Popularity and power go together. I think we all know it. Whether it’s in the school playground, the boardroom, the big screen or the bear pit of parliament.
If you have the gift of the gab and a brain, then you’ve got an “x factor;” something that others want to be near and have a part of.
But with power comes responsibility and judgement. The more popularity, the more power, and the risk that good responsible judgement goes out the window.
That happened last week I believe, when the Prime Minister was a DJ on an hour long show with no editorial control on Radio Live interviewing celebrity guests and generally chatting about (supposedly) nothing to do with the election.
It was less than 8 weeks before the election. he is the Prime Minister. A politician. His Party wants to be returned to power. It was an opportunity not offered to the Leaders of other parties.
The National Party’s election strategy is based around John Key’s popularity. Brand Key. All its election hoardings bear his picture. Activists and candidates wear t-shirts with “I’m a Key person” on them.
An hour long show on Radio Live in a prominent Friday afternoon slot was about cementing Brand Key in the minds of listeners. It was a clever marketing idea. It was not a clever political strategy. And it was not “fair”.
Radio Live is owned by Radioworks, which is part of Mediaworks. In 2009 the National Government provided Mediaworks with a $43 million loan to defer payments for their radio spectrum licenses.
This issue has been covered extensively in the media since March this year when it came to light. There is, at the very least, a perception that Mediaworks was provided favourable treatment by the government. In that case it is even more important for Mediaworks to ensure they are extremely balanced in their election coverage.
On Monday, Labour submitted a complaint to the Broadcasting Standards Authority over the PM’s show. Another complaint was lodged with the Electoral Commission.
Labour contends that the New Zealand electoral system is based on fairness, responsibility and impartiality to order for Kiwis to make their voting choices without pressure or misleading information.
We believe the show breached the Broadcasting Act and the Electoral Act.
I was completely gobsmacked when I heard that Mediaworks had given the Prime Minister a free hour. I believe, as I think all new Zealanders do that we are all entitled to a fair trial if we are accused of something and charged. I also believe that New Zealanders are entitled to a fair electoral system.
It doesn’t matter how popular you are. None of us are above the law. There’s always a point when the popular guy crosses the line and takes too much for granted.
The right to a fair go is a deeply held belief in our country. It doesn’t matter what side of politics you’re on. I think that’s the test here.
It has resonance for all our media and I reckon they aren’t happy at being put in this position.
If Phil Goff had been offered the slot instead, would he have accepted or complained it was unfair? Has he, for example, been offered speaking time at union conferences that donate to Labour or on student radio that hasn’t been offered to National and turned them down?
Hi Clare didn’t your leader say he would have done the slot if he’d been offered it? So it’s not actually about the principle so much, is it? It then becomes a commercial decision by the radio show about who its listeners want to hear, and maybe they decided your leader would infect the station with a ratings dive?
Clare, the fundamental flaw in your argument is the naive assumption that the MSM and their owners are politically neutral, fair, balanced and objective. Your complaint will be written up as such, I’m sure.
Goff was asked on Radio Live today if he would like an hour running the farm show.
He said he would.
Instead of making an issue of this , Labour should have made an issue of kicking butts over the Mad Butcher issue
Phil Goff was not offered an hour of Radio Live’s time because
1) It wouldnt be good for ratings
and
2) Labour stole Radio Live’s marketing font and style for it’s election campaign
Labour under Phil Goff is boring, can’t shake the past and can’t come up with its on livery for its campaign ~ stop whinging and get on with coming up with some real ideas about how to help NZers or you’ll all be crying when you see a National / UF Coaltiiion w Greens in support
Can’t help but notice that the pin dancers are busy trying to muddy the water by creating hypothetical situations to detract from the obvious – that both MediaWorks and Key broke the electoral law and should be disciplined for that breach of the law.
Clare,
I was disappointed that after being promised discussion about the Prime Minister’s cat at the top of the show, there was in fact none.
I think this is misleading and unfair.
Please add my complaint to yours.
No but in all seriousness, I do agree that the rules around election advertising and broadcasting allocation can be farcical sometimes.
I mean, how fair can it be that the two parties who actually require the least broadcasting and publicity are allocated and funded for the most by the state? Also, Phil Goff and John Key get far more media coverage than other party leaders Colin Craig, Kay Murray Winston Peters. That’s hardly fair.
Hey Claire, what happened in the public gallery? and what did Key say that had the Labour benches up in arms?
There is some irony that the PM availed himself of free (state funded) radio given his government’s policy to reduce real funding of such entities.
Politics is full of hypocrisy and it always follows that a sitting PM gets the inside running on many publicity opportunities. I really don’t think this is as big a deal as the pm LYING ABOUT THE ROLE OF THE SAS or the recent downgrade.
“The right to a fair go is a deeply held belief in our country”
So Phil will have no issue partaking in the minor parties debate or he will purposely not debate with John Key to support the belief that it is “not fair” that the minor parties cannot be part of the Leaders debate?
Just need to completely understand this. Everything will be ok if phil goff is offered and accepts an hour of broadcasting time that labour considers illegal?
“Labour contends that the New Zealand electoral system is based on fairness.”
Would that fairness extend to pledge cards?
New Zealand faces a double credit downgrade, and Labour is playing politics over a silly radio show?
New Zealand has had a double credit downgrade, and where was the John Key the Prime Minister as that news came out, Oliver?
John Key was on the radio talking about his cat and Coronation Street, is that a Prime Minister on top of his job? No.
I guess that is what a $43 Million loan from the New Zealand Tax Payer gets for a National Party Prime Minister, free air time with no responsibility to explain his government’s failure to meet what was his previously held up as by his government as one of its Key Performance Indicators.
@Simon : Good call on the pledge cards …
@Insumnatio : Perfectly said
If there is anything Labour should be doing now is concentrating on issues that NZers care about … not petty calls for “equal” media time … careful Labour, the Greens will soon “deserve” more time than the so called *natural party of the Left*
Clare, to use a phrase from Frankly – Perfectly said.
There is unfortunately nothing “prime” about our unesteemed leader John Key- and deep down he knows it. He knows, despite his apparently ‘cheery’disposition, that he is underqualified in so many ways (principles,fairness,truthfulness,judgement,integrity,honour etc) that he has to smile to cover his ‘inadequacies’ up.
And what is he doing now to lower the tone of government in this country and test my patience further? Behaving very questionably by running an entire hour of interviews on radio (and interviewing sychophants like Peter Jackson) when we are in a run up to a general election and he, particularly, needs to set a standard of fairness, honour and integrity, not exploit an extra free prime hour radio exposure for Brand Key. (This gives a totally new meaning to “prime” in his formal title!)
Cannot Mr.Key respect the people of New Zealand for once, rather than cynically use an underhand and dishonourable self promotion at election time,yet again?
I read a phrase that sums Mr.Key, and many of his cohorts, up the other month, “Confucius said, Superior man understands what is right, inferior man sells.” I think “and exploits” should be added to that.
* Sorry I cannot seem to align my comment correctly hence weird layout.
Here is Labour’s communication spokesperson, PR guru, and high calibre interview subject Clare Curran being interviewed on the subject…
http://www.radiolive.co.nz/John-Key-radio-show-Clare-Curran–Brent-Impey-discuss-the-implications/tabid/506/articleID/23578/Default.aspx
“New Zealand faces a double credit downgrade, and Labour is playing politics over a silly radio show?”
Oliver I thanks for the chuckle. You’re right to be concerned about the downgrade but seemingly the Labour Party, you, me and a handful of others are the only ones who care.
“We believe the show breached the Broadcasting Act and the Electoral Act.”
Not according to the BSA.