OPINION
From the moment the new government was sworn in, the news media have been floundering, They have been thrashing around, having taken the bait laid for them by none other than their long-standing nemesis, Winston Peters. Winston, playing a part equivalent to the artful dodger (a crafty person behaving in a rather unscrupulous manner), has got them hyperventilating to a marked degree.
The media had two options in this situation: ignore Winston or take the bait. Research suggests fish are smarter than we thought. Not so the news media, it appears. So hungry were they to get at the man they swallowed his taunts hook line and sinker. The taunts related to the Public Journalism Fund, that huge amount of money fished out of nowhere with its own barbs attached. Winston calls the Fund bribery, the news media call that nonsense.
Winston’s argument is one that a lot of people would find difficult to believe if it didn’t hold some water. Unlike other monetary assistance to businesses, this one came with caveats. These caveats, as with most policy under the last government, were designed to ensure that anything published would pay due regard to the Treaty of Waitangi. It would be hard to conclude that the $55 million wasted wasn’t designed to have some benefit to the government.
Not so, says Newstalk ZB’s Jason Walls. This is the little man who was given a spinning top by Winston and failed to see the significance of it. It is credible to assume that these journos live in a bubble. Jason made the point that Newstalk ZB didn’t receive any of the funds, as if that somehow meant it wasn’t a bribe. Jason by pointing that out confirmed to my mind it was indeed a bribe.
Jacinda Ardern, who disqualified herself from appearing on the station because the man interviewing her was of a higher intellect and she couldn’t answer his questions, would have made sure not a cent went to them. Payback time. Winston has a good understanding of that himself. He is old enough to have not come down in the last shower. He has said on more than one occasion, “This is not my first rodeo.” As the Trump of New Zealand politics it may not be his last. As we all know the BFD got nothing and wouldn’t have taken it if it was offered. Why? Independence and integrity matter. Novel in today’s media world.
Instead of ignoring Winston, the simpletons in the news media have made him the story, much to his delight no doubt. They are questioning his suitability for Deputy Prime Minister after he has made such scurrilous claims against their profession. They are highly offended that someone, anyone and particularly the Deputy Prime Minister would question their integrity. Well, times have changed, and so have the government and the narrative. Unlike the bait, they are finding this difficult to swallow.
It’s long overdue for someone to get stuck into these news journalists who think they are the news makers rather than reporters. If I were them I’d be very reluctant to tangle with Winston. Maori are experts at fishing and there will be a lot more bait on offer. Winston will play them every time and a good filleting could well be the end result. It is obvious these journalists can give it but can’t take it. My advice is to take your slanted verbiage and blabber it somewhere else.
The news media are supposed to be objective and show independence. By accepting the money on offer they fulfilled neither role. Jenna Lynch on Newshub, again looking and sounding like someone from a Shakespearean tragedy, produced snippets of this and that trying to convince us sceptics that bribery was not involved. The rules might be in place but she wanted us to believe that the media abided by them. At that point, the tragedy was turned into a comedy. Much Ado About Nothing in regard to Winston seems very apt.