One of the writers in this country I most respect is Gerard Otto (G) with his G News. He eviscerates those who would deceive eloquently, creatively, and with great precision.
What you might call “left leaning” although I’ve sure he’s been called much worse - I’ve seen it! He can bring out truth in characters that could leave you crying with laughter, or share raw personal reflections that leave a lump in the throat and tears of a different kind.
G News provides regular analysis of things said by politicians and journalists highlighting gaps, correcting information, and providing a common sense, well-informed, humble view on the world that many of us enjoy reading.
The purpose of this post is not simply to tell you how good G News is, there is a tale to tell. As I was writing my blog yesterday morning I received the following message…
Morning, Facebook has restricted my account for three days - because they claim that the TVNZ complaints form - violated their standards for nudity. Yes nudity lol. I appealed but they did not agree. I think this is because so many people complained to TVNZ and TVNZ have complained to Facebook...anyway thought I'd let you know why there is nothing happening on my page for a few days. G
Some of you might be saying “ok some guy whose page you followed got banned from Facebook - cool story bro!” But bear with me, let’s start with why you might care.
Even if you have no idea who Gerard, or what G News, is you might find the rest of interest. I’ll be commenting at a high level on information accuracy, who gets banned and who doesn’t, the use of social media as a news platform, and possibly the odd detour or two.
If you know who G is but don’t like what he says then now is the chance to show solidarity over free speech. You know, the kind that you get so excited about when right wing figures you like keep getting banned from performing in places because of the horrible things they say.
Perhaps you complained about the two Canadians not being allowed to promote racist ideas in Tamaki Makaurau council buildings? Now complain about Gerard Otto’s rights. You believe in free speech don’t you, not cancel culture?
Then the third group who know exactly who G is. Firstly - you people are the best. No Chardonnay socialists here, well perhaps one or two, but most are salt of the earth honest Kiwis, who care greatly about this country and the people in it.
Secondly - thanks to those in this category who contributed their thoughts on the banning and absence of G yesterday. It was a bit like a Wake but of course G is only gone until he returns after three days, hmm that sounds familiar. So less of a Wake, let’s call it what the people in the second category would - a Woke.
I’m not going to go into the details of events leading up to the ban, all of that information is available on G’s page, which of course is still there, he just can’t post anything new to it.
So the short version…
A process that sounds so preposterous it could have appeared in the movie Brasil started when G encouraged people to register complaints if they thought it inappropriate that One News political editor Jessica Mutch McKay, said they were encouraging the leader of the opposition to do more photo ops.
Somehow something to do with this, I’m not entirely clear what, was deemed to not follow "Community Standards on nudity or sexual activity" and resulted in the verdict of a three day ban.
Not long compared to many bans sure, but the difference here is it’s hard to reach any other conclusion than that G is not being punished for an actual indiscretion but because someone wanted G to shut up and stop questioning things. Is that the Community Standard expected?
I cannot for the life of me think what on earth this is about. G News is a place I get information about current events and enjoy the rebuttal of questionable media reporting, you’re going to be quite disappointed if you visit anticipating more than political gratification. To think G News could be accused of falling below standards expected in term of sexual material on the internet is mind boggling.
If it wasn't so comical it would be quite chilling. If they'll shut down an honest voice over a small matter like this what would they do if it was something big? As an aside I’m all good for tinfoil thanks. But seriously - how do you get banned for such a bogus charge when trolls operate unimpeded spreading hate and racism?
Many excellent letters of complaint were written by people who really care about the media informing people in an unbiased way. The following example is representative and provides further information about the event. It also received a reply.
To: Simon Power
Jessica Mutch McKay
Re: TVNZ Political Editor, Jessica Mutch McKay
Dear Simon,
This is my first formal complaint about a journalist/reporter. My grievance isn’t about inaccuracies in news stories, or intentional departures from the truth. Who’s got the time to list all of those?
This is about an unprincipled behaviour by your Political Editor Jessica Mutch McKay. It’s a given that others will have alerted you to her revelations during a recent RNZ podcast. There has been much talk. But just in case, here it is. https://www.rnz.co.nz/.../political-editors-chat-fair-pay...
These are Jessica’s most revelatory moments: “We are encouraging him (Christopher Luxon) to try and do some more photo opportunities” and “People need to get to know him (Luxon)”.
There is no ambiguity. TVNZ Political Editor Jessica Mutch McKay gives campaigning advice to the leader of the National Party.
I have questions:
• has Ms Mutch McKay been disciplined over this breach? If not, will she be?
• how many more TVNZ staff – the WE in Ms Mutch McKay’s group - are advising Mr Luxon;
• is Ms Mutch McKay et al coaching any other National Party members? and
• Is Ms Mutch and crew coaching any other MPS, or is it exclusively National Party politicians?
