Personal circumstances force me to suspend the Tuesday Commentary. I hope to resume it in a few weeks. In the meantime, thank you for your support and interest in the column. — Gavin Ellis.
Author: Gavin Ellis
Gavin Ellis is a media consultant, commentator and researcher. He holds a doctorate in political studies. A former editor-in-chief of the New Zealand Herald, he is the author of Trust Ownership and the Future of News: Media Moguls and White Knights (London, Palgrave) and Complacent Nation (Wellington, BWB Texts). His consultancy clients include media organisations and government ministries. His Tuesday Commentary on media matters appears weekly on his site www.whiteknightnews.com
Depp and a fantastic beast called Truth
Johnny Depp’s career-threatening loss in a libel action against the British tabloid The Sun sends a message to the rich and famous that their money may not hide the truth.
It sends an equally strong message to the media that they need to be able to back up their facts.
Continue reading “Depp and a fantastic beast called Truth”Time to deliver, Minister
Kris Faafoi’s reappointment as Minister of Broadcasting and Media is welcome news, but now he has to deliver.
He was not dealt a particularly good hand when he inherited the portfolio from Clare Curran in the Ardern government’s first term.
On her watch there was the expectation of a new RNZ TV channel plus a new funding body to disperse government funding to media. However, only a fraction of the necessary funding was forthcoming in Grant Robertson’s first budget. Policy was a long way from practice. Then she fell from grace after a series of blunders.
Faafoi had the chalice in his hands but he needed to have it forensically checked before he was ready to put it to his lips. As a former television journalist, he had the knowledge and experience to know it was likely to contain dangerous impurities.
Continue reading “Time to deliver, Minister”Puck Me! It’s more fake news
If the Trump presidency ends ignominiously next week there is no way ‘fake news’ will disappear along with the fake tan and ginger hair that could have been combed from my cat Rufus.
Disinformation is a pandemic. Donald Trump is one of its super-spreaders but, even if his Twitter account is placed in quarantine, his removal from the White House would no more end ‘fake news’ than Regeneron cured him of Covid-19.
Continue reading “Puck Me! It’s more fake news”