Recently Joan Donovan visited NZ. She is the head of the Technology and Social Change Project at Harvard University, the co-author of a book on the digital underworld that led to the January 6, 2021 storming of the US Capitol. She is reported as saying in Newsroom that: “harmful … [Read more...]
The Rise and Rise of Disinformation : The Challenges of an Internet Age
No Tuesday Club on 30 May, but next Tuesday 6 June we have Paul Spoonley on Zoom. ZOOM LINK 5 to gather and 5.30 to start Tuesday 6 June The Rise and Rise of Disinformation : The Challenges of an Internet Age Since 2015-16, there has been an escalation in mis- and disinformation and, as a … [Read more...]
Bravo Sara Templeton
I am glad that I left politics before the onset of digital warriors. All I had to deal with was radio talkback which was odorific enough. However, the nasty stuff was at least on the air rather than insidious types hiding behind a keyboard. It’s different now and Sara Templeton has taken a brave … [Read more...]
PR spin is driving public discourse
I often read articles in the Press and smile. Again, a journalist has taken a PR feed from either CCC, Ecan, CDHB or Otakaro and printed it in the Press. Word for word. No analysis. No checking for alternative opinions. The garrotting of local media by Facebook and Google has meant that there are … [Read more...]
Axel starts the day with The Bulletin
My weekday mornings start with me reading the news. I used to subscribe to a printed newspaper but for a variety of reasons, I cancelled that subscription some two or three years ago. After a while, a friend brought The Bulletin to my attention. It’s compiled by Alex Braae, who I mentioned in the … [Read more...]
Garry writes 6 April 2021
Last week there was an article by an anonymous writer in Newsroom about RNZ. This writer is a current staff member of RNZ and has written the article anonymously. The fact that they had to write this under cover is a worrying sign. I would hazard a guess that the greater proportion of Tuesday … [Read more...]
Bernard Hickey has started a new venture:
I have long been a fan of investigative writer Bernard Hickey. He has left Newsroom, which is all the poorer for this happening, and has started a daily newsletter called the Kaka. Here’s the details of it and I recommend that you contact Bernard and get on his email list. Why … [Read more...]
This Week: Screen Canterbury
This week we will have Bree Loverich, from Screen Canterbury. Bree is a wonderful speaker and an enthusiast for film promotion. We have to get in behind this sector as it is job rich and able to bring vast resources to Greater Christchurch and the South Island. The film sector brings around $1b … [Read more...]
I apologise Dominic Harris. It wasn’t you I meant in the article.
I promised that I would write this. You can fill in why I wrote what I wrote. This message is for you Dominic :) … [Read more...]
Message to the Editor of the Press:
As many of you will know the Mayor, Lianne Dalziel, returned to work this week after nursing her dying husband and then having to deal with his death and funeral. We all wish her well as she grieves the loss of her Rob. Lianne received a really nice email from one of the civics reporters. This … [Read more...]