Was Hilary Barry’s departure that much of a shock and what most analysis of TV3 has missed

28 Comments

1. I think there is a typo here…”How much of a stooge was Weldon to Key?” How much of a stooge IS….

2. I think there is a typo here…”How much of a stooge was Weldon to Key?” How much of a stooge IS….

3. Weldon is just another stooge of many bought by Planet key to operate our once proud MSM Media which can only be called the “Lame stream media”.

4. Once Mike McRoberts goes, it will be Paddy Gower reading the news, all by himself, doing the Nation, after Lisa may also skip off the boat, and then we have TV3 renamed into GowerTV, I suppose.

   Just imagine that, the not so pretty face having to do all the rest, well, there is his mate Garner, doing “Story” telling nonsense, with that lady, what is her name?

   Indeed, it seems TV3 are sinking into insignificance, Paul Henry will get himself a fancy young lady, in a swim suit, and with a blonde ponytail for his regular guest from the Beehive to fondle, when he calls in, I suppose.

   TV3 will be nothing more than night time horror with Paddy and with silly comedy by Paul in the early morning, a laughing stock of sorts.

5. Steven Joyce may also come to the rescue, as fill-in late night newsreader, I suspect, first hand info from the “first” hand with a sweaty grip, that won’t let loose, like a mafia deal breaker, asking for the pawn.

   Grrhh, yuk, what have we got now?

   1. Many say Steven Joyce is the most dangerous man in NZ today.

      I believe this as he is a back stabber and has his mega agency (MBIE) Ministry of Business Innovation & Employment, probing into every orifice of everyone’s business as a wannabe NAZI style Joseph Goebbels 1932 operation of the infamous Ministry of Public Enlightenment and propaganda that was used to terrorise all Germans during that era.

6. What on earth is going on?

   And now I hear there’s some national security gag or a “D-Notice” out to all New Zealand media?

   Police state much?

7. the ships deserting the sinking rat

8. This is what this story should be about, the self-inflicted implosion of a public broadcaster run by a well paid loyal National Party sycophant who ensures it promotes the National Party whilst at the same times keeps them from scrutiny.

   But it isn’t, it’s about “the mate of the nation”, Ms Hillary Barry, the fluffy giggly sidekick to Paul Henry, another National Party stooge. And this is what is so wrong with our commercial media nowadays and proves just how horribly out of touch they are. Stuff.co is running 6 out of 8 stories on their entertainment page on “The mate of the Nation”, it leads with it on its front page as does the equally awful Herald on Sunday. The media are rolling around in this non event like pigs in shit. I gave up on TV news several years ago after enduring years of these idiots deciding that their so-called stars were bigger than the news and after enduring a never-ending diet of click bait trash so their stars could become part of the narrative.

   But readers to this Shakespearean tragedy will be relieved to know Barry will still be hugely remunerated way above her calling, she will still be able to pay her bills, put a comfortable roof over her and her families heads, her kids will not have to change schools twice a term as a result and she will still be able to enjoy wonderful overseas holidays and in short live a lifestyle the rest of the working stiffs in this country can only dream about.

   And most important of all National can continue unquestioned knowing this is the kind of shit our media are obsessed about.

   1. The “Mate of the Nation” is the kind of pet name they give to one of the fron-tline presenters in the TV and also radio media, who are instrumentalised and used to pamper the ones that are still bothering to follow their news and so-called (remnants of) current affairs programs. These are generally people well over their mid 30s or 40s, yes often in their 50s and much older. They still are so much locked into their mental silo where they think New Zealand is largely a white, middle class and a few minority groups kind of nation, where minorities do not matter much.

      They live in their own lala land much of the past kind of New Zealand, where the focus remains on what our mostly white overseas “friends” in the US, in the UK, Australia and perhaps Canada think and do. Hence the maintained attention to the Royals, the celebrities from such “friendly” countries with “similar culture”, and it gives the viewers of those age groups the idea, hey, we are still “in control”, we learn from our “media”, what really matters.

