TV3 News deserves a boycott
AS you are all probably aware, a protest was held outside Helen Clark’s (Prime Minister of New Zealand) residence Saturday afternoon.This was well covered by local media including Prime News,TV3 (electronic media) and Sunday Star Times (print media).The protest was peaceful and, one hopes,conveyed our message far and wide.The protest was followed up by a visit to the Cenotaph in front of the museum at Auckland Domain,where several individuals addressed the general populace by virtue of megaphones. We then enjoyed a sumptuous BBQ provided courteously by Paul.We then rushed home to catch the TV coverage led by Prime who, I felt,did an adnmirable job in reporting objectively.This was followed soon after by TV3’s coverage which has me wishing I had turned off the tube and taken up sewing or knitting perhaps! Their segment was typically biased and really incensed me when they stated that children as young as 9 were present (and then cut-away to a shot of my almost 12 year old daughter) and described them as looking sad!!, (at which point she became quite annoyed and said in a more juvenile fashion “Bollox!!!!!”). To close this,I would impore readers to invoke the header i.e. give TV3 the bum’s rush and stick to TVNZ’s channel 1 coverage, (even better get the jump on the pack and watch Prime!! 🙂
TV3 has never been sympathetic to the menz movement, particularly that little twerp Campbell with his holier-than-thou chilvirous streak.
Comment by tonyf — Thu 7th September 2006 @ 5:14 am
TV3 may not have been very sympathetic to date, but that is not going to change if we become antagonistic to them.
That would simply add credence to the notion that we are all disgruntled, abusive and angry.
Do not forget that all media are swamped with numerous stories every day, a large number of which simply end up in the bin.
It is therefore critical that we treat all journalists as being our best friends.
When they get it wrong, which they will, being human as they are, the best approach is to approach them politely, respectfully and privately, and such actions will prove that we are reasonable. (Obviously I am not talking about the small minority of journalists with an unshakable anti-family bias).
Then, and only then, the media will see that we and our demands really are moderate.
We will have friends in the media that will approach us for input, instead of us having to go cap and hand to the media.
Plus, ether will be some balance to the deliberate distortions of the refuge industry and other organisations that have fostered such relationships for a very long time and are enjoying the benefits of them.
Otherwise, we will portray ourselves as disgruntled dads and that in turn will be how we will continue to de depicted.
It is up to us to change that.
Comment by Darryl Ward — Thu 7th September 2006 @ 10:07 am
Hi Darryl,
thanks for the reply.
I understand where you are coming from, and to a certain extent I agree. However, the bottom line to leeches like campbell is ratings, and male bashing is really popular in the media at the moment. They’ll come to you with smiles and assurances, then they’ll slam you on public television.
I remember they had a debate about whether men are being portraid unfairly in the media and they had campbell, gorgina beyer and some female music artist all agreeing that men should stop whining and get on with it. There was no debate! They all just agreed with each other!
Thats the media for you. In the famous words of Mark “chopper” reid:
Comment by tonyf — Thu 7th September 2006 @ 11:10 am
I saw the TV3 coverage. Overall the coverage was positive for us.
Yes they showed children using the megaphone. When I saw that I thought good it shows children are not happy but bad because the fathers will get blamed for ‘involving’ the children in the protest. I waited for the backlash in the editorials about this but there was none. I take this as an indicator that having children involved as well tends to undermine the uncaring angry fathers stereotype.
As far as I know TV1 did not cover the story at all! In fact I am struggleing to recall if TV1 has ever been useful for us.
Also don’t forget that TV3 recently ran a story that was very damning of the family court.
I agree with Darryl. Treat the media as our good friend that sometimes makes mistakes.
Comment by Dave — Wed 13th September 2006 @ 3:54 pm