Archive for February, 2011
QuakePorn
Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011Yes, it’s helpful to the country to understand the gravity of the disaster in Christchurch. Yes, we should cut news crews some slack when they’ve got to edit on the hoof. Yes, most of the coverage I’ve seen on TVNZ and TV3 has been responsible. But I think the highlights packages of bleeding-head woman, bandage […]
Three cheers for the OIA and one for the government
Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011I’m not sure whether the government’s document dump about the BMWs came as a result of an Official Information Act request. (If it wasn’t, then someone should put in an OIA request just in case the government has decided to hold anything back. That’s what the Labour government did in its Corngate document release). Either way, though, the […]
Cancerous Daily Mail
Monday, February 21st, 2011Listening to Morning Report’s story this morning about a Daily Mail story on cancer, I was reminded of this astonishing catalogue of things that the Daily Mail has reported on as causes and cures of cancer. And of this lovely piss-take on the Daily Mail by Dan and Dan.
SST sends blogger a defamation nastrygram
Friday, February 11th, 2011The Sunday Star-Times has sent a legal letter warning Brian Edwards about his post about its reporting on Amanda Hotchin. The SST quoted her saying: We don’t have to justify where we get our money from or what it is spent on to anyone. I don’t care what anyone says. Brian Edwards weighed in with a blog criticising Hotchin. But […]
Book your copies now
Thursday, February 3rd, 2011I’m working my way through the newly released 6th edition of Media Law in New Zealand by John Burrows and Ursula Cheer. (Actually, this updated version was mostly done by Ursula). It is as comprehensive as ever. If you’re wondering how much media law there has been in the last five years, we now have […]
Hot off the press
Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011John Key’s remarks on RadioSport about Liz Hurley being hot have now hit the UK’s Daily Mail, I see. I’m more interested in why John Key is the only political leader given a weekly interview slot on RadioSport – and Breakfast TV, actually. This was the widely overlooked angle in the Paul Henry saga. I […]
Sad news
Tuesday, February 1st, 2011I’m sorry to have to note the passing of Sandra Moran, a doyenne of New Zealand media law. She was a principal at Oakley Moran and a former president of the Film and Literature Board of Review. I worked with her a little over the past couple of the years and she was generous with […]
Source of contention
Tuesday, February 1st, 2011When – if ever – should journalists be forced to disclose their confidential sources? It’s been a hot issue lately. The Crown applied to court for an order requiring TV3 to provide identifying information of the Waiouru Army Medals thief after John Campbell’s anonymised TV interview with him. The Serious Fraud Office compelled the National […]