Proposed Merger NZME and Fairfax

Forums › Off topic › Proposed Merger NZME and Fairfax

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

2119 posts

Uber Geek

#2481655 12-May-2020 08:46

Surely this is a race to the bottom that the Telcos went through a few years ago? They have to find another source of income or vanish.

MikeAqua

7785 posts

Uber Geek

#2481715 12-May-2020 10:00

mudguard:

Surely this is a race to the bottom that the Telcos went through a few years ago? They have to find another source of income or vanish.

They also need to find a way of delivering a service that people value.

Mike

networkn

Networkn
32353 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2481734 12-May-2020 10:10

MikeAqua:

mudguard:

Surely this is a race to the bottom that the Telcos went through a few years ago? They have to find another source of income or vanish.

They also need to find a way of delivering a service that people value.

The problem is, most people want or need to consume their news in bite sized chunks. People have busy lives and getting their attention is a real problem. We have created it somewhat, but also just life in general means there is less time for the average person to spend on it unless they have a very specific interest. I can understand both sides of it to some degree.

mudguard

2119 posts

Uber Geek

#2481752 12-May-2020 10:31

It makes me wonder if there is any value in news? Say if both ceased to exist, would people scurry to pay sites or just not bother? Myself and a few friends haven't watched six pm news broadcasts in years, music and TV has proven that pay models work, if the pricing and content is worth it.

Dingbatt

6756 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2481757 12-May-2020 10:41

It annoyed me yesterday at the Alert Level press conference, that journalists attempted to get something out of the PM about the Stuff/NZME goings on. She rebuffed it once, which should have been enough. But they persisted to the point where I was saying “Nobody outside the media cares, so move on nothing to see here (in much less charitable language)”. Maybe they need some DPS members there with tasers (joking).

There were other things that should have been asked, but such is the state of the media in this country, they weren’t. A classic example of why this merger is irrelevant one way or the other.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

Rikkitic

Awrrr
18663 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2481763 12-May-2020 10:52

Dingbatt:

It annoyed me yesterday at the Alert Level press conference, that journalists attempted to get something out of the PM about the Stuff/NZME goings on. She rebuffed it once, which should have been enough. But they persisted to the point where I was saying “Nobody outside the media cares, so move on nothing to see here (in much less charitable language)”. Maybe they need some DPS members there with tasers (joking).

There were other things that should have been asked, but such is the state of the media in this country, they weren’t. A classic example of why this merger is irrelevant one way or the other.

I think this cuts both ways. Journalists are taught to keep pushing for an answer, but some carry it to ridiculous levels. If you keep getting stonewalled after a few good attempts, you need to accept that you won't get an answer and move on. At the same time, part of the job is to not let those being questioned brush you off too easily. Otherwise they can never be held to account. Good journalists have a keen sense of what it takes to get an answer, without going too far in the process. I used to think the Q & A interviewers were pretty good, though I'm not sure about the current one. I stopped following it after it moved to an inconvenient time for me.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

Rikkitic

Awrrr
18663 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2481767 12-May-2020 11:02

mudguard:

It makes me wonder if there is any value in news? Say if both ceased to exist, would people scurry to pay sites or just not bother? Myself and a few friends haven't watched six pm news broadcasts in years, music and TV has proven that pay models work, if the pricing and content is worth it.

What a scary question. There is plenty of value in news. It is an essential commodity. People who don't know what is going on make bad decisions, or no decisions at all. People don't seem to get that the free market is not some kind of divine gift that meets all needs. There are plenty of essential services that can never make a profit if commercialised. Rubbish collection is one.

Our current mainstream news sources are pretty dire. That is mainly a result of the free market, with just goes to prove my point. What is needed is a solid public broadcasting system, as in other countries, not the removal of news media. With the collapse of the commercial model, we need good news sources more than ever. This applies to print media as well. They still have a place, and it is an important one.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

mudguard

2119 posts

Uber Geek

#2481775 12-May-2020 11:10

Rikkitic:

mudguard:

It makes me wonder if there is any value in news? Say if both ceased to exist, would people scurry to pay sites or just not bother? Myself and a few friends haven't watched six pm news broadcasts in years, music and TV has proven that pay models work, if the pricing and content is worth it.

