When TV news is the news

When TV news is the news

Media people love reporting on the media. As a result when media companies start shedding services, people or programmes in this case, it can become the biggest story in town. And so we’ve had the news items, the coverage of meetings with staff, and finally the...
Bad behaviour

Bad behaviour

Last week’s news that New Zealand school students are among the worst behaved in the OECD came as quite a surprise. On reflection, it probably shouldn’t have. My immediate reaction was one of embarrassment. Those inside the education system were not so surprised. The...
When language is used to divide

When language is used to divide

There’s a nasty theme emerging in New Zealand politics. It’s come on gradually, particularly over the last year or so, but has become somewhat exaggerated recently, particularly in the months since the new government was sworn in. I refer to the use of highly emotive...