      What else goes on in the world is covered within one to two minutes, that is what happens in those few places just mentioned, plus a few seconds to cover the war in Syria, what the leader of China or India may do or say, and where a Panda bear has had a baby living in captivity.

      Do not forget Flipper the dolphin, the man who climbed a tree and fell down, or the naughty students that drank too much so the police had to come and clean up.

      Of course there is first attention always to the latest crime or court case, and weather and sports must not be forgotten.

      That is where those smiles and giggles fit in just so nicely, to sell this illusion to the ones that still watch the TV news, that live in the past, and that have no clue what really goes on in places outside their more leafy suburbs or in towns and settlements in rural areas, where the main event is where the milk tanker turns up in the morning or afternoon.

9. I think she was fired by media works but was allowed to quit to save face. I don’t think she was any good. At the end of the day all she does is read news from the TelePrompter, anyone can do that, might as well get someone younger.

   1. Your comment PeterP is the only statement of substance in this whole article.Sorry Martyn

      1. Agreed. Hillary Barry isn’t anything to hang your hat on.

         The person reading the prompter is only the person reading the prompter.

         The person setting the direction of the news and in charge of the resources is the editor.

         What you may have missed is that Weldon was only given a 12 month extension to his contract last year. My comment then was that the owners of MediaWorks don’t think he has done a good job otherwise he would have had a 3 year contract. Since the there has been no recovery in its ratings.

         I think you will find that some government post will come up that Weldon finds it necessary “leave” MediaWorks.

   2. I’m just glad I don’t have to live in your head when such mean and nasty thoughts come out of it based on no evidence what so ever.

   3. Mehhhhhhh……NO.

      Tell you why. Ive said I worked as security at TV3 several years back, and as you do , … you get to know all the names and noter’s and , invariably , what goes on around a place your posted too. You have too … else you are not taking the job seriously.

      Hilary Barry, is ,…off screen as she is on screen. Shes genuine. Shes positive, engaging , sharp – and to keep things simple , – a good sort.

      Mike McRoberts is a total gentleman.

      John Campbell?… years ago I didn’t like his style…perhaps I wasn’t paying enough attention. But when he did that Campbell Live documentary (I call it) about the subterfuge surrounding the setting up of Kim Dotcom by this govt and James Clapper arriving in the late hours into this country and the clandestine meeting he attended with some of our top officials …. I realized then what an asset the NZ public had lost when he left TV3.

      Him and all his news crew and supporting people. And that took guts. As did his coverage of the TTPA marches. He brought the human element to the coverage,… he was polite, courteous, and without political bias.

      The fact that the change in management – ( from a business that once was owned by Stephen Joyce) – shattered that ability of holding the powerful to account was not lost on its viewers. And that Joyce had the benefit of ‘contacts’ within the media industry …should anything arise that was embarrassing to the govt … was also not lost on its viewers.

      TV3 management has paid a huge price for political interference and involvement. That much we know. We do not need to spell it out . The fruits of its labors are all there to see today as it all unfolds.

      There is a huge amount of truth and wisdom about the psychology of TV viewership or media in general and how that can and does shape public opinion. They can make or break govts. As such they hold a unique and powerful place for positive or negative change. And that position should never be abused.

      Think back to the days of Walter Cronkite in America, or even Philip Sherry in NZ… rightly or wrongly … there was none ( or very little ) of the sort of shallow tinsel edged shenanigans we see today. And , people listened up when they came on air … and why?… because they were indeed invited into peoples homes to listen to what they had to report on important and serious contemporary issues affecting their listeners of the time.

      People like the familiar.

      Why is that ?…. because part of that answer is that ‘ credibility’ is partially built around familiarity. And the credibility that familiarity engenders starts to develop trust.

      It is far harder for someone who is regularly recognized to represent telling or reporting the truth to suddenly do a complete about face and start reporting events that just don’t ring true particularly after disclosures that prove the exact opposite.