I was taught early on this longstanding and clear rule about dealing with reporting politics. “The journalist should act on behalf of the audience to ensure that politicians do their job” - Thomas Jefferson
Sincere regards,
Pam Corkery
Jessica, like Pam, is a bit of a national institution. Everyone remembers the immortal line “Jessica, then Tova” heard so many times at press conferences during Covid. We listened to the questions from Tova and the nation, and the PM, looked at each other like WTAF Tova? So on the plus side Jessica is not Tova, so full respect for that.
But she does front TVNZ news, the pre-eminent and what should be the most trusted, news in the country. Whereas no one really expects much in terms of integrity or standards from Tova’s old platform, NewsHub, they do from the state broadcaster.
Incidentally, this would be one of those detours, if you’ve had the misfortune to listen to Tova’s new platform Today FM, Jesus my commiserations, that is a grim standards-free zone. Listening to Mark Richardson's attempts to satirise our PM a couple of day ago was one of the most dismal things I have ever heard. It did not cause me to think positive things about the current state, or future prospects, of mankind.
TVNZ replied to the letter of complaint above:
Dear Ms. Corkery,
Thank you for your email. We can confirm that neither Ms. Mutch McKay nor TVNZ are giving advice to politicians.
Ms. Mutch McKay’s comments on RNZ’s Morning Report have been misinterpreted. Her statement, “[Christopher Luxon] had the images of him out and about at McDonalds serving the people so to speak and you know we are encouraging him to do some more photo opportunities,” was a reference to the fact that media as a whole encourage persons of interest to undertake media engagements. It is this content that fulfils the media’s role of the fourth estate by informing citizens of the activities and positions of their elected officials.
The “we” in this sense was not TVNZ, but all media – Ms. Mutch McKay was speaking to RNZ’s Corin Dann and Jane Patterson, both themselves political reporters. It is also worth noting that Ms. Mutch McKay and TVNZ receive complaints of this nature from both sides of the political spectrum, suggesting balance in reporting.
All the best,
TVNZ Communications
I find it interesting they say "encourage persons of interest to undertake media engagements". Surely media engagements for a news organisation should be, you know, interviews - not "photo opportunities". With all due respect to readers of that no doubt fine publication - we’re talking about the major news programme in the country, not the bloody Women's Weekly.
It’s also interesting, and somewhat depressing, that at a time when there is such a focus on the dangers of misinformation and disinformation in the media that a person who spends a lot of time identifying just such information and challenging or correcting it ends up getting banned, for encouraging people to fill in a complaint.
Not a complaint to get the person fired or some great apology, but just a note to say - “hey we’re watching and you’re getting a bit friendly with one side while it’s all allegations and accusations with the other. There’s an election next year and look we know this is little old New Zealand its a small industry and Kiwis like to be laid back, but yeah this isn’t a good look. You guys are supposed to be a news outlet not a marketing department, leave that up to the hucksters at the other stations.”
And did they go “fair cop, yeah you’ve got a point”?
No. They wrote a letter of denial and complained about the use of the complaints form to Facebook.
So that is who gets banned - the guy who is asking for standards to be met, which is apparently itself against Community Standards, meanwhile there are other people who seemingly never get banned.
Now I don’t make a habit of reporting people but if I see something that is just too revoltingly racist or misogynist I might report it, or the fake account, that is pushing the bile. And do you know what happens? Absolutely nothing. No matter how hate filled, the slurs against Maori, the aggressive hate filled comments against our PM - nothing, nada, zilch, zip - absolutely bugger all!
Maybe we should all be moving off of platforms run as the personal property of some fairly unethical billionaires who seem to delight in being seen as arch villains?
One of the great things about the information age, the internet and social media, is that it provides a communication platform to all based on merit. Not just to those who advertisers want because they’re “on message” and encourage thinking the right way, not just to deliver bland wallpaper to sedate brains and discourage thinking, but a platform an individual can use to attract an audience based on the quality of work they provide.
If you’ve got something to say and people want to read it, or join in discussion, then away you go, there is no barrier to entry as there has been throughout most of human history. But that all falls over if there is an unaccountable bureaucratic process sitting in rapid, contextless, judgement over the whole thing.
Should we just go elsewhere? Well as anyone who has done so knows building an audience, be it Twitter, or a blog, or Facebook takes a lot of effort. Moving platforms is non trivial, just ask Donald Trump.
Don’t get me wrong people like Alex Jones or Donald Trump should be suspended or banned for spreading dangerous lies, but it takes years to get them removed from platforms whereas the likes of you, or I, or Gerard can just disappear over night without recourse.
Community Standards eh.
See you soon G, we’ll be waiting.
I seem to remember that G likes this song, pretty great head banging moment at 4:30.
And how can we win,
When fools can be kings?
Don't waste your time
Or time will, waste, you...No one's gonna take me alive
Time has come to make things right
You and I must fight for our rights
You and I must fight to survive
I contacted G too, wondering about where he had gone as I could not think of anything he had said that would put him in facebook jail. I also was shocked by the reply about nudity. My husband and I look forward to reading G's posts as they are not only entertaining but also full of truth with well researched facts and figures that you don't ever see on main stream media.
G is just superb , looking forward to his return, and yes the whole thing stinks to high heaven...