MEDIAWATCH: Reflecting on my experience with Police 10-7
Police Ten 7 producers promised police the show wasn’t racist, but concerns remain
As Police Ten 7 faced scrutiny for alleged “racism” in its portrayal of crime and policing in New Zealand, its producers prepared documents to convince police the show wasn’t harming the force’s reputation.
In late March, Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon and Auckland councillor Efeso Collins publicly criticised the show, saying it contributed towards negative perceptions of Māori, Pacific and Asian communities.
Their criticism led to questions at TVNZ about whether the show, which remained high rating in its 28th season, should be cancelled.
It seems to have surprised most of New Zealand that Police 10-7 is heavily edited in a way that is always positive to the police.
Maybe we live in a culture so deluded by ‘reality tv’ that we are incapable of deciphering what reality actually is any longer? Didn’t it surprise any of you that there was never a negative police story ever on that show?
I’m guessing the same people surprised by Police 10-7 being so heavily edited also believe whatever they see on MAFS or The Bachelor.
The US military do the same thing as Police do with Police 10-7…
The Pentagon has a lengthy history of ‘supporting’ the production of monster movies, often influencing the script and generally portraying the military in a hugely positive light
…the current debate about Police 10-7 has sunk into the usual ‘is it or isn’t it racist’ bullshit argument where nothing gets sorted because everyone falls back to their tribal corners and throws shit at one another.
The bloody show should be banned because it’s propaganda for the bloody Police!
I realized this in 2005.
I was hosting a TV series called ‘Stake Out’ which had some pretty infamous moments on NZ TV, and one of the shows I wanted to do was follow the police around and secretly film their violence. Unfortunately Stake Out was made by the same company still making Police 10-7 and I was told there was no way a cash cow like Police 10-7 was going to be put at risk by my show, especially seeing as we had already embarrassed them with some of our shows.
Police 10-7 is reality TV and reality TV is a reality the Producers want you to see.
It’s Police propaganda, nothing more, nothing less and from that point of view it should be trashed.
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Especially when you have the Police talking “Bro Talk.” The NZ Police rate themselves very highly, however the public’s perception of the NZ Police is some what different. Many people I know have given up on getting involved with the NZ Police, as it is waste of time, effort and energy.
I refuse to watch tv due to the huge amount of crapola, one of the reasons I discovered the Daily blog,for which I am most grateful. I would love to watch your show, Martyn, but it is for academics only (sad face). I have my own memories of police brutality to console me of an evening though.