      Lies have a certain shelf life – yet all it takes to topple that lie is truthful disclosure backed by evidence that contradicts the lie , – and this is why in so many endeavors it is so hard to get the truth out. The liar willfully uses obfuscation and obstacles of all description to cast doubt and discourage further inquiring minds. The Panama papers are evidence of just this situation.

      So TV3 are simply paying the price by having to rapidly change the furniture and have a revolving door policy of employees – which – goes directly against the whole principle of familiarity , credibility and trust.

      Which always makes for poor public relations in any business operation.

10. I have a relative high up in the Mediaworks organisation. For his own privacy I won’t say who he is (for obvious reasons) but he is in a senior management role.
    He confirms what we think about Wealdon. The man is basically a prick, takes his staff for granted and has totally no regard for anyone’s position except his own.
    If Wealdon goes down the gurgler, then good job. I hope he takes the great Shon Key with him.

    1. Perfect Marcus, and chief propagandist Joyce/Goebbels is captain of this sip and national Party strategist remember?

       He runs a Government agecy and media board position and he isn’t fired as a Maori leader who was running a Maori TV had Labour leanings was fired for it??? but Joyce/Goebbels keeps his job????
       W*T*F)I^G# on here.

11. I disagree with your use of the word”stooge”. To borrow from Corruptjohn’s own extensive lexicon of pejoratives, I think the word you are looking for is “henchman”.

    1. Steve King is right ,

       When we refer to Weldon we should call him Joyce/key ‘s “henchman” as it is a more accurate depiction than “stooge”.

       Good suggestion Steve.

12. Great analysis. Don’t forget Julie Christie is also a friend of John Key and just as toxic. I heard it was she, that hated John Campbell the most.

    How about we turn TV3 executive and senior management team into a survivor/hunger games episode and they all fight each other out. Whoever wins gets to get the dried out husk of TV3 to gnaw on.

    The presenters like Gower can win a prize for who can fawn over National, lie the most and look believable at the same time. Their prize is a golf game with our the ‘most popular leader of all time’ John Key and a bottle of wine from his vineyard’s blind trust (that he knows nothing about).

13. Hilary Barry was reduced to, alternatively, giggly schoolgirl over Henry’s crude jokes or rebuking matron over same.
    She was doing split shifts and I was wondering how long that could last.
    She was the main reason I used to watch TV3 news but if she turns up on Breakfast, as a non morning TV watcher I won’t judging the outcome.
    If TVNZ want to compete with the awful Henry they could take a leaf out of their book and simulcast on radio, that would rid us of Hosking as well, win, win, surely. Oh god, or not

    1. Often split shifts is how you manage out a member of staff. Makes you wonder.

       1. Not too sure about that, I’ve always like Barry actually

    2. It’s evident that the Paul Henry assignment sucked all the pleasure out of Hilary’s job. Working with that misogynist would be soul destroying for any female, and that much more for a woman of her stature, having to submit to the daily torture of Henry’s on- and off-screen antics. Just watching her facial expressions told the story. It was painful every day for her.

14. Oh Martyn, you may have gone too far, to disclose all this about Mark Weldon, the man, who gets on so well with John the Key to a “Brighter Future (For Some)”.

    Prepare for a visit by the police, to do a check on what “records” TDB holds on certain people and those “leaking” stuff that should be kept tugged away under the carpet.

    They must surely have their focus on TDB and readers and commentators here, as this is just too much “bias” against the government that is doing all these “good things” for us.

15. Sums it all up pretty nicely, Martyn. I’m one of those who for years TV3 was my MSM go-to for news and commentary. Mike Campbell was my nightly viewing. I thought the News hour had an edge over TV1, too, not that that meant much. But with Mike Campbell gone, I can’t be bothered. The silly relabelling the news hour ‘News hub’ is I guess to mimic the style of the internet ‘Porn hub’. I can think of no other reason for that appellation.

    But the coverage is piss haggard anyway. These days I look elsewhere for my news intake.

    1. Mike Campbell is a great guitarist but I haven’t seen him regularly on TV3. I’d watch it a lot more if he was on.

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