When I was at high school my house-group teacher had a sign on the wall with the quote “Whatever women do they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily this is not difficult.“ which was a pretty ballsy move at a very traditional all boys school. Good on you Ms Galbraith.
The media here will exaggerate every minor mistake by a left wing leader whilst ignoring anything similar from a Tory. The media will take a Tory at their word, not so someone from the left.
But the unequal treatment is far more than a left/right bias; the media would never speak to a male Prime Minister the way they speak to our Prime Minister.
Sure the leader of the opposition may be coming under marginally more scrutiny recently, than merely can he smile and wave, as his honeymoon period draws to a close. Recently he has had a couple of tougher interviews, but this is what Jacinda gets every day, only she gets much much worse.
Many National supporters were apparently shocked by the Jack Tame interview at Easter. Being a long-form interview Jack didn’t back away at the first sign of uncertainty from the leader of the opposition, as many in the media seem to do, but continued to probe for answers to some pretty basic questions
The interview exposed Christopher Luxon’s lack of preparedness, subject matter knowledge, policy detail and his ability to fend off questions he don’t want to or couldn’t answer. But no one accused Luxon essentially of lying like they do with Jacinda regularly.
Listen to the way the media talks to the PM. It is accusatory, dismissive and down right disrespectful. For example see if you can detect any contrast in these typical exchanges:
Spot the difference:
Chris – are you going to add a new tax?
No.
Sweet. Can we get a smile and a wave, both at once if it’s not too much trouble.
Jacinda – are you going to add a new tax?
No.
But Chris says you are, so what are you really going to do, why won’t you tell us the truth Prime Minister?
For example an article in the Herald today by Thomas Coughlan carries the positions of four people, on what the PM’s own position on a Wealth Tax is.
Position 1:
Jacinda Ardern: "Our policy has not changed, we are not doing any additional work and I stand by all the statements I have made to date"
Pretty clear and unequivocal really so that’ll make for a short article, but wait there’s more.
Position 2:
“Nicola Willis said Ardern "left the door wide open to even more new taxes on Kiwi households and businesses".
Willis said Ardern's remarks were "confusing and at times contradictory", but she believed "Labour is dreaming up new ways to tax New Zealanders".”
So made up scaremongering basically.
Position 3:
“Act leader David Seymour said the remarks suggested Ardern was "readying herself for the mother of all flip-flops".”
And some more unsubstantiated scaremongering.
Position 4:
The view of doubting Thomas and the headline:
“Jacinda Ardern tried to clear up wealth tax rule-out, but ended up muddying the waters“
So there you go, four views on what the Prime Minister is planning or said, how would you know which one to believe? Given that this is a news report about what she said, and not an opinion piece, how are the creative imaginations on what she really might have meant relevant?
Not only will reporters question whether she is telling the truth many will go on and create their own alternate narratives, some people refer to this as “fake news”.
On the evening news any announcement by the government or the Labour Party is followed immediately by “the National Party says...”. There is no analysis or value add by the journalist, we might as well call the segments with Katie Bradford - “what National thinks”.
Covid meant we saw the behaviour of the media at press conferences, the difference between what was said and what was reported, and many of us weren’t very impressed. A lack of journalistic professionalism and petty rudeness right there every day for all to see.
Why listen to, or read, a reporter’s spin about a press conference when you can watch what was actually said for yourself?
The solution for better or worse looks like people increasingly using their own platforms, where the words they deliver are not twisted, and not front traditional media. Politicians own social media “go-lives” often have more of a reach than existing media channels.
We’ll see more things like the Prime Minister not appearing as regularly on Newstalk ZB. As an interviewer Mike Hosking would speak over the top of the PM, not listen to the answers, and sneer at what ever she said.
Given the fact almost no one who listens to ZB would ever consider voting for Labour or the Greens the PM reducing her appearances did not diminish her ability to engage with open-minded New Zealanders, but likely gained kudos with them.
The purpose of her appearances was seemingly only for the ego of a shock jock to be stroked as he ridiculed a leader well regarded around the world to a salivating mob eager to hear the PM criticised.
So this is all well and good if politicians choose not to appear on propaganda channels like ZB, but what if the next step is for politicians to stop appearing on more balanced media? Shows which ask the tough questions, but at least listen to and convey the answers?
It could become pretty grim if the only platforms a politician communicates on are those they control, and the only people hearing them are their followers. Donald Trump anyone?
How will politicians be held to account in a reasonable and open way, if they decide being questioned in an accusatory or biased way is not worth the trouble?
How will new political movements or leaders be able to compete when they need an enormous social media following to be heard in the first place?
The media must do better for the news they produce to remain relevant, for their craft to add value, and not just be a press release for opposition reckons or creators of their own narratives.
Oh, and they should really cut the misogynist crap.
Take it from me - Ms Galbraith would not approve.
Go Ms Galbraith - she was quite right! A well-written piece, Nick. Thanks.
Great article Nick👍 It would be great to get your articles into the mainstream😉😊