Tuesday, May 12, 2020

CHOCOLATE

10 RANDOM THINGS I HAVE LEARNT  ABOUT LIFE ON  LOCKDOWN

  1. Toilet paper is the most  prized commodity in the country

  1. Things can always get worse!

  1. No one is coming to clean up the kitchen.

  1. A good book is one of life’s great  treasures.                         

  1. Being alive is glorious!

  1. There is no end to the new  learning we can engage in.

  1. Chocolate is the antidote to most evils.

  1. The room for improvement is the biggest room in the world.

  1. The difference between being bitter and being better is the I.

  1. Patience is the ultimate test of character!

Thursday, May 7, 2020

Today I clicked onto the New Zealand Herald to have a catch up on the latest news about the Covid-19 numbers and was instantly hit by something that has intrigued me increasingly regarding media practice and newspaper practice. That is the growing reliance on media commentators who express  views which are frequently politically influenced, who have carte blanche to churn out their predictable and tiresome views on a daily basis, which then appear to have a significant place in the way that the news and current events are presented.

What fascinates me in particular is that these individuals, featured here with their views about the government, are actually getting paid for this. I often wonder how they ever got to be in this position, given the quality of their journalism. I imagine that I could dream up a piece, related to some current issue, and then see what level of toxicity I could use, with which to present my opinion. While newspapers are wanting to ensure that a range of voices are heard in terms of commentary on important issues of the day, it appears that the more toxic or antagonistic the view, the more likely the press attention and coverage is achieved. This is a great shame, as in the past, newspaper columns had really balanced, insightful and thoughtful commentary, whereas now they simply expose the deeply held prejudices of the writer.

I'd like to suggest that readers should actually paid to read the sludge which appears in newspapers rather than paying for the privilege. At this rate, editors would be far more circumspect about ensuring that public commentary plays a balanced role among the news reports, and  would  aspire to publish newspapers which  contain quality journalism. At this point in time, I will happily put up my hand if an incentive could be offered and likewise happy to start paying once the current dismal, woeful standard of journalism is addressed.