cheated of the opportunity to hear about and understand the policies.
In the case of the IMP launch, two people started off that circus and Ruined It For Everyone – Kim Dotcom and Pam Corkery. The media being the media just came in for the kill like vultures around a carcass.
Yes….like brainless vultures , yes….too bad their easy scoops can no longer be gleaned from Whaleoil….poor lazy , indolent little shits ….awww , gee whiz….
Or, and here’s a thought, Dotcom could stop forcing his bulk into IMP’s limelight at every opportunity on one hand and then making controversial statements about hacking the German Chancellor’s computer on the other. That sort of thing qualifies as media-worthy.
those stories are months old
Do you hear the drums , Fernando?….
I hear them singing in the distance ‘ September the 15th , Auckland Town hall ‘…as they march toward us…
GSCB ,SIS, 5 Eyes Spy Network, Whaleoil ,Key , Collins, Farrar..
.And the sound of the drums are getting louder and more deafening as they approach…
Populuxe1 – if you’re referring to the IMP Road Shows KDC has been attending, you’re mistaken.
If the 4 August event I attended (https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2014/08/10/mana-internet-roadshow-hits-wellington/) was any indication then the following holds true,
1. He was one of six speakers,
2. Though not a candidate , he’s a well-known public figure and people want to hear what he has to say, unfiltered by the MSM,
3. His speeches are witty, articulate, and insightful.
So he doesn’t “force” his “bulk” onto anyone. People generally are interested to hear him, instead of the ten second sound-bites the MSM deigns to feed us plebes.
However, that being said, in the current environment, references to his hacking activities in the past (when he was a teenager) are bound to prick up the ears of the MSM who are headline-driven ferrets hungry for the next sensational story.
If you want to know how superficial our media has become – I refer you to this; http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10084891/John-Banks-earwax-footage-on-the-nose
Welcome to the mainstream media, circa 21st century. All the tools of a futuristic modern technology spanning a planetary civilisation of near-instantaneous communications – and the story devolved into schoolyard tittering.
As I said to a friend of mind who works for the MSM – the future of real news/information lies in how blogging/citizen journalism will eventually evolve into something that eventually supplants the MSM.
Current newspaper/tv “news” will become as relevant as the late-“Truth” newspaper, which died out because it’s style became outdated and it’s “Shock! Horror!” nature a bit of a quaint joke. (Much like it’s last editor.)
Sites like “The Daily Blog”, “Pundit”, and “The Standard” are the forerunners of something new. Keep your attention on how this medium will grow and evolve in the next few years…
Ironically what this whole unpleasant episode highlights is what Nicky Hager identifies in his book; the lazy, poor standards of journalism in this country, where “news” is Pam Corkery foaming at the mouth and a well-worn tale of teenage hacking, not some truly innovative policies.
The reportage must surely be considered balanced since the repoters also reported Dotcom’s comments on the incident, his saying that he considered her actions “unwise”, and thast he had issued her with a “final, final, final” warning, (though he failed to add that he was “comfortable” with that). He has a dry sense of humour has Mr Dotcom.
Oh the deafening groan of the echo chamber on full.
What we have seen is yet another attack on the opposition.
if its not burning flags , its burning effigies. if its not people chanting “Fuck John Key” its “KDC IS! Whale Dump” and if its not that its IMP press officer has the guts to say what a large amount of NZ’ers are all thinking ” You Puffed up Little shit – Glove Puppet of Cameron Slater”
It grinds on!
I was at the #InternetMANA launch on Sunday! The energy was off the hook! the spirit of the crowd was electric.
The policies are on point and considered and fair and the “jobs for ALL Kiwis policy” NOW that is a GAME changer and the best thing is! It wont take a cent from our pockets! the money is already there in the ACC back pocket, ready to be used!
“But all we see is MSM ga-ga , Msm goo goo, MSM ga-ga”
In another life, not so long ago. I was acting in a “press officer capability” for a large collective of kiwis who challenged the status quo. #OANZmedia .
I have vast experience dealing with complicit right wing media bias.
I trained all my people to be militant and on point when dealing with them.
I had many many occasions where the MSM would come and try and deride and destroy and sanitize our message.
I had at least 2 times when there was a live cross and a person doing an interview – whom I had trained . Me sitting just off camera communicating with person being interviewed via hand signals and eye movements.
Then when the “puffed up little MSM shit” became petulant and started being antagonistic and spinning the message to their favor. I would simply walk in front of the camera , my back turned and cease the interview and take over.
Once i even walked in front of a camera during a live cross witha sign saying “#FuckMediaBias”
There has also been times when I have done live interviews with radio and had the interviewer “attempt” to school me and make me scared of their Staus Quo loving , mouth piece of the state way’s” only to have me push back and spin their attempt to dilute the message.
We have seen during this campaign attack after attack on the credibility of a progressive political movement.
The latest account is yet another beat up.
Yes Pam Could have chosen her words better. However I give her 10/10.
What we really need, and we have seen numerous reasons why! Is a public web tv station that seeks truth from facts and will hold the 4th estate as their primary goal.
The MSM are asleep at the wheel and complicit in their role.
We need it BAD! we need it SOON! and we need to save the discussion that we are all entitled to be part of. Rather than having these Puffed up little , Cameron Slater glove puppets endlessly usurp the issues that matter and dominating the media with their contrived creation of stories that matter to them/The interest of the Status Quo rather than reporting what does matter to the public, The facts!
At least with Corkery, what you see is what you get. Unlike Key.
Pam Corkery was right in how she addressed the media and what she said about that slimeball Whaleoil. She seems to be the only person to publicly say exactly how it is concerning Whaleoil. Has she need to apologise to the media? NO! To Whaleoil? NO! WTF has ‘it’ appologised for the crap and lies expounded at great length on that slimey blog-site? NO. The ‘wolf pack’ are so biased and used to ‘personality’ instead of serious truth, objectivity and impartiality it is obvious they are bought and paid for; manipulated like puppets on a set of corporate strings. Strings that control people and events totally detrimental to the sovereignty and health of this country. Nothing about any of our politicians, potential or actual, engenders any respect for the coming elections.
This message specifically for Dan and Dave of the egonomist.
You may think you are being clever in respect of you programme, but you don’t always have the right target. For example, on your past two shows you are trying to frame. Specific guy for rape or flashing on the Massey campus. You are 100 percent wrong. The guy you are trying to finger is a very dangerous individual, that’s true, but he’s never abused a woman and is very annoyed about you doing that.
I’d suggest you stop it. You are targeting a guy who is not someone you want to track. You want to talk to him? Drop some contact details. Keep at your Labour Party narrative and it will turn up at you in a way you really don’t want to bring on your little country. Understand that he’s a long-time listener and a fan, but also someone for hire who you don’t want to mess with, ok Dave and Dan? If you want to get in touch we can make that happen, but be careful bros. you’re dealing with someone determined to change who was trained for all sorts of things, and you are now on the radar. Out of your politics….
I’m fucking pissed scared of Will, if that makes any difference. Understand that in SEA he’s a kinda guru – you know that what that means? Hati-Hati, friends….
Who can blame the media?
It’s not every day we have an international criminal owning a political party in little ol’ NZ.
In a country were a cat getting stuck up a tree makes the 6pm News, this is just too good a story to miss.
I can see it later this year: “Cut to size XXXL orange onesie boarding FBI jet….”
Comments are closed.