I agree this is a balanced and excellent column unlike a lot of the partisan nonsense out there. I want to be informed so I can make up my own mind. Congratulations Grant.
Thank you Peter! You hit the nail on the head: in a democratic culture, academics and journalists need to inform people so that they can make up their own minds. That's been forgotten, but I'm working on it! All the best. Grant
I was actually shocked at the "audacity" of the TV One news item on the poll. It was the first item, they announced it up front as "breaking news" and then spent about 10 minutes on it. The reporter was speaking in high pitched/excited state tones that suggest this was REALLY significant. OK so National have dropped a couple of points, so did NZ First, Labour went up a couple but from her tone is seem we we virtually had a constitutional crisis on our hand in that the govt had lost the confidence of the people in the first 5 months of office.
Based on this and previous coverage from MSM I couldn't help have the cynical thought that they have actively been contributed to the loss of confidence given the lack of "honeymoon period" (which is at least partly a function of how the fourth estate reports on a new govt). That and the fact that inflation is persistent, times are tough, outlook is grim, people are losing their jobs it's all hardly surprising really.
Thanks for that vivid description of the over-hyped presentation of the poll results, Malcolm! As TVNZ newsroom is losing jobs, might we ask if there's an element of payback? But, if the mainstream media have noticed that public trust has declined, then I do wonder why they go ahead and make it worse. I'll try to set a better example – that's the best I can do! Cheers, Grant
Grant - your best yet (off a small sample size for me). Balanced is key - and transparent. If you can deliver on this you might find a subscriber in time. I read an interesting substack from a guy called the Liberal Patriot which talked to a centreist potential in US politics - it would be terrific to see that kind of thing here - in fact I might write it...
Hi Kimbal. Thanks for your kind comment! I'll keep trying to deliver both balanced and readable, as well as being transparent. I also like Liberal Patriot, including recent piece on politics of military aid bill in DC. I hope you'll do some writing too. A number of writers can support one another on here. Cheers, Grant
Grant, this your most recent contribution to comments on current and public affairs that are of moment is a real gem, standing out as it does from the current oversupply of dross - I have given up on TNNZ’s sensationalistic news, but from what I hear its coverage of the poll was beyond ridiculous. As to parliamentary salaries, your observations were certainly balanced and added usefully to my perspective of the reassessment process. With respect, congratulations.
I agree this is a balanced and excellent column unlike a lot of the partisan nonsense out there. I want to be informed so I can make up my own mind. Congratulations Grant.
Thank you Peter! You hit the nail on the head: in a democratic culture, academics and journalists need to inform people so that they can make up their own minds. That's been forgotten, but I'm working on it! All the best. Grant
I was actually shocked at the "audacity" of the TV One news item on the poll. It was the first item, they announced it up front as "breaking news" and then spent about 10 minutes on it. The reporter was speaking in high pitched/excited state tones that suggest this was REALLY significant. OK so National have dropped a couple of points, so did NZ First, Labour went up a couple but from her tone is seem we we virtually had a constitutional crisis on our hand in that the govt had lost the confidence of the people in the first 5 months of office.
Based on this and previous coverage from MSM I couldn't help have the cynical thought that they have actively been contributed to the loss of confidence given the lack of "honeymoon period" (which is at least partly a function of how the fourth estate reports on a new govt). That and the fact that inflation is persistent, times are tough, outlook is grim, people are losing their jobs it's all hardly surprising really.
Thanks for that vivid description of the over-hyped presentation of the poll results, Malcolm! As TVNZ newsroom is losing jobs, might we ask if there's an element of payback? But, if the mainstream media have noticed that public trust has declined, then I do wonder why they go ahead and make it worse. I'll try to set a better example – that's the best I can do! Cheers, Grant
Grant - your best yet (off a small sample size for me). Balanced is key - and transparent. If you can deliver on this you might find a subscriber in time. I read an interesting substack from a guy called the Liberal Patriot which talked to a centreist potential in US politics - it would be terrific to see that kind of thing here - in fact I might write it...
Hi Kimbal. Thanks for your kind comment! I'll keep trying to deliver both balanced and readable, as well as being transparent. I also like Liberal Patriot, including recent piece on politics of military aid bill in DC. I hope you'll do some writing too. A number of writers can support one another on here. Cheers, Grant
Grant, this your most recent contribution to comments on current and public affairs that are of moment is a real gem, standing out as it does from the current oversupply of dross - I have given up on TNNZ’s sensationalistic news, but from what I hear its coverage of the poll was beyond ridiculous. As to parliamentary salaries, your observations were certainly balanced and added usefully to my perspective of the reassessment process. With respect, congratulations.
Thank you very much for your kind comments, Ruaridh. If I can be balanced along with readable, I hope it's of service to others. Regards, Grant