What a scary question. There is plenty of value in news. It is an essential commodity. People who don't know what is going on make bad decisions, or no decisions at all. People don't seem to get that the free market is not some kind of divine gift that meets all needs. There are plenty of essential services that can never make a profit if commercialised. Rubbish collection is one.

Well is it that scary? We either have taxpayer funded news or user pays. I don't mind either way. If people don't pay for NZ Herald or Stuff etc, then they'll have no choice. I enjoy RNZ and have no issue with funding it. But if people want the more gossipy orientated news then they either pay for it, or those who provide it find some way of staying afloat.

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#2481807 12-May-2020 11:14

The journos in the press conference would have had a massive underlying reason to be pushing for an answer...

They are all worried about their jobs.

PolicyGuy

1727 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#2481812 12-May-2020 11:17

I thought Monday's press conference ended on an hilarious note.

The PM had said "just two more questions" and pointed to someone who asked

"Can an election be carried out under Level 2?"
"Yes" said the PM. Points at last questioner ...

LOLOLOL

PolicyGuy

1727 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#2481814 12-May-2020 11:28

mudguard:
It makes me wonder if there is any value in news? Say if both ceased to exist, would people scurry to pay sites or just not bother? Myself and a few friends haven't watched six pm news broadcasts in years, music and TV has proven that pay models work, if the pricing and content is worth it.

Rikkitic:
What a scary question. There is plenty of value in news. It is an essential commodity. People who don't know what is going on make bad decisions, or no decisions at all. People don't seem to get that the free market is not some kind of divine gift that meets all needs. There are plenty of essential services that can never make a profit if commercialised. Rubbish collection is one.

mudguard:
Well is it that scary? We either have taxpayer funded news or user pays. I don't mind either way. If people don't pay for NZ Herald or Stuff etc, then they'll have no choice. I enjoy RNZ and have no issue with funding it. But if people want the more gossipy orientated news then they either pay for it, or those who provide it find some way of staying afloat.

If NZME (i.e. NZ Herald) and Stuff both went bust - which may or may not be a Good Thing (TM) - we would still have paid-for news media in NZ.

There would be small sites funded by a mixture of user subscriptions, corporate support and advertising such as NBR, Spinoff, NewsRoom
And there would be the big guys paid for by the taxpayer, mainly RNZ & TVNZ, but also Māori TV

And the great unwashed would still get all the 'news' that fitted their carefully curated profile from Facebook and Instagram
Sigh

Rikkitic

Awrrr
18663 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2481822 12-May-2020 11:42

mudguard:

Well is it that scary? We either have taxpayer funded news or user pays. I don't mind either way. If people don't pay for NZ Herald or Stuff etc, then they'll have no choice. I enjoy RNZ and have no issue with funding it. But if people want the more gossipy orientated news then they either pay for it, or those who provide it find some way of staying afloat.

Quality news probably has to be paid for by the taxpayer and I am in favour of that. If people also want rubbish news and are prepared to pay that themselves, then it is hard to object, though this seems to lead to Fox-style crap which I do have a problem with. Fox News also does some serious coverage but they don't distinguish between ~~opinion~~ fantasy and fact and that makes them a dangerous and irresponsible quasi-fascist propaganda outfit that is seriously undermining democratic institutions and ideas. News and opinion that promotes conservative values is one thing. Fox is something else altogether.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

MikeAqua

7785 posts

Uber Geek

#2481875 12-May-2020 13:07

mudguard:

It makes me wonder if there is any value in news? Say if both ceased to exist, would people scurry to pay sites or just not bother? Myself and a few friends haven't watched six pm news broadcasts in years, music and TV has proven that pay models work, if the pricing and content is worth it.

I find that between the Morning Report and Checkpoint on RNZ and NBR I find out everything I need to know. Podcasts when out of coverage, to explore random topics in some more depth.

There are inherent risks with a state owned broadcaster, but I think RNZ is sufficiently arms length.

Mike

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79294 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#2490967 25-May-2020 11:50

At the end, Stuff CEO Sinead Boucher bought Stuff from Nine for $1. Nine keeps the printing plan in Petone.

gzt

17140 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2490983 25-May-2020 12:05

Fantastic news. It's rare that a media/journalism company returns to local ownership. It's now without Stuff fibre, which will bring more focus on the core business of news delivery. Interesting times ahead.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6