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Kai Jensen's avatar

Do you think Fox News and the other Murdoch “news” services necessary to media diversity?

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Grant Duncan PhD's avatar

Good question, Kai! They're not necessary, but we do need diversity. Murdoch has left NZ alone, as I guess it's too small. The right-wing MSM in NZ is best represented by NewstalkZB, and to a lesser extent NZ Herald (both part of NZME which has a range of shareholders). I don't approve of the aggressive tactics of the Fox model, but, to be fair, I'd then also have to question activist journalism by some leftwing reporters. Your question made me tune in to Fox, and I see they're criticising Biden right now on illegal immigration.

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Kai Jensen's avatar

I compare the present with 18th and 19th-century English journalism, in which there were rabid journals both on left and right, and much disinformation. So perhaps you're right, and such a news ecosystem is a healthy state of affairs - all viewpoints are aired, and corrupt behaviour by politicians will gradually emerge from the fog of disinformation and be confirmed.

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Grant Duncan PhD's avatar

More or less. But hopefully some unexpected figures shine too.

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