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

Before I was rudely interrupted…

I feel a little like onetime Daily Mirror columnist Cassandra.

During the Second World War, Cassandra (Sir William Connor) was a victim of newsprint shortages that saw his column suspended. When it resumed at war’s end, he began his column with “As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted…”

The interruption to the Tuesday Commentary on theknightlynews.com can’t be blamed on the international situation, although it is tempting to blame Covid-19 for everything from shortages to Deep State shenanigans. No, it was of my own making.

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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.

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